Elliot Lake CAO Daniel Gagnon will ask City Council to approve setting up a community policing integrated response model with a mental health worker assisting the East Algoma OPP in the city.
According to recent data, the East Algoma detachment has logged the second highest number of mental health related calls in the North East region.
The model goes before city council at Monday night's virtual council meeting. Gagnon is recommending an agreement with the Counselling Centre of East Algoma so the city can get the community policing grant for delivering an integrated Mobile Crisis Response Model.
In his written report Gagnon stated, "In 2019, a Community Policing and Safety Grant of $75,000 over 3 years became available to the Police Services Board / City of Elliot Lake. It was determined that the best use of that grant was to hire a mental health care professional to work closely with the OPP to improve response to the frequent mental health calls (that do not necessarily require a police response)."
"An excerpt from the application is: Mobile Crisis Response Team: The Elliot Lake Police Service of East Algoma is looking to expand its Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) by working in partnership and collaboratively with local community partners (eg. Maplegate Shelters for Women and Men, various mental health stakeholders) to help eliminate barriers to accessing mental health services."
"This project will see the contracting of an in-house Community Mental Health Professional (CMHP who will provide the necessary resources to front line officers in order to supply MCRT with 5-day weekly coverage). This approach will improve the service delivery for individuals experiencing mental health issues who may come into contact with police. The goal of the project is to provide the right care at the right time by the right service provider for individuals coming into contact with the MCRT."
He continued, "Funding will be used to hire a Community Mental Health Professional who will participate on the MCRT. Responsibility will include pre-screening calls made to the detachment, co-ordinating and providing training for front-line officers on responding to mental health calls and coaching, where necessary."
"They will work with the MCRT to explore methods of data collection that will ensure the objectives of this funding are met. They will work with the consultants to conduct an evaluation of the program. They will also develop community and engagement programs for mental health awareness within the community."
Gagnon's report went on to note that of the 12 detachments in the North East region, East Algoma detachment has the second highest calls for service for mental health (839 calls 2016 to 2018 representing 4,271 hrs).
In 2018, Elliot Lake specific calls amounted to 135 calls / 1476 hrs) that involved an individual experiencing a mental health issue.
Gagnon concluded, '"A large portion of those police officer hours are spent defusing situations that would be more appropriately addressed through a collaborative approach involving mental health professionals."
"Rather than hire the mental health care professional as a municipal employee, the City and OPP detachment have structured an agreement whereby the Counselling Centre of East Algoma (CCEA) will hire and provide a mental health care professional for the duration of the project to work with the OPP."
The $75,000 grant covers the majority of the costs for the employee ($87,500) but the city will provide some in-kind support (for the office in the OPP detachment and IT support) and about $25,000 cash to leverage the grant and generally support the program.
Total project costs are $112,500 / year. That would be absorbed by the OPP budget line item in the Elliot Lake municipal budget.
It's all up for consideration at tonight's virtual regular Elliot Lake City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m.. It'll be televised on cable on Eastlink community Channel 10 and also live-streamed on the city hall website.