Safe Beds: The new partner in Niagara's crisis system

Abstract

Over the past few years and for a variety of reasons, consumers/survivors in the Niagara Region have indicated that an alternative to hospitalization is needed. This paper describes the community-development process which led to the creation of a crisis-response system consisting of Community Crisis Care (CCC) and a Safe Beds program operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association St. Catharines and District. The system is described, as well as the partnerships that are critical to the program's success. Evaluative data are presented along with a discussion of critical learnings. Future considerations for program improvement also are discussed.