The Bonnyville Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinic started out as a vision, one that has become a reality with the help of community collaboration.
On Thursday, April 27, the local clinic was acknowledged for their partnerships with local organizations and municipal bodies, receiving the Covenant Health Mission Award for Collaboration. They were recognized for their work with local school boards, Alberta Health Services, the Town and MD of Bonnyville, school counsellors, doctors, teachers, and parents.
The clinic was created out of a need for mental health services in Bonnyville for children ages six to 17. Nurse practitioner Chantal Vallee, along with the Bonnyville Mental Health Steering Committee, decided it was time to fill that need, and worked with local organizations to start the process of helping youth.
“We never expected it to evolve so quickly and for it to get so much acceptance. We didn't realize the huge need until we started getting all of the referrals. I'm happy to see the community has really embraced this new practice and are wanting to use the services we are providing,” noted Vallee, who is involved with assessing and diagnosing youth referred to the centre.
There were 12 centres, hospitals, and clinics nominated for this year's Collaboration Award, but the Bonnyville clinic stood out for its numerous partnerships.
Vallee said, “This whole concept and idea that we had was embraced and supported by the Town and the MD of Bonnyville. Between them and the school boards, they helped us get this off the ground from a financial perspective and help move this vision forward.”
She added that receiving the award just shows they have been successful in bringing in all of these partners and creating something unique in the community.
“It's also very community specific. It shows that going back to the basics of community involvement, participation and looking after our unique situations and trying to build something to meet our needs can still work.”
Alena Thompson, mental health navigator for the child and adolescent mental health clinic, agreed.
“I think we won because we have such a big collaboration and a lot of government agencies involved.”
The clinic was up against centres such as St. Joseph's Auxiliary Hospital, St. Mary's Health Care Centre, the Youville Home, and the Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre.
“We were very honoured and very pleased to hear it. It's nice to be recognized because we have had some great collaboration with our community to have a successful clinic,” Thompson described. “There are many players at the table, but we were all able to work very well together and have a good clinic for kids.”
It's because of community members and local organizations who recognize the importance of the clinic for youth that it's managed to be so successful.
Thompson said everyone sees the end goal of the clinic: to improve access for families to supports for mental health care for youth.
“I think it's giving parents the reassurance that there is help out there, and that they can get support. I think it's giving the kids the information and knowledge they need to help participate in their own healthcare, and it's helping with communication between all of the people who care for these kids… so that we can better provide for these kids.”
