This group was formed to think about longer-term processes of integration, social inclusion and settlement past the first year of living in Canada. It is attended by social service providers, educators, researchers, newcomers and representatives of community-based organizations.
M.A.P.S. is pleased to be a member of this Coalition.
The Community Mental Health Action Plan is a partnership of more than 50 organizations working to help all organizations involved in mental health and addiction in Edmonton and Area maximize collective resources, leverage opportunities to respond to existing gaps in service, and foster innovative approaches to integrate supports and services. This is accomplished by taking meaningful action in three areas:
M.A.P.S. is pleased to sit on the Steering Committee and Co-chair the Evidence Foundation Leadership team.
A City of Edmonton program that provides free monthly transit passes to individuals who are homeless or are at high risk of homelessness.
Sponsored and convened by the City of Edmonton and provided through various social agencies, Providing Accessible Transit Here (PATH) gives vulnerable Edmontonians a monthly transit pass. This helps them to attend school and seek work and housing, as well as medical and other social services.
In 2016, PATH evolved out of the Youth Transit Access Project. The City of Edmonton, MAPS Alberta, the High-Risk Youth Initiative with the Government of Alberta and five youth-serving agencies (Boyle Street Education Centre, iHuman Youth Services, Native Counselling Services of Alberta, Old Strathcona Youth Society and Youth Empowerment Support Services) worked together to distribute 100 monthly youth transit passes. The project was successful and it expanded in November 2016 to include vulnerable youth and adults.
The South East Youth Action Committee has conducted research into social norms regarding youth behaviour in Mill Woods. The results demonstrated that both youth and adults believe youth are involved in more unhealthy behaviours then they are. A social norms campaign called #MeetTheRealMillWoods is being developed and implemented to correct these beliefs. See some campaign materials below.
M.A.P.S. is pleased to be chairing this committee as well as providing community-based research support.