COAST Niagara (Community Outreach and Support Team)

Type of Service

Crisis Intervention

Program Description

Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) provides crisis intervention services (telephone and outreach) to people with mental illness who are in crisis. Mental health and addiction workers (nurses, social workers, occupational therapists) will triage calls on the crisis line and provide support and develop a plan for intervention. Clients may be provided with support and intervention on the telephone. COAST outreach team consists of a mental health worker paired with a specially trained police officer who responds to crisis in the community. The team provides crisis intervention, support, assessment and assistance, developing follow-up plans to clients in the community who are in crisis. Follow-up may include brief monitoring/support, referral to appropriate community organizations/support networks, or collaboration with existing supportive organizations. Prevention of ongoing or future crisis is a goal of the program. Model of service is mental health outreach and crisis intervention partnered with police services.

Access Information

Referrals from clients, families, health care or social program service providers, police, as well as community members at large. Clients are provided with telephone and/or outreach/mobile assessment and support. Program operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Outreach assessment usually within 24 - 48 hours. No cost, no Health Insurance Number required. No age or diagnostic criteria required to access the program.

Referral Contact Information

Clients Served

Gender Male and female

Therapeutic Approach

Languages

English

Hours