CMHA Fort Frances Branch

We have some new job postings for the district. We are looking for a couple of Geriatric Mental Health workers. We have a position in Fort Frances, and a position in Sioux Lookout. If this looks like something you are interested in, please follow the directions on the bottom of each posting.

https://www.931theborder.ca/2021/02/16/114054/

FROM/DE: Rainy River District Detachment DATE: February 10, 2021 MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM EXPANDING... (FORT FRANCES, ON) On February 27th, 2021 the Rainy River District OPP will be celebrating a yearlong partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Fort Frances Branch (CMHAFF) this collaboration is known as the Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT). This team is an effective way to address the ever-increasing calls for service involving those persons suffering from mental health and addictions related crisis. The team has an experienced Crisis Worker teamed up with a specially trained police officer to respond to situations involving individuals experiencing a mental health or situational crisis. This Crisis Worker attends the scene and works hand in hand with the police. A primary goal of the MCRT is to provide an on-site assessment of the client, referring that person when appropriate to community-based services rather than transporting them to an Emergency Department. During the past year, MCRT has responded or assisted with 910 calls for service in the Rainy River District. The Rainy River District has received funding to hire additional full time and part time Crisis Workers in Fort Frances and Atikokan. These positions play a very important role in addressing the mental health needs of these communities. Please check out the CMHA website at https://fortfrances.cmha.ca/careers/ or the North West Region OPP Facebook page for details on these new positions. Quote from Inspector Nathan Schmidt, Detachment Commander The Mobile Crisis Response Team has added a valuable tool for front line officers responding to members of the community in crisis. We recognize that there is a spectrum of issues that may cause mental health crisis and we are taking every step to ensure public safety, the safety of the person in crisis and the safety of our officers. Quote from the members of the MCRT in the Rainy River District Throughout our first year we have had the continued ability to meet people where they are at in their life and support them through crises. With this we have had the ability to connect those same individuals with services and other community supports throughout the district. We have watched this program flourish to the point where Officers, Community Partners and the Community as a whole are requesting our team to assist people in need and when they are at their most vulnerable. As a team it is incredible to watch people have hope; hope in that there are people willing to listen and support them through a crisis and be able to provide a wrap-around service and more holistic approach to peoples’ mental health and wellbeing. Individuals in crisis after hours or on weekends will still be able to use the 24-7 crisis response line 1-866-888-8988. Contact: Provincial Constable Jim Davis Badge #12311 Media Relations Officer Rainy River District Detachment E-Mail:[email protected]

Hey everyone! Just a heads up that the phones and the fax machines in our Fort Frances locations are currently not working. Bell and TbayTel have been notified, and are actively working on getting the problem fixed. As soon as we get the problem fixed, we will let you know. Please be patient, as we are doing everything we can to get the problem all sorted out. Thank you!

https://news.ontario.ca//ontario-increasing-mental-health- Ontario increasing Mental Health and Addictions Services

The Outreach Personal Support Workers (OPSWs) from the Psychogeriatric Resource Program (PRP) at Canadian Mental Health Association Fort Frances Branch (CMHA-FF) put up a display at Rainycrest Long Term Care Home wishing everyone a very Happy Holiday season. The PRP recognizes that this year has been extraordinarily challenging in many ways, and we are grateful to see the manner in which staff, residents, and community members have come together to ensure safety and facilitate a positive environment. We look forward to continued collaboration in 2021. Best wishes from the PRP. #CMHA #FortFrances #PRP #HappyHolidays #AllIn #LTC

A HUGE shoutout to Paul, from CMHA- Fort Frances for having yet another successful campaign to help the local Salvation Army. Every year for the last 6 or so years, Paul puts out his annual Fill Paul’s office campaign. That was a little different this year due to social distancing, and having certain restrictions, but he made it work. Thanks to all the staff in the Fort Frances location, Paul was able to gather up a full truck load of food donations and a envelope with a monetary donation from the staff as well. Thank you all for helping out during these difficult times, we couldn’t do it without you!

The Sioux Lookout staff from the Canadian Mental Health Association Fort Frances Branch have made sure our 2021 Mental Health and Wellness Calendars were delivered to as many of our usual locations as possible this year. We know that a number of community events and locations you would normally find them at, are not accessible due to the Pandemic. With that in mind, we want to extend our warmest wishes to each and every one of you, as we hope to see 2020 in hindsight and e...mbrace the New Year ahead. If we have learned anything from many of the events that have taken place this year, it’s the importance of caring and supporting one another through thick and thin... both when things are going smoothly and when challenges are before us. We hope the messages in this year’s calendar remind you of how important you are in the lives of those around you, whether you are able to connect face-to-face or virtually, and you are an important part of the fabric of the communities you live in. On behalf of the Older Adults Program and Psychogeriatric Resource Program team members, Claudia, Cameron and Alyson, and in celebration of our organization’s 40th Anniversary, take care and stay well! See more

CMHA- Fort Frances branch would like to recognize two employees in Fort Frances for their years of service. Kristi Albright on the left (10 years of service) and Paul Sullivan on the right (15 years of service) were presented with certificates showing their achievements by Sandy Skirten, Director of Services. Thank you Kristi and Paul for all you have done in those years, and all you will continue to do.