Town & M.D. fund mental health program after funding slashed

The Town and M.D. of Bonnyville have both stepped up to pick up the funding shortfall from the province on the Bonnyville Child Adolescent Mental Health Collaborative, allowing the program to survive. 

In early February, members of the Collaborative, which helps 70 children and families access mental health support locally, alerted local councils about how their provincial dollars were cut in AHS’ transition to Recovery Alberta, and a change of their mandate.

The $67,700 annual contribution from the program was used to fund the Mental Health Navigator position, the center piece of the operation.

With that gone, the pressure was on to determine how to come up with the money, or the program would go away.

Each municipality is contributing $25,000 more than normal, to oversee the CAMHC through this uncertainty.

“As council, we don’t want to see it go away,” Mayor Elisa Brosseau on The Morning After, after council agreed to ask at the Feb. 25 meeting. 

“We see the benefit of having it in the community and having the local families have local access to mental health navigator and the resources they need.” 

When the delegation was made, council voiced frustration about the province downloading more onto the municipality’s plate.

“It ticks me off that they continue to download,” said Byron Johnson during the Feb. 25 meeting. “For me, one life saved is more than enough for the money we spend on it.” 

Along with the funding, M.D. council agreed to write a letter to MLA Scott Cyr and the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, Dan Williams, regarding concerns with the reduction in funding.

Representatives Kendra Krankowsky and Kallie Ellis explained that they are seeking federal grants as options, or corporate sponsorships as well. 

One federal grant, called ‘Mental Health Initiatives’ could provide $500,000 over four years.

“[It was] Not a tough decision, however, the tougher decision will come in the future if they aren’t successful in acquiring other grants,” said Brosseau. 

“This $25,000 is gonna help them bridge the timeline for them to apply for other grants and hopefully source out other funding. If they aren’t successful and the province still isn’t funding, that’s when we could have a really tough discussion as far as, do we want to take this on? When, in fact, it’s the responsibility of the province.”