What is the system challenge?
In downtown Toronto, people with highly complex and exceptional service needs, especially those with multiple overlapping mental health, developmental disability, Acquired Brain Injury and substance use issues, can face significant and persistent barriers to accessing mental health, addictions, and justice-related services and supports, particularly when they come into conflict with the law.
A number of situation* and service resolution** tables exist across Toronto to address the needs of specific populations and geographic areas within the city, although few work across sectors. This ‘silo-ing’ has led to a sense that issues faced by individuals with complex service needs (particularly when the justice system is involved) may be going unaddressed. These issues are a particular concern for individuals who are:
- facing significant barriers to meeting mental health, addictions, and justice-related needs through traditional services;
- at risk of being criminalized (for example, due to homelessness, substance use, or racialization);
- experiencing multiple overlapping mental health, substance use, or health-related issues; and
- connected to justice or social service organizations in downtown Toronto.
*Situation tables bring health, social service agencies, and other relevant stakeholders (e.g. police, lawyers, persons with lived experience) together at a regular meeting to collaboratively and proactively address complex needs and situations of elevated risk.
**Service resolution tables are committees that bring together high level managers and decision-makers from a cross-section of organizations from multiple health social service sectors. The table’s purpose is to engage in creative and collaborative problem solving to provide customized service solutions for individuals who have continually experienced barriers in accessing services and getting their needs met.
What are we doing about it?
The Toronto Service Resolution project is led by the Human Service and Justice Coordinating Committee – Toronto (HSJCC-Toronto) with support from a Provincial System Support Program implementation team at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Following consultations and focus groups with community stakeholders and organizations involved in existing situation and service resolution tables, the HSJCC-Toronto is overseeing a one-year pilot of a Justice Coordinator position. The Justice Coordinator will provide existing tables with justice expertise that spans different service sectors by collaborating with representatives from direct service agencies to develop more appropriate service options for clients. The coordinator will also identify service and policy issues, identify solutions to systemic problems, and make recommendations for further integration of justice supports into the existing system of situation and service resolution tables.
Who is involved?
- Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee - Toronto
- Toronto ABI Network
- Community Head Injury Resource Services (CHIRS)
- Cota
- Fred Victor
- Homes First
- St. Michael’s Hospital
- Street to Homes
- Central Network of Specialized Care - Toronto
- SPIDER/FOCUS - Toronto
- Health Links
- Canadian Mental Health Association - Toronto
- Community Care Access Centre - Toronto Central
Next Steps
- Determine roles/expectations of the Justice Coordinator and host agency
- Hire, orient, and coach the Justice Coordinator
- Complete Memorandum of Understanding and shared agreements with the Justice Coordinator, host agency, and CMHA Toronto
- Develop a tracking/note taking tool for the Justice Coordinator to capture justice needs of clients as observed at existing tables
- Develop and implement evaluation plan