Cranbrook’s Situation Table held its first meeting this month, with the goal of finding collaborative ways to reduce risk in the community.
City officials said the group is made up of front-line workers from various organizations and services.
“The goal of this situation table is for these organizations and services to work collaboratively to develop immediate, appropriate, and coordinated responses to reduce or eliminate risk in a timely manner,” said city officials.
Participants include police officers, health services, housing, Indigenous services, mental health support and addiction services, among others.
“The successful launch of the table stems from community recognition of the increasingly complex nature and number of adversities individuals and families are facing, typically beyond the scope of a single agency to address,” said Marcel Germer, Social Development Coordinator with the City of Cranbrook. “The situation table is an effective platform to leverage community assets and resources to prevent crisis, help clients navigate lowering risk factors in their lives and decreasing the strain on emergency services.”
Cranbrook submitted an application to the Office of Crime Reduction and Gang Outreach in June 2023 to get funding for the table.
“Part of the application process required letters of support from community partners,” said city officials. “The positive response across various sectors was excellent and propelled the initiative forward through weeks of training and preparation.”
City officials said the table is set to meet every Tuesday.
