Community Mental Health Support Services Goal

The primary goal of the Community Mental Health Support Services is to assist persons and their families who struggle with persistent and severe mental illness to achieve their goals, to feel as well as possible and live in the community in a place of their choice.

Community Mental Health Support Services is governed by the Kenora Association for Community Living, whose mission is:

to ensure that all people with special needs have the opportunity to live a meaningful and satisfying lifestyle and interact as an equal in their community by providing continuous opportunities for personal growth through education, training, support, advocacy and an informed public.

The following service delivery principles guide all services of the Association in the delivery of support to the people of Kenora.

Respect of an individual requires recognition of his or her humanity before his or her handicap

Everyone is deserving of respect as individuals.

All persons have the right to participate in all aspects of living, learning, working and playing in the community.

The manner and context within which support is offered should affirm normal patterns of living, learning, working and playing in the community including normal needs, processes, relationships and rhythms of life.

Intensive Case Management

Community Mental Health Support Services provides intensive case management services using the personal strengths model for recovery.  Through this intensive case management model we are able to provide flexible and individualized support that varies in intensity, is based on consumer choice and uses their capacities, resiliencies, talents, coping abilities and inherent worth to develop a plan of support. 

Priority is given to activities that develop supportive relationships, establish valued roles and encourage participation in our community.  Support is provided with the goal that will ultimately prevent the need for future hospitalization. 

CMHSS support is characterized by high frequency of contacts, proactive outreach, small caseloads, 24 hour availability, and support based in the community. In order to accomplish this level of intensity the case management model is complimented by community support staff.