GUELPH – County of Wellington officials are seeking funding to extend the local Integrated Mobile Police and Crisis Team (IMPACT).
Launched in 2015 by the CMHA and Wellington County OPP collaborative response model, it was one of the first of its kind in the province.
The program, funded by the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integrated Network, enables specially-trained clinicians to attend mental health-related calls alongside Wellington OPP officers. The goal of the program is to ensure residents in the county have better health outcomes by receiving the most appropriate community-based crisis response at the time of need.
However at the March 30 county council meeting, councillor Earl Campbell, who represents the county on the local police services board, pointed out there is no permanent funding in place for the program.
“That’s a temporary program at this point that social services or police services are going to be focusing on trying to get that funding extended,” said Campbell.
He noted that at the March 8 County of Wellington Police Services Board meeting, detachment commander Inspector Steve Thomas commented that “he couldn’t run the department without IMPACT.
“So it’s obviously having a very definite positive impact on our residents. And it’s something that we’re going to need to figure out how we can support long-term,” said Campbell.
COUNTY COUNCILLOR EARL CAMPBELL
The February detachment commander’s report to the board indicated the IMPACT team served 52 individuals in January, dealt with 46 requests for service and attended 23 live calls with police, resulting in an 82% rate of calls diverted from hospital.
Social services committee chair councillor Dave Anderson pointed out the IMPACT program is currently funded up to 2025.
“So we have to reapply for funding,” said Anderson, noting county officials discussed the program when they met with provincial Ministry of Social Services officials at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario convention last fall.
“One of the things that they really push is they need information and documentation on what the program offers and how it’s working,” said Anderson, noting numbers like diversions from hospital and the number of people connected with mental health programs through IMPACT are among the figures the province wants.
“And then we have to follow up to find, not grant funding, but consistent funding,” Anderson explained.
Warden Andy Lennox said the county has had the IMPACT team in Wellington County “for a fairly lengthy period of time. Other municipalities haven’t had programs like this for as long, but it’s generally being seen as a very positive program for mental well-being of our residents and the police and operations of the Police Services Board, and our health partners as well.”
Lennox added, “It’s really a team effort and through the [Western Ontario Wardens Caucaus] advocating for this type of thing around mental health supports, particularly programs like this, has been part of the priorities.
“We just went through a new priority setting and it remains there. It’s one of those key priorities that we’re pursuing to ensure that funding is available long-term.
“So I think that the more of us that are working on advocating for that, the better chance that this is going to become a permanent program.”
Provincial appointees
Campbell also reported at the meeting the local police services board is now up to its full complement of members, with the addition of two provincial appointees.
“We received notice from the province, and we do have our new two provincial appointees,” said Campbell.
The appointees are Walter Trachsel of Mount Forest, a former OPP inspector and past Wellington County councillor, and Ron Faulkner, a former Harriston police chief, OPP staff sergeant and past deputy mayor of the Town of Minto.
Campbell said the new appointees were expected to join the board for the April 12 meeting.
