Brief description of the organization
The Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) is the municipal police service for the Region of Waterloo, serving Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, and the surrounding townships. In addition to core policing functions, WRPS dedicates significant resources to mental health response. This includes specialized units and officers trained in crisis intervention, working in collaboration and provided integrated responses aimed at connecting individuals in crisis with appropriate supports. Through strong partnerships and collaboration with the healthcare sector, WRPS emphasizes prevention, de-escalation, and coordinated care to enhance public safety and community well-being.
Problem area
Mental health-related calls place a significant and growing demand on the Region of Waterloo's emergency response system (police, EMS, fire) and significantly impacts hospital emergency departments and connected human services. The sophisticated and complex nature of mental health, addictions and intersecting social determinant issues demands that we ensure people receive the right support at the right time. WRPS would like to explore how an independent, non-police mental health response could be developed and integrated into the current emergency service landscape, upcoming capital projects and effectively aligning its services with frontline emergency services, community partners and health practitioners.
As we prepare to be "One Million Ready," this work will examine what a dedicated and innovative mental health response model could look like in Waterloo Region. This includes understanding potential impacts on frontline services and community partners, identifying staffing and training requirements, assessing expected outcomes, and evaluating the risks and opportunities of integrating such a program into the broader emergency response ecosystem.
Main objectives
Develop a framework for a 24hr/day Mental Health-focused response that is independent of other emergency service providers but is effectively integrated into the overall response continuum.
Scope of work
- Literature review
- Environmental scan
- Fully proposed model (inclusive of budget, staffing needs/streams, training, facilities)
- Future impact evaluation (benefits, gains, risks)
Deliverables
- Report
- Presentation
- Resources
- New protocols/processes
- Implementation map/logic model
Team meeting frequency
Weekly
Skills and training required
- Research
- Analytics
- Process mapping
- Presentation skills
- Knowledge of data infrastructures
- Systems knowledge and thinking
- Knowledge and consideration of Waterloo Region mental health services community is an asset
Resources required
- Access to institutional library
- Access to Microsoft and/or relevant analytical software
- Data sets
- Site visits
- Benchmarking with other municipalities and organizations which have implemented similar models. These contacts will be facilitated by project partners.
NDA or a commercialization agreement for this project?
Yes