New Community Response Team: A pandemic response

Like other mental health and addictions service providers, CMHA Peel Dufferin has found new and innovative ways to overcome challenges created by the pandemic while maintaining high-quality service to its clients. CMHA Peel Dufferin’s new adaptive Community Response Team (CRT) is but one example.

The CRT was developed to be flexible and responsive to meet increased demand for service created by COVID-19. The CRT enhances the branch intake and referral process for lower to moderate-risk clients yet is flexible enough to facilitate more immediate response for clients who are at higher risk.

The CRT has three pillars:

• Triage – new clients can call for information or referrals for entry into programs and services.
• A Client Command Centre – this is a pathway for clients who may benefit from 1:1 telephone support or monitored tele-groups.
• An Urgent Response Team – for higher risk clients that require in-person visits. A CMHA staff person can see these clients in as little as 48 hours.

The CRT is free of charge and available in Brampton, Mississauga, Dufferin and Caledon. It also runs parallel to existing pathways for urgent and non-urgent care. Read more about CMHA Peel Dufferin’s Community Response Team.