ANNUAL REPORT - Canadian Mental Health Association

highlights from the Previous Year at CMHA-WECBA new position was added entitled the Community Support CMHA-WECB was involved in the commencement of the newService Coordinator (CSSC) effective February, 2010. This position Drug Court now operating in Windsor. The first case was heardworks in partnership with Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital (HDGH) as in the Drug Treatment Court on Feb. 25th, 2011 and we arean on site resource for the Psychiatric Assessment Nurses in the hopeful that this new Court will help support those dealing withEmergency Room, for crisis workers within the Community Crisis an addiction and in contact with the justice system, get the helpCentre and the staff of the Partial Hospital Program.they need.For clients receiving CMHA services, this position is able to respond CMHA-WECB received full accreditation from Accreditationto workers of the above HDGH programs to collaborate on a plan Canada in May, 2011.of care that would see the client utilize the CMHA services as analternative to the ER whenever appropriate.The Windsor-Essex branch of CMHA also entered into newintegration partnerships with its sister branch, CMHA LambtonIn 2010, CMHA-WECB worked with a group of Pro Bono students Kent. The new partnerships include two new integratedto create a new publication entitled “Newcomers to the Windsor- Director positions (Director of Human Resources and Director ofEssex Region and Mental Health”. This publication is resource Advancement) as well as an integrated quality position.for newcomers regarding mental health programs and servicesavailable in the community. It was made possible through a grantfrom the Windsor-Essex Community Foundation.supported housingHaving access to safe, stable and affordable housing is thefoundation to recovery for those living with a serious mental illness.As a provider of supported housing to the Windsor-Essex community,CMHA-WECB provides a host of person-centered housing optionsfor those in need to choose from.The CMHA-WECB housing portfolio assists in providing homes toover 220 individuals in a mix of high support, medium supportand lower support options geared to individual needs. The Agencyaccomplishes this mission through the use of owned and operatedgroup homes in neighborhood communities for those requiring moresupport, while partnering with private sector Landlords and marketrental units for those individuals seeking more independence. Thecollaboration and partnership coming out of these relationshipsworks toward breaking down the stigma of mental illness and opensdoors for those that we serve. 239A recently new initiative that CMHA has been a part of has beenthe addition of 8 concurrent rent supplement housing placements189in partnership with The House of Sophrosyne (HOS). This programservice mandate is to provide housing to females experiencing bothan addiction and mental illness, and who are homeless or at risk.With HOS providing the addictions support and CMHA following upon the mental health issues and program administration, the clientsare well supported for the best outcomes possible in breaking thecycle of homelessness for this consumer group.239189Homelessness InitiativeGroup HomesHousing Allowance Rent Supplement9 10