Dozens of human service agencies in Durham Region gathered together in Whitby recently to discuss a new way of dealing with local social issues.
On May 15, 2015, DRPS hosted a presentation on the Hub Model of human service delivery, currently enjoying great success in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. This model deals collaboratively with community wellness issues such as harm reduction, crime intervention and victimization.
The collaborative hub of service providers is not driven by one organization in particular. Instead, the hub finds solutions to community challenges by crafting multi-sector collaborative approaches and empowering agencies to do what they do best. This approach allows agencies to scale the impact of their interventions and to design comprehensive multi-agency solutions to help to those in need. By using this approach in Prince Albert, there has been double-digit reduction in emergency room admissions, child protection cases, prosecutions, violent crime and youth victimization.
One of the key architects of the hub model of risk-driven intervention, Norm Taylor, spoke to approximately 70 community members and presenting highlights of the multi-agency collaboration model. In particular, Norm discussed the operation of the hub model: a collaborative, integrated multi-agency team that strives to build safer and healthier communities through mobilization of resources and service connections. This can be done in a way that respects the privacy of clients but still helps individuals and families experiencing elevated levels of risk.
Joining DRPS were founding members of the project, including: Durham Children's Aid Society, the Region of Durham's Department of Social Services, the Durham District School Board, the Central East Local Health Integration Network and other agencies in Durham Region. Deputy Chief Chris Fernandes welcomed the guests and provided the background for the attendees.
Taken from the Durham Regional Police Services on August 8th, 2016