Spallumcheen’s Round Lake Treatment Centre is among those expanding thanks to some additional services.
Interior Health has awarded contracts for the creation of 26 additional support recovery beds. These new beds will enhance mental health and substance use services throughout the B.C. Interior.
“More beds mean more people can get their lives back,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “Bed by bed, we are following through on our commitment to create new substance use treatment beds, so families can be made whole again, and communities can benefit from engaged, healthy members.”
These are the first five of ten eventual contracts to provide an additional 57 beds to communities throughout IH. Support recovery beds provide clients a safe, substance-free setting while they await residential treatment, return from residential treatment or transition to a more stable lifestyle.
“Our staff members are working very hard to get these beds open,” said IH Board Chair Erwin Malzer. “A support recovery bed is more than just a bed. It represents a place where clients can feel safe and secure, knowing they’ll receive the encouragement and treatment they require to restore their health.”
The first five contracts include Round Lake Treatment Centre, which serves the North Okanagan area and will provide six Aboriginal support recovery beds in Armstrong.
The majority of the 57 support recovery beds will be completed and open by December 2016.
Through partnerships and consultation with the First Nation Health Authority and local First Nation groups, the 57 Support Recovery beds will include up to 15 spaces provided by an Aboriginal organization.
“Today’s announcement will improve access to addiction treatment services for both on reserve and away from home First Nations. This was made possible by a first of its kind data project which matched Ministry health services utilization data with the First Nations client file,” said Richard Jock, First Nations Health Authority Chief Operating Officer. “The allocation of beds to Ktunaxa First Nation and Round Lake Treatment Centre is a concrete example of data driven decision-making made possible by the new relationships with the seven Nations of the interior and the First Nations Health Authority.”