To strengthen Lethbridge’s coordinated response to preventative social programs, homelessness, and housing instability, more than 200 people from approximately 60 groups gathered at the City of Lethbridge’s annual ICA Service Fair.
Integrated Coordinated Access is Lethbridge’s coordinated response to these challenges.
It brings housing, health, Indigenous, community safety, and social partners together to connect people with the supports they need.
The Service Fair gives ICA System Navigators and service providers a chance to learn about local programs, build new connections, and share ideas.
General Manager of Community Social Development Andrew Malcolm said no one group can address social challenges alone.
“The ICA Service Fair helps partners build relationships and work toward shared goals, so the community can respond more effectively,” Malcolm added.
The Service Fair began with cultural activities led by the Blackfoot Resource Hub.
Attendees also received updates on the ICA System, including recent successes and future goals.
Activities included:
- information tables about local programs and services
- training sessions for navigators, supervisors, and leaders
- feedback sessions to help improve the local support system
A key goal of ICA is to create a ‘No Wrong Door’ approach. This connects residents to supports they need, regardless of where they first seek help.
Strong relationships between service providers create a more responsive support system. As Lethbridge grows, strong partnerships will remain important.
ICA helps ensure residents can access a coordinated network of supports when they need them most.
According to Malcolm, the Service Fair was a lot about learning. “There’s been a lot of opportunities for groups from different organizations to sit down and talk about similar challenges they’re seeing and how they might be able to support each other.”
Each organization working in the social sector will go back and make changes to their own information they’re providing to clients in the community.
“Those clients are those in our community in need of support. It’s really about just building a more robust system that can help those most in need in our community, so a little bit different than some events where their supports are actually directly for the clients,” Malcolm explained. “This is about building the capacity in the organization for everyone who helps those individuals.”
This year is the fifth annual Service Fair, and Malcolm noted this week’s event had the biggest turnout, thus far.
“That shows us these organizations, and the individuals at them, see value in getting together and talking about what’s working and what’s not and charting a better path forward for the community,” said Malcolm.
