The Working Centre - St. John's Kitchen


Psychiatric Outreach is an exciting initiative providing a patient-centred, community-based approach to mental health care to members of our community who are facing the challenges of poverty.
Links:

Psychiatric Outreach Promotional
Poster (.pdf)

The Psychiatric Outreach Project (POP) was created by the Region of Waterloo in consultation with community agencies highlighting a gap in supports bridging the homeless population with established mental health services. After a successful pilot project, administration of the project was transferred to The Working Centre, an organization already administering St. John’s Kitchen and strongly involved in the outreach network located in downtown Kitchener.

The Psychiatric Outreach Project is embedded in the outreach and mental health support networks already established in the community. The roles of the medical staff at the Psychiatric Outreach Project complement and support the wider areas of outreach in the core areas including housing support, employment support, drop-in centres, shelters, and emergency resources.

This Project Emphasizes...

Building Relationships
Education
Accessibility
Individual Determination

Project Goals

  • Provides mental health care and supports for individuals who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness
  • Offers flexible treatment options based on individual needs
  • Integrates our services within the current outreach network and agencies in downtown Kitchener
  • Reconnects individuals with their family doctors, families, and communities
  • Acts as an injection site as an option for medical treatment
  • Provides ODSP assessments to help individuals access basic needs

Project Resources

  • Physician: Providing mental health assessments, counseling, and prescriptions
  • Psychiatric Nurse: Providing counseling, education, advocacy, accompaniment, and outreach on the street and in local shelters
  • Social Worker: Offers counseling during clinic hours and by appointment
  • Psychiatrist and Registered Nurse: Offers psychiatric and clinical consulting services
  • Office Administrator: Manages medical files, accounting, reception, and scheduling

Clinic Location and Hours

The Psychiatric Outreach clinic is located at 97 Victoria Street North (St. John's Kitchen).
It operates every Thursday from 9:00am to 12:00pm.

For more information contact call (519) 342-1616 or fax (519) 513-9777.