AHS team to improve healthcare for homeless population

FORT McMURRAY – A new local healthcare team is hitting the streets to deliver a wide range of services to homeless individuals.

Street Connect is a multidisciplinary team comprised of a nurse practitioner, registered nurse, registered psychiatric nurse, Indigenous liaison, recovery worker and administrative support.

Megan Thorne, manager of psychiatry at Northern Lights Regional Health Centre, says the Street Connect team is focused on reducing the barriers that often prevent vulnerable populations from seeking support from the healthcare system.

“Our services will be offered in places where the homeless population gathers to rest, eat and socialize,” says Thorne. “The team will spend much of its time in the downtown core and staff will be able to meet with clients where they are and where they feel comfortable and provide them with more stable and dependable care.”

Primary care, mental health support, addictions support, sexual health education, self-harm reduction and pregnancy testing are among the services offered through this Alberta Health Services (AHS) initiative.

“AHS is working to support the needs of the homeless population, to reduce the stigma and offer compassionate, empathetic and reliable care,” says Stacy Greening, Senior Operating Officer for Addiction and Mental Health in AHS North Zone.

“We know they are at risk of slipping through the cracks and we want to prevent that. The team’s mission is to provide a holistic approach which ensures we partner with individuals and support them to live more independently and reduce their risk of becoming seriously ill or help them manage chronic conditions.”

Anyone who self-identifies as homeless (or at risk for homelessness) will be accepted into Street Connect’s services. AHS staff will also be partnering with local organizations and agencies to identify anyone who might benefit from the team’s support.

For more information about the team or to start the referral process for a client, please call Gillian Stroud at 780-791-6194.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

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