November 22, 2010
New Facility to Provide Continuum of Addictions Support Services Under One Roof
– – –River Point Centre to be Multi-use, Integrated Facility
An enhanced plan for the redevelopment of the former Sharon Home Kanee Centre on Magnus Avenue will help meet the needs for addictions treatment and temporary housing of more Manitobans, Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors Minister Jim Rondeau and Housing and Community Development Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross announced today.
“We are making it easier for people to access addictions services by co-ordinating a continuous and comprehensive range of addictions services under one roof,” said Rondeau. “There have been many improvements made to the addictions system recently, but this will have the biggest impact on the most people in Manitoba.”
An older section of the existing facility will be demolished while the remainder is renovated to consolidate and increase addictions services. It will also provide 24 two- and three-bedroom temporary housing units for rural and northern Manitobans who must travel to Winnipeg for medical treatment.
“Individuals and their families need support during medical treatment, which can be a time of physical, emotional and potentially financial stress,” said Irvin-Ross. “We will be creating a home away from home that offers families a warm, supportive and comfortable environment.”
A range of addictions services will be able to relocated, expand and integrate in the new space. The co-located services will provide a more co-ordinated, streamlined intake and assessment process while minimizing the potential duplication of services. This will help Manitobans access the most‑appropriate services for their needs, reducing wait times and increasing collaboration between service providers, making it easier for people to navigate a range of addictions services and follow a continuum of care, said the ministers. Included in the new facility will be:
· centralized intake and assessment for all government-funded addictions services;
· 20 new beds for adult detoxification, serving an additional 720 clients annually;
· 38 beds for the relocation and expansion of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba’s men’s residential treatment beds, serving a total of 456 clients annually;
· 10 new beds for post-treatment transitional housing; and
· community-based pre- and post-treatment support.
As well, there will be co-ordinated links between various mental-health programs and social services to the range of addictions services that will be offered at the centre.
“The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba is so pleased that the co-operative work between ministers Irvin-Ross and Rondeau has resulted in greatly improved services to those suffering from addictions,” said AFM chair Heather Mitchell. “The concept of the variety of services needed for alcoholics and other addicts being available all under one roof will make a great difference to their chances of successful recovery.”
These system enhancements and service expansions will advance a number of the priorities outlined in the province’s five-point strategic plan Breaking the Chains of Addictions, said Rondeau and Irvin‑Ross. The five-point plan includes building a better system, improving access to services, increasing residential treatment capacity, building community-based treatment capacity and advancing research.
The ministers also acknowledged the support and assistance of community addictions partners in the planning of this project, particularly the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, the Main Street Project and the Behavioural Health Foundation.
Demolition is expected to start early in the new year with completion of the renovated centre targeted for late 2012.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED
Backgrounder
Provincially Funded Addictions Services and Supports - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2010/11/RiverPointCentreBG.doc