INITIATIVES

24/7 CRISIS DIVERSION

24/7 Crisis Diversion is a collaborative partnership with Boyle Street Community Services, Canadian Mental Health Association (211 program), HOPE Mission, REACH Edmonton and stakeholders from the Edmonton Police Service and Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services. The program dispatches crisis diversion teams around the clock, 365 days a year to respond to people who are in distress and vulnerable on the streets of Edmonton.

INITIATIVE GOALS

To provide comprehensive, coordinated access to 24-hour services for vulnerable citizens for the purpose of reducing the need for expensive medical, judicial and police interventions.

OUTCOMES

• Common agenda and shared vision for change to include a diverse set of voices and perspectives

• Improved communications, linkages and engagement among partners and key community stakeholders

• Data that promotes accountability, learning, improvement, sustainability and communications

• Improved inter-agency collaboration and alignment for 24/7 service delivery

• Warm hand-off for frequent users of the program

• Identification of gaps in 24/7 service delivery

• Appropriately trained front-line crisis diversion
  team staff

• Prototype testing for a Connector role to improve warm hand-off practice with partners for clients experiencing complex needs.