The Health Links program offers subsidized independent units with visiting residential support to individuals with serious mental health issues. The program is a partnership between Regeneration Community Services (RCS), Reconnect and COTA – tenants have access to residential support through RCS, and case management support through either Reconnect or COTA. Tenants supported by Reconnect also have access to clinical support. Tenants are offered one-bedroom or bachelor units in a private market building. The program is recovery-based and aims to assist tenants in living independently with support.
Components
Tenants in the Health Links program have access to:
- Residential support, including assistance with activities of daily living (e.g. cooking and cleaning);
- Opportunities for social and community engagement;
- Peer support services.
Tenants at Health Links are also provided with case management supports. Case managers meet regularly with client-members to:
- Complete assessments to identify (and later reassess) needs, strengths and recovery goals;
- Develop a plan for services which incorporates client-member goals and values, and focuses on priority areas of need (such as housing, education, social relationships, employment, daytime activities and health-related issues);
- Connect client-members to outside resources and services through referrals and/or community engagement;
- Facilitate and coordinate access to services, including consulting other individuals and agencies within a person’s circle of care (with the consent of the client-member);
- Provide supportive counselling in order to assist client-members in achieving personal recovery goals; and
- Advocate for client-member rights both on an individual and systemic level.