Despite the Delta Police Department’s (DPD’s) best efforts, larger changes are necessary to provide comprehensive support for vulnerable individuals.
That was the conclusion of an update provided to the Delta Police Board on the first year of implementation of the department’s new Community Navigator Unit (CNU) program, the first of its type in B.C.
Part of the DPD’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, it aligns with the priority of providing support for mental health and vulnerable individuals.
The report by Chief Neil Dubord says the program, which began in May 2023, had its beginnings a year prior when the DPD began working on establishing a support program. The goal was to have police officers connect with at-risk people, who frequently come into contact with police due to social or behavioral health concerns, guide people through essential resources and services.
“Following receipt of a referral from a front-line officer, the CNU’s mandate is to guide these individuals through the complexities of the human services system and help them overcome barriers to access. The goal is to prevent future negative interactions with the police and promote the individuals’ overall success and well-being,” Dubord said.
To say the CNU has been a success is an understatement, the report adds, noting that the CNU received 257 referrals from officers including 137 referrals for women, 107 referrals for men and 13 repeat referrals.
The primary needs identified were housing, followed by substance use supports and mental health services.
The report also outlined one example involving an individual facing housing and other challenges who came into contact with police and was referred to the CNU, a support process that involved extensive outreach and advocacy to BC Housing and third-party service providers.
During a waiting period, regular contact with the individual was essential, including providing substance use and harm reduction support, addressing hygiene and clothing needs and building trust with the unit.
The individual successfully secured housing and continues engaging with the CNU for further support and resources, including assistance with completing Canadian Pension Plan application paperwork, alcohol addiction support and help preparing a resume for employment.
Notable observations and learnings from the first year included the return of individuals for additional assistance, which was unanticipated, while the CNU found that many other support systems often struggle to resolve the issues that the individuals face, which means they become dependent on the DPD’s CNU.
Readily available access to services also remains a challenge.
As far as dealing with individuals with mental health issues, due to many people’s lack of understanding or acknowledgment of their condition, they are unable to properly consent to support and assistance, while family members often express frustration with the system.
Given the prevalence of mental health concerns, the DPD continues to work on aligning the efforts of the CNU with the Mental Health Unit.
The CNU has received positive feedback from both the individuals who have been assisted and their family members as well from the DPD front-line officers, the report also notes, adding that many community individuals express gratitude for the assistance they finally received after seeking help from numerous other sources without success.
“The feedback is often very personal and significant, with many describing their situation before receiving help as being at ‘rock bottom.’ In addition, the success within the DPD team to have the right resource at the right time has proved to be invaluable. In fact, when CNU coverage was limited due to holidays, our frontline officers were asking how we could ensure continuous coverage,” the report adds.
The first year of implementation provided key takeaways that the DPD remains committed to addressing.
“It is important to note that despite our best efforts, larger changes within our human services system are necessary to provide comprehensive support for vulnerable individuals and to ensure meaningful change. This includes making social and health services more readily available and reducing the many barriers to success that currently exist in our complex systems, amongst others,” Dubord’s report concludes.
