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By Emily Keller
Integrated Coordinated Access initiative

City to host series of public consultations focused on social issues and services

Jan 6, 2020 | 5:30 AM

The City will be hosting various consultations open to members of the community this week.

Called System Change Labs, they are to focus on social issues and to improve how those looking for support with social, health or other needs can access services here in Grande Prairie

Forrest McGregor with Community Social Development for the City, says the labs are part of the Integrated Coordinated Access initiative, which is itself a review of how services are provided.

“It’s, in the end, going to a process that hopefully ties together the hundreds of independent programs and organizations and services that we have in Grande Prairie into a more coordinated system that the everyday person can more easily navigate through.”

The Integrated Coordinated Access initiative is co-led by the City of Grande Prairie and the Systems Planning Collective/Turner Strategies, who McGregor says are being contracted by the City. It is also in partnership with community stakeholders.

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The labs will be held from January 8 to 9 at various locations throughout the city.

McGregor says they are looking to hear input from members of the community who provide social services and supports, as well as those who use them.

“We know we’re designing a system that’s based on their input and not designing a system without their input basically. So, that’s what we want to get out of these labs, is just to make sure that this Integrated Access System is built from the community up, and that it’s unique to Grande Prairie and unique to the needs of the people who live here.”

McGregor adds that this is also a way to look how these services and supports are financed.

There will be four labs in total, including:

End User Lab:

January 8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Teresa Sargent Hall

For those who have tried to get help and navigate services for yourself or someone close to them in Grande Prairie. For those who need or know someone who needs about a low or moderate level of service needs.

Service Provider Lab

January 8 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Muskoseepi Park Pavillion

For those who are in social work, teaching, nursing/medicine, policing/enforcement, ministry, service volunteering, etc. and work with people with complex needs.

Service Provider Lab

January 8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at HearthStone Manor

For those who are in social work, teaching, nursing/medicine, policing/enforcement, ministry, service volunteering, etc. and work with people who need a relatively low to moderate amount of help.

Indigenous Supports & User Lab

January 9, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Muskoseepi Park Pavillion

For those who identify as an Indigenous person, elder, healer, support provider, etc. and experience or provide any level of support needs.

The labs are free and there is no registration required.

by Emily Keller

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