By meadowlakeNOW

HUB helps local community members in need of support

Feb 16, 2018 | 1:00 PM

When a Meadow Lake resident is in crisis, they can turn to the HUB.

The referral-based program started as a Ministry of Justice initiative called Building Partnerships to Reduce Crime. The HUB’s approach brings together agencies like school divisions, corrections, social services, and RCMP to offer assistance when someone in the community is experiencing a crisis and has nowhere left to turn. There are HUB groups in communities across Saskatchewan including the Meadow Lake chapter, which was founded in 2014.

If traditional intervention methods fail, clients are referred to the HUB partners without using names, in order to ensure privacy. The HUB’s workers then identify who is best suited to assist, and those involved approach the at-risk individuals or groups in person. The Meadow Lake group serves the city and Flying Dust First Nation, and has handled 92 cases over the past four years.

Heather Krissa, counsellor with Northwest School Division and member of the HUB committee, said their approach allows for resources and expertise to be shared.

“It creates those connections that keep people from falling through the cracks,” she said. “This is a way for us to work together to help people in a multidisciplinary way.”

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Krissa said the HUB uses a personal and non-threatening approach.

“It isn’t based on judgment. We just want people to feel less alone and know help and services are out there,” she said. “We just ask ‘how can we help?’”

Krissa said a large number of their cases have involved young people, but the group helps anyone in crisis.

“HUB is not specific for kids; we’ve had seniors, adults and families too,” Krissa said. “It’s very much a community program.”

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath