The New Beginnings outreach centre, which opened its doors in Kamsack in October 2016, is already being recognized by Health Canada as a remarkable success story.
Dr. Ibrahim Kahn, a regional medical health officer for First Nations and Inuit health programs with Health Canada, who visits the centre twice a year, submitted to the Canadian Public Health Association an abstract on mental health and addictions and sexually transmitted blood-borne diseases that are the focus of the centre.
On the strength of this submission, Kahn, Wanda Cote, manager of the centre, and Jaimie Desjarlais, a staff member, have been invited to speak in Montreal May 28 to 31at the Canadian Public Health Association forum, which is a three-day conference.
Of the Cote First Nation, Wanda Cote has been the manager of the centre since it opened its doors, first in a building on main street across from the post office, and later, when it moved to its present location on First Street in April 2017.
“There was a recognized opioid and methadone crisis within the First Nation population and with that followed many overdoses and suicides,” Cote said. Those issues needed to be addressed so a decision was made to open the outreach centre to help meet the needs of those struggling with addictions and mental health issues.
“Our first building was too small and didn’t have proper kitchen facilities,” said Cote. “This building has allowed us to expand our programming, and we will be able to continue with that expansion in the future.”
There were only two people on staff when the centre first opened: Cote, whose background is in social work with a certificate in counselling, and Desjarlais of The Key First Nation, who oversees the mental health programming. Now there are six on permanent staff.
“We have more space for offices here, and right now we are undergoing renovations to accommodate a computer lab which will be used for teaching, as well as practical applications such as constructing resumes for our clients.
“We are working with Parkland College, and are hopeful that we will be able to provide distance education classes in the future,” she said.
The centre is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. As manager, Cote secures ongoing programming at the facility and also handles the media communications duties. Global TV from Regina was to be coming to Kamsack to interview Cote on April 5 about the services that were being offered at the centre.
There is a full calendar of events offered at the centre every day, and it includes a daily hot lunch program and the harm-reduction needle exchange program.
Dr. Stuart Skinner of Saskatoon, a specialist of infectious diseases, visits the centre four times a year.
Health Canada brings portable testing equipment to the centre twice a year to do liver scans, HIV and hepatitis C testing on site. When a client gets the results he or she does an immediate care plan with Skinner.
“They were able to test 66 clients on the last trip to the centre,” said Cote. “That was a busy day.”
Rob Kirk, a psychologist of Regina, comes to the centre twice a month to work with clients, and Mike Gunn, a mental health therapist of Yorkton, comes twice a week.
As part of her mandate as manager of the centre, Cote also secures grant-funding for programs. She has secured $48,000 for literacy programs.
Programs are ongoing. From January to the end of March, beading classes were taught by Dalan Wandibiska. Darwin Keshane, a local artist of Keeseekoose First Nation, is currently leading an art class that began on February 6 and will finish at the end of April. Connie Shingoose of Keeseekoose instructs Saulteaux language classes twice a week. Jaimie Desjarlais teaches the life-skills program called the Overcomers Course which started in January and will complete at the end of April.
“We have 10 regulars who attend this course and each will receive a certificate upon completion,” said Cote.
There is also a class referred to as Teepee Teachings, in which a client builds a miniature teepee, and is taught that each pole represents a certain aspect from the Saulteaux culture.
Cote keeps sweetgrass in her office to be used by clients who wish to make a smudge and pray.
Elders are available to be called in for spiritual guidance.
Members of the RCMP have visited the centre to give a presentation about fentanyl. Also, in January, the street in front of the centre was blocked off so the clients could engage in a hockey game against members of the RCMP.
The centre has two peer mentors on staff: Loretta Friday and Steven Bryant, both of Cote, who are there to speak with clients one-on-one.
A food pantry, much like a food bank, has been started at the centre and the accumulated foodstuffs are being donated to people in need. Currently donations are coming from Cote Market, Yorkton Transitional Homes and Save On Foods in Yorkton. They are always looking for more donations.
“We received a $30,000 donation from the Painted Hand Development Corporation of Yorkton to purchase a van to use as an outreach vehicle.
Cassandra Whalley, a registered nurse who moved to Saskatchewan from Nova Scotia, is the community outreach nurse employed by Health Canada’s First Nation and Inuit Health Branch, and works out of the former Sunrise Health Region building in Kamack. Whalley comes to the centre every Wednesday, when she sees clients and does presentations.
On April 18 the centre will be training people how to administer the opioid antidote Naloxone.
The centre is holding an art contest as an incentive to keep clients engaged, with the first prize of $75; second, $50, and third, $25.
The centre is also fundraising for a five-day trip to Niagara Falls in July. The goal is to raise $10,000 to be able to take 10 clients who are consistent with taking programs, volunteering at the centre and volunteering with fundraising on a special trip that they would otherwise not have a chance to take. Raffle tickets may be purchased at the centre and a draw will be made on May 2.
