The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is picking off where Linck left off.
According to a press release from Linck, it “has been unable to secure funding to sustain their hospital crisis programming” and it is now in the hands of the CKHA.
Caen Suni, vice-president of clinical programs and operations at CKHA, confirmed the hospital is running the program, effective April 1.
“It’s something we are picking up. We work with local providers for youth and mental health,” he said. “The care will remain in play by our resources. No matter what is occurring, they (those in need of aid) will be receiving care.”
Linck received funding from the Erie St. Clair LHIN and then Ontario Health West to provide crisis services at CKHA 12 hours a day.
Over the years, Linck provided more than 1,020 assessments.
In the past five years, they experienced an 80 per cent increase in visits.
Linck worked with CKHA to transition services back to the hospital.
“We are incredibly disappointed to close our hospital crisis program, as we know it has been a crucial part of our system of supports over the past 10 years,” said Carol Moore, director of mental health, development and quality at Linck, in a media release. “This program has been an ideal example of the care called for in the Ontario government’s Roadmap to Wellness. Unfortunately, due to stagnant funding, increased volumes, and inflationary pressures, the program was no longer viable. We will continue to provide crisis support in the community, with a reduced capacity.”
Adam Topp, president and CEO of CKHA, said hospital officials will seek to get the program back into the community.
“It’s really a community service,” he said. “Linck was not able to continue with that, so we’re taking it over for the next year.”
Linck is developing a new mental health program designed collaboratively with community partners to meet the needs of children, youth and families with intensive mental health needs.
The Intensive Outreach Program offers therapeutic approaches to provide children, youth and their caregivers with the skills needed to be successful in their environments.
Those services are offered, in the home, or in the community, as desired by the family, in order to best support them.
Led by a small, interdisciplinary team, the program delivers mental health treatment including individual and/or family therapy.
“Building on evidence-informed approaches from across the province, we are proud to have designed a program with our community partners that will meet a significant need in Chatham-Kent,” said Teri Thomas-Vanos, executive director at Linck. “We have experienced an unprecedented need for intensive services in the past three years.”
