Supplied by Algoma Family Services…
On Tuesday, December 15th, the Walk In Counselling Service will be holding their Grand Opening for community and services providers to come and meet their staff along with the executives of the three partner agencies: Algoma Family Services (AFS), Algoma Public Health (APH) and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). The Grand Opening will be held at the CMHA office located at 386 Queen St. E from 9:00am -11:30am.
“The Walk In Counselling Service is about making timely access to services easier for children, youth, adults and families,” said AFS CEO Ali Juma. “I am incredibly proud of the clinicians and staff who rose to the challenge to make this service happen. Better yet is the collaboration between APH, CMHA and AFS to take this program from concept to reality. We thank the Medavie Health Foundation for their grant of $30,000 to help us launch this service.”
The only one of its kind in the Algoma District, the Walk In Counselling Service offers free and timely mental health and addictions care to children, youth, adults and families. The Service is open every Tuesday from 11:30am until 7:00pm with the last session beginning at 5:30pm. The Walk In Counselling Service is staffed by registered mental health and addictions professionals from AFS and partner agencies (APH and CMHA).
The service has long been needed in Sault Ste. Marie and has been on the wish list for many years. “The Walk In Counselling Service is allowing our community to get the help they need in the here and now. With long waitlists for affordable counselling and a greater awareness about the importance of mental health and addictions, this service is long overdue,” said CMHA Sault Ste. Marie Branch Executive Director, Annette Katajamaki. “It has been a privilege to work with our partner agencies AFS and APH. We hope that this service will grow and continue to provide our community members an alternative to seeking services in the emergency department.”
“To date, the single session outcomes are very positive. Many of the participants have had their needs met in the single session, with referral on to other services as needed. The follow up feedback with the participants has validated this outcome,” said APH Director of Community Services Laurie Zeppa.