The logo for Bruce County Outreach's COAST program (image via Bruce County Outreach)
Bruce County is expanding services and supports through community outreach.
The county is announcing that it is launching a Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST), which is meant to build off the previous success of its previous program.
The team will be providing care and support to those throughout Bruce County who need help with mental health, addictions, and housing needs.
“Certainly one of the greatest strengths of COAST is its partnership,” said Bruce County Human Services Director Ian Hanney. “Not a single organization can solve these challenges alone, and real progress happens when local partners work together around a shared goal.”
COAST will also be tracking local drug poisonings and provide targeted intervention, host routine pop-up style outreach events, help with making contact with the underhoused population and help them get the resources they require, and help the general public with harm reduction awareness.
The outreach team is a mobile multidisciplinary team, made up of a Harm Reduction Counsellor and Peer Worker, a Community Support Coordinator, a Community Paramedic, and will offer low-barrier access to mental health and addiction supports, healthcare, and social services. The County is also partnering with CMHA Grey Bruce.
“In rural counties, the biggest barrier to getting help for some is often access. COAST helps remove those barriers by bringing service directly to people, instead of expecting folks to navigate a system.”