In 1982, FORWARD HOUSE was
established as a crisis line for clients of Alcohol and Drug
Programs, later to provide a meeting one day per week at District 69
Society of Organized Services (S.O.S.) for social support.
In 1984,
referrals to FORWARD HOUSE came from a variety of sources including
doctors, churches, and senior peer counseling programs. The group
continued to meet weekly and consisted largely of community elders.
In 1990,
Mental Health Services in Parksville indicated a new impetus for
services for mental health clients, there being no non-government
mental health program in District 69 at that time. All new referrals
were accepted from Mental Health Services in Parksville, only. All
funding stemmed from the Ministry of Health in Victoria.
From
1990 – 1992, FORWARD HOUSE members continued to meet weekly. The
program consisted of a “check-in”
and various group dynamics and self esteem exercises and
discussions, followed by lunch, and a community outing. There were
two volunteers and two paid, part time staff members.
From
1992 –1994, the FORWARD HOUSE Program Director provided outreach
services to the members on the days program participants did not
meet. This was done in conjunction with the Adult and Elderly
Services Co-ordinator
at the Parksville Mental Health office.
In 1994,
Mental Health Services queried program expansion. The Program
Director researched existing programs across the island to determine
what was working and why. Members were surveyed to determine their
needs and gaps in existing services. Emphasis was placed on making
the program community-specific, based on the needs of those
individuals we serve and the demographics,
the socio-economic and political climates, and available
resources in our own community. Also in 1994, Mental Health Services
developed an outreach (Supported Independent Living) program and
crisis intervention service. Shortly following was the inception of
the Urgent Response Team for more assertive crisis management and
hospital liaison. Thus, FORWARD HOUSE had as its primary focus an
in-house program with clinical liaison aspects intact.
In April
1995, FORWARD HOUSE opened its doors for a seven-day, two-evening
per week psychosocial rehabilitation program. Paid staff increased
to four members, and the membership increased to 35 client partners.
In 1997, we moved to somewhat larger premises, still in the downtown
core with ready access to services. Our clientele reached 50 in
number. In the same year, governance was assumed by the newly formed
Regional Health Board, which body directed the funding.
Today, FHCS is 100 members strong, and
growing. Our volunteers, including our volunteer board members are
18 in number. We employ six regularly scheduled staff, including a
peer/youth support services worker to help engage our younger
population.
FHCS is dedicated
to the ideals of community, the embracing of like-minded,
like-spirited people in common purpose. Inherent in every community
is diversity of age, gender, lifestyle, ethnicity, history, skills
and abilities and degree of wellness. FHCS is no exception. In
practical terms, we promote the use of skills and ideas toward
optimal wellness, each of us in partnership with the other. Each
partner is free to pursue his or her individual well being – self
esteem, self- empowerment, self-actualization – within the communal
whole, in turn strengthening the community itself.
FHCS strives to
be proactive in our approach to individual and community mental
health by providing programs and services to develop skills, and
enhance socialization and partnership with the community, thus
minimizing crises and maximizing personal responsibility and
normalization of relationship with community. We acknowledge that
substance use issues co-exist with many partners, and our programs
reflect this truth.
FHCS hosted the
first community Partnership Advisory Team meetings, which body now
'retired' assembled representatives of all partnership aspects, and
we participated in the similarly intended Regional Partnership Team,
Transitional Housing development committee and District 69 Housing
Society. We remain active in the Vancouver Island University Nursing
Collaboration Practice and enjoy affiliation with BCSS, Nanaimo.
