People in Creston will be better served by a collaborative approach to social challenges that will deliver faster access to services for those at risk through the establishment of a situation table.
Situation tables bring together front-line workers from the public safety, health and social service sectors to identify high-risk individuals and quickly connect them to services and support before they experience a negative or traumatic event.
Creston Mayor Arnold DeBoon said the town has been seeking this collaboration for years and is eager to see solutions for local problems.
“The community will see it as a progressive step in dealing with community issues and having the right agencies involved will make quite a difference,” said DeBoon.
“Because of our distance to a larger centre, we do lack some of the services we need, and I think this will point out the service gaps that we have and maybe help us find ways to fill them or refer these problems to available agencies that can help in other communities.”
Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Nina Krieger said situation tables ensure people remain at the centre of the work of building and promoting safer, stronger communities.
“By combining the expertise of front-line workers, situation tables enhance our capacity to respond to emerging public safety challenges, keeping people safe by swiftly connecting individuals to essential services when they need them.”
The province currently has 37 situation tables operating in communities throughout B.C.
The Creston table is expected to complete its training and onboarding in the coming months. Partners will meet weekly to address issues such as mental health and addictions, homelessness, poverty and survival crime.
“Situation tables are a valuable resource for communities by proactively facilitating supports for vulnerable people by helping to address their needs before a crisis occurs,” said Brittny Anderson, NDP MLA for Kootenay Central.
“As we’ve seen in other communities, situation tables have led to many positive outcomes, enhancing the safety and well-being of residents, and I’m grateful to see this initiative come to Creston.”
The model provides a structured, collaborative approach to managing urgent circumstances by bringing together key groups and using systematic processes to reduce risk and develop action plans to respond more effectively to the needs of each individual. Data analysis also helps policymakers assess gaps and risks in their local communities.
The province is supporting the Town of Creston with a $50,000 grant to assist with implementation.
“We are deeply grateful for the grant funding that has been provided by the Collaborative Public Safety Programs with the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to establish a situation table in Creston,” said DeBoon.
“This support allows our local front-line service agencies to come together, receive specialized training and respond quickly to community safety challenges. By working collaboratively, a situation table will allow us to quickly connect our most vulnerable residents to the right resources early, with the goal of mitigating further harm and victimization before situations escalate.”
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