GN Community Updates

This is Crisis Line Awareness Week!

We have a protocol with the North Island Crisis Line to provide support to community members, and especially to community members who need support outside of regular work hours:

Crisis Line Volunteers will:

·         Listen to anyone who is having a difficult time and just needs to talk (can do so anonymously or give your name)

·         If you feel you want more help after talking you can ask for a referral to the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Child & Family Services Team.  The worker will take your contact information and we will be automatically notified the next work day - then a member of our team will be assigned to follow up with you.

·         If it's an emergency, such as a suicide concern, the Crisis Line will contact 911 to have emergency services respond and take steps to keep the person safe.  They will also send us an automatic notice about what happened so that on the next work day we can assign someone from our team to follow up.

This is a very effective way to make sure:

1.       Community members can get help 24 hours a day for any emergency, and

2.       That our team will be aware automatically of any need for follow up.

This  means better services and less people falling through the gaps!

The Crisis Centre is also looking for people to volunteer to take the training and help others too!  If you are interested please contact Cathie Wilson at the Crisis Centre (250) 949-8333.

Dean Wilson

On March 19th, over 40 adult community members and various young people met at the hall for a lunch hosted by the Sasamans society to present their findings from their community engagement that took place during the summer of 2012.  The Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Child & Family Services team also presented on their work.  Sasamans is piloting a program in partnership with our Child & Family Services team to have an Aboriginal Child & Family Counselor position work from our office.  Attached you will find a copy of their report "Caring for our own Children".

In addition, we also now have a protocol with the North Island Crisis & Counseling Centre so that community members who need help can get support 24 hours a day.  Anyone can call the crisis line at (250) 949-6033 to get immediate support.  If it's an emergency, they will contact 911 for emergency services to respond.  Our office will receive an automatic notification on the next business day so we can follow up.  If it's not an emergency and someone feels they need more help than just talking, then the crisis line worker will ask if you would like a referral.  If you agree, they will take your name and we will have an instant notification the next work day and can assign a member of our team to follow up.  This is one way of working to fill in gaps and make sure community members have access to emergency supports 24 hours a day AND that we can do consistent follow up!  This is already in place and is working!

Dean Wilson

Sasamans Society & the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Child & Family Services Team

would like take this opportunity to share the results of your community engage-ment process that took place between July—Sept 2012 and a presentation on next steps.

Tuesday, March 19th

Wakas Hall

Noon—2:30 pm

Lunch & door prizes

Dean Wilson

Director of Child & Family Services

Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw

Box 127, Port Hardy, BC, V0N 2P0

deanwilson@telus.net

Phone: (250) 949-8131

Direct Line: (250) 902-2281

Fax: (250) 949-6811