ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE’S STRATEGIC PLANS

The Grande Prairie FCSS program aligns with three City of Grande Prairie strategic plans:

THE CITY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE STRATEGIC PLAN, 2022 – 2025 7

• Quality of Life

• Innovative Efficiencies & Economic Readiness

• Inclusive Caring Community

• Engaging Relationships

THE HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY FOR GRANDE PRAIRIE 2021 – 2023 8

• System Planning & Collaboration

• Programming & Supports

• Housing

• Community Safety

GRANDE PRAIRIE COMMUNITY OPIOID RESPONSE FRAMEWORK 9

• Pillar One: Prevention

• Pillar Two: Harm Reduction

• Pillar Three: Treatment and Recovery

• Pillar Four: Policing (re-named “First Responders” in 2022)

Although these strategies and priorities originate from various areas of focus, they are interconnected. The development of FCSS program priorities has considered the role of preventive programming in each of these areas. Implementing effective prevention work can contribute to reconciliation, foster cultural connectedness, promote safety and wellbeing in communities, and when integrated into a comprehensive support system, address the root causes of poverty, social inequality, and homelessness. As you plan and design your FCSS program, it is beneficial to align your work with the aforementioned strategies. Your program can align with multiple strategies simultaneously, allowing for a more comprehensive and impactful approach.

Prevention Continuum

In considering all social issues and services across the entire system, a prevention continuum is required and a need for common language to align around. Regardless of the social issue, we are always seeking to prevent risks and harm and find ways to improve the resiliency and well-being of individuals and the community.

FCSS funding only focuses on primary and secondary prevention. However, the City has funding for services across all areas of prevention. The following diagram explains the continuum of prevention and the different classifications. To effectively prevent vulnerability and increase resiliency, all three forms of prevention must occur simultaneously.

Primary Prevention

Primary prevention refers to structural-level initiatives that apply to everyone, to reduce risk and build protective factors, and includes:

• Universal prevention policies and interventions that target the public. While these strategies do not always have homelessness prevention as their goal, they have the effect of reducing the risks of becoming homeless by creating greater equality, which is vital to homelessness prevention. Examples include having an adequate supply of affordable housing, and poverty reduction strategies, such as greater access to affordable childcare.

• Selected prevention efforts aimed at members of a particular group, such as school-based programs and antioppression strategies for individuals facing discrimination.

• Indicated prevention applies to all those who are disadvantaged to ensure they do not become further marginalized further. Examples of indicated prevention include support for those at risk of experiencing violence and mental health/addiction challenges.

Secondary Prevention

Secondary prevention intervention strategies are aimed at those who are at imminent risk, as well as those who have recently become vulnerable, with the aim of avoiding further harm or moving out of the situation as quickly as possible. Examples include emergency financial assistance, family mediation, and domestic violence victim support.

Tertiary Prevention

Tertiary prevention initiatives support individuals and families who have previously experienced vulnerability to ensure that it does not happen again. The Housing First model is a type of tertiary prevention by providing chronically homeless individuals with housing and supports to maintain housing stability.