The Situation Table is an informal weekly meeting of social service sector providers who connect to provide rapid, collaborative support to people at acutely elevated risk in the community.
During the meeting, service providers will bring forward information on potential individuals or families experiencing what is called 'acutely elevated risk' - where there is a significant interest at stake, a probability of harm occurring, severe intensity of the harm, and where the risk is multi-disciplinary in nature.
Step One: Identifying people at risk
Agencies identify and receive referrals for individuals or families that may qualify for situation table support before the meeting. They can either come internally or from external partners. (We call this 'Filter 1').
Step Two: Assessing Risk
Information about the gender and age of people, as well as their risk factors are presented at the meeting. The key here is to protect the privacy of people so names aren't shared until it's determined the risk justifies it. (We call this 'Filter 2')
Step Three: Triaging Supports
IF the situation is considered an acutely elevated risk, the names of any people identified are shared and the agencies pause to determine which (if any) agencies are already involved, and what other agency might be a good support for them. (We call this 'Filter 3').
Step Four: Offering Help
The relevant agencies that can support the person(s) meet to plan how/where/when support will be offered. This is called a 'door knock' but may happen anywhere the client would be comfortable. The focus is on letting them know they aren't in trouble, and that help is available. (This is 'Filter 4').
What happens next?
After the offer of support from cooperating agencies, it's up to the individual or families to accept or decline supports. Sometimes this just looks like providing information, sometimes it's a referral to treatment or other supports, and sometimes people will decline help. An update is provided at a future SItuation Table meeting, and the situation is considered closed. Agencies can continue to follow up with clients after that, or if interventions were unsuccesful, the person can be brought to a future table meeting.
Who is involved?
The Table is co-chaired by staff at Victim Services and the City, with regular participation from the Salvation Army, School District, RCMP, Ministry of Child and Family Development, Northern Health, the North Coast Transition Society and Hecate Strait Employment and Development Services.
Although these are the primary weekly participants, our contact list for potential referrals includes almost every other service agency in the community, and we do our best to pull from all potential appropriate supports. We also coordinate presentations from individual agencies on their respective programs to build local understanding of available supports.
What are the benefits?
Better outcomes for clients
Being able to identify all potential resources to support people in need is a major benefit of this process. Their well-being is thought about holistically, rather than just informed by a single agency approach. By thinking collectively we also have the opportunity to connect people to supports that individual agencies may not have thought of on their own.
Opportunity to share resources and build local capacity
The social service sector is notoriously over-worked and short on resources locally. The intent of this work is to encourage providers to lean on one another and reduce the replication of services to at-risk individuals.
Data collection to support our specific community needs
Information on risk factors for specific cases is captured (with names anonymized) in a database that is securely stored on a Provincial server. After the first year of operations, we will have a good picture of the specific risks facing Prince Rupert, and which demographics are at highest risk. This will help us to advocate for better local supports.
Connection to other Situation Tables in BC
We are now part of a growing network of Situation Tables in BC, who also meet monthly to connect on different issues and support one another. This helps us to collectively advocate for needs that are shared across our diverse communities.
Have questions, or interested in making a referral?
Reach out to joyce.charlton@rcmp-grc.gc.ca or veronika.stewart@princerupert.ca or call (250) 627 0976 for additional information on the local Table.