Reports - Regional: Yorkton

The Yorkton Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association has undergone many changes in the last year, which has resulted in operations at our drop-in centre being undertaken by the Mental Health Drop-In Centre Inc.

Effective April 1st the CMHA Yorkton Branch has moved to a new location and is operating on a part-time basis. The objective of this new Yorkton Branch is to conduct a public awareness campaign to ensure better understanding in the community of CMHA’s advocacy and public education role. To achieve this goal the branch is working on recruiting individuals from the community to form a new Advisory Committee. These new committee members will provide input into the development of a mental health community strategy to best serve the interests of people living with mental illness, as well as planning and execution of fundraising activities.

While CMHA is no longer operating the Drop-In Centre, we will be sharing a percentage of the proceeds of our local fundraising activities to support recreational and educational activities for clients of the drop-in centre. In this way CMHA hopes to provide assistance with the drop-in centre’s operational budget with regard to program development.

Fund Development:
The private and public sectors have been identified as key entities for the fund development plan in the fiscal year 2007-2008. On April 20th CMHA Yorkton Branch did a presentation to the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting. They were provided with some of the history of CMHA and its roles of advocacy, mental health promotion and provision and/or support of recreational activities addressed at improving the quality of life of people living with mental illness. They were asked to work as
partners in cooperation with us.

Several community agencies have been contacted and have indicated their willingness to be part of our ambitious project. Some of these agencies are: SIGN (Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbors), the City of Yorkton, Parkland Mall, Giant Tiger, the Gallagher Center, the Parkland Regional College and other small businesses.
The Gallagher Center has agreed to donate free passes for the pool to be used exclusively for clients at the Drop-In Centre this summer. Parkland Mall has agreed to allow us use of their facilities for fundraising activities such as hot dog sales, pancake breakfasts, draws, campaign kick off and poster distribution.

Advocacy and Educational Programs:
Once an Advisory Committee has been formed, we will be developing a formal plan for consistent public awareness, advocacy, educational and fundraising activities for the fiscal year 2007-2008. By approaching the community, we hope to raise sufficient funds to
continue working for the benefit of individuals facing mental health issues in order to minimize their difficulties with socialization, to facilitate adequate access to community services and to advocate with them, or on their behalf, for realistic actions plans to maximize their individual potential.

A meeting with Ed Sorsdahl, Manager of Mental Health and Addictions Services of the Sunrise Health Region is planned for the very near future. The purpose of this meeting will be the consolidation of an effective channel of communication between: the Sunrise Health Region as a mental health services provider, individuals requiring these services (consumers) and CMHA as a community based organization promoting mental health.

Finally, I would like to thank CMHA for this opportunity. I am proud to be back as a part of the Saskatchewan Division team. I am confident that together we can make the difference and I am always looking one step forward for the enhancement of our programs.

Respectfully submitted,

Dr. Donia Alvarado Okrainec
Acting Program Director

Reach us at:

Yorkton Branch
Dr. Donia Alvarado, Acting Program Director
83 North Street
Yorkton, SK S3N 0G9
Phone 306 783-8135, Fax 306 783-8113
e-mail cmhayorkton@sasktel.net