What is the system challenge?
System navigation has been identified as a priority in several regional and provincial reports that focus on improving the mental health and addictions system. Addressing system navigation has the potential to address multiple interrelated gaps in the mental health and addictions system, such as:
- increasing coordinated and integrated care;
- improving access to care;
- supporting client-centered care;
- enhancing family engagement and support; and
- improving knowledge of services for providers, clients and families.
What are we doing about it?
The Nipissing Service Collaborative has identified the need for coordination and collaboration within the system of supports, including cultural practitioners and natural helpers, for clients across the spectrum of needs related to mental health, substance use and/or developmental disabilities.Â
The Service Collaborative will develop a service navigation tool to support the identification and improvement of current referral processes and pathways within the mental health and addictions system in Nipissing.Â
Exploration
Community consultations, including focus groups with service providers and persons with lived experience and family members, identified eight system priorities:
Within each priority, multiple system gaps were identified. The Nipissing Service Collaborative decided to focus on addressing system navigation. More specifically, they will focus on improving coordination and collaboration within the system of supports for clients across the spectrum of needs related to mental health, substance use and/or developmental disabilities.Â
During the remainder of the exploration phase, the Service Collaborative will develop a service navigation tool to respond to this system challenge.
How do we know it works?
The Nipissing Service Collaborative will develop the intervention based on evidence from research, practice-based evidence, cultural knowledge and the lived experience of clients and families.
Who is involved?
A total of nine sectors were consulted and are represented in the Nipissing Service Collaborative, including hospital, community mental health and addictions, justice/corrections, developmental services, peer support, cultural/linguistic services, education, housing and homelessness and government.
Next Steps
The Nipissing Service Collaborative is meeting regularly to develop and discuss implementation of the system solution.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Sandra Watson, Regional Implementation Coordinator
- Sudbury, Ontario
- 705-675-1195 ext. 78327
- sandra.watson@camh.ca