INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT THIS PRIORITY

What needs to be done in the next three years?

Consultations held in the Toronto Central LHIN in summer 2009 for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s 10-year Mental Health and Addictions Strategy reinforced the need to move forward with the following initiatives:

Initiative #1
Develop and implement initiatives to target the needs of the most complex and vulnerable communities in the Toronto Central LHIN.

Actions that will drive this initiative

• Identify integration initiatives for each priority population specified in the Toronto Central LHIN Mental Health and Addiction Gap Analysis project (homeless, seniors, immigrants, refugees, aboriginals and children and youth).
• Test and evaluate population-specific integrated care initiatives that build on existing investments. For example: integrated care and case management team in addictions addressing the needs of the most complex and intense service users of ER and withdrawal management services.

Initiative #2
Implement standardized assessment process in Community Mental Health programs.

Actions that will drive this initiative

• Implement the provincially endorsed community mental health common assessment tool (OCAN) in targeted mental health services: Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Case Management, Clubhouse, Early Intervention, Social Rehabilitation/ Recreation, Support within Housing, Short-term Residential Crisis Support Beds.
• Initiate test of OCAN in additional targeted programs to support priority populations. Examples of such programs are Counseling and Treatment, Dual Diagnosis, Psycho-geriatric, and Forensic.

Initiative #3
Develop and implement standardized intake and referral process in Mental Health and Addictions programs.

Actions that will drive this initiative

• Identify and develop tools that screen for specific needs and conditions to ensure clients are being provided with the most appropriate service at the most appropriate place.
• Establish and pilot one common referral form for a defined set of mental health and addiction programs and services to streamline access and provide greater consistency and coordination.
• Begin the sector-wide implementation of Resource Matching and Referral (RM&R).

Initiative #4
Enhance data collection and utilization in mental health and addictions programs and services to support evidence-informed decision making.

Actions that will drive this initiative

• Collect and analyze identified data sets and set baseline performance targets in alignment with indicators with provincial mental health and addictions strategy.