By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
A new resource pamphlet specifically designed for Essex is now available as a go-to guide for managing neighbourhood safety, while creating access to – and awareness of – essential local resources.
The “Neighbourhood Safety Plan” was created through the Substance Supports in Neighbourhoods Accessed through Police Partnerships (SSNAPP) team, supported by Provincial funding to the OPP through the Community Safety and Policing Grant.
The initiative brought together the OPP, the Windsor-Essex Regional Safety and Wellbeing Plan, and the Windsor- Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), which announced the launch of the informational resource on Wednesday, February 25 at the Essex Centre Library.
“This project is the result of a close, multisectoral collaboration between stakeholders, who share a vision of a safe and healthy community for all,” WECHU’s Manager of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction, Jennifer Bradt, said. She added the plan was guided by feedback in consultation with community members, business owners, and community organizations looking to address mental health and substance use concerns.
It was tailored to the needs of Essex.
It outlines what can be done and resources to connect with for a variety of situations, including mental health crisis, safe needle disposal, substance use crisis, harassment, homelessness, human trafficking, intimate partner violence, conflict solution, discrimination/racism, and vandalism. It also lists a variety of services that can help in these types of situations.
WECHU CEO Dr. Ken Blanchette said the real goal is addressing those pressing challenges in communities in creating awareness and access to local resources. The pamphlet provides clear direction on where and how to get the right help when needed.
In addition to the pamphlet, the project has included opportunities for service providers and first responders to train in deescalation, mental health response, overdose response, substance use, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed care, Blanchette said.
“These plans were created with a clear purpose: to help community members be informed, prepared, and supported when facing situations involving opioid use, overdose, mental health concerns, or other substance-use challenges that may arise within neighbourhoods,” OPP Staff Sergeant Christian Cortese, said.
“From a policing perspective, we know these situations can be stressful and uncertain,” he added, noting the Neighborhood Safety Plan can answer a lot of questions individuals may have.
The plan is another tool to help the OPP achieve a goal of not only responding to incidents, but to work actively with the community to prevent harm, reduce risk, and strengthen neighbourhood wellbeing.
Essex May o r Sherry Bondy said the Neighbourhood Safety Plan is a good resource for residents. She hoped to get a copy to each member of Council, so they would have the information if approached with any questions about the pamphlet or by those who could benefit from its contents.
Bondy took the time to note she believes things are going amazingly with the OPP, and she is optimistic about the future.
Even though many may feel like issues – such as crime, homelessness, and addictions – are centric to big cities, “now we know more than ever…[those] issues are turning out in our smaller communities.”
Bondy thanked the agency partners for the work they put into the project, the Province for being a partner in helping with the vulnerable segments of the population, and to the frontline emergency responders for responding to many of these types of issues, which she knows cannot be easy.
Essex MPP Anthony Leardi added the Provincial government was a funding partner on the project, and thanked the agency partners for collaborating to establish the “Neighbourhood Safety Plan.”
He took 100 copies for his Constituency Office to hand out to residents. There are also a few copies at the Essex Free Press office
Neighbour Safety Plans have also been created for Leamington and Windsor. To access all Neighbourhood Safety Plans, log onto ssnapp.ca.