ARCC program having difficulty hiring
A provincial program aimed at helping people in crisis is struggling to find staff.
The Alternative Response to Citizens in Crisis (ARCC) program was launched in December 2021, creating two-person response teams to help those experiencing mental health crisis on Winnipeg streets.
ARCC pairs a plainclothes police officer with a certified clinician to respond to mental health and addictions calls. Since its inception, the program has responded to 882 incidents involving 530 people.
Winnipeg police Chief Danny Smyth said ARCC has been very effective so far, freeing up valuable emergency service resources.
"Without the clinician, we'd be forced to go in through the emergency room of hospitals and that's not the way we want to do that," Smyth said. "It ties up our resources and it ties up the ER."
In June, the provincial government announced the ARCC program would be expanding from five to seven days a week. However, a lack of those clinicians in Manitoba has stalled the province from extending the initiative into weekends.
The police service says it's hoping to add two clinician positions. On Friday, the police board heard that expansion has not happened yet because of a lack of candidates.
"Well it's the age old problem we're seeing throughout many departments in the City of Winnipeg, human resources being a challenge," said police board chair Markus Chambers.
"Clinicians in general they're short all over the place," said Smyth.
Mental health advocates say it's imperative that services like ARCC are available around the clock, seven days a week.
"It's often in the evenings and on the weekends and over the night where people are experiencing higher levels of distress and there's less resources available," said Marion Cooper with the Canadian Mental Health Association.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Shared Health Manitoba said the hiring process is moving ahead in a normal fashion, with both internal and external job postings.
“We are optimistic these open positions will be filled relatively soon,” said the statement.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.