The Supervised Consumption Site in Lethbridge. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Report identifies several areas of “immediate change” needed for Lethbridge’s SCS

Jul 9, 2020 | 11:30 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Supervised Consumption Site (SCS) in Lethbridge could undergo a series of changes.

Back in March, the ARCHES Board of Directors initiated a search for an outside group to conduct an operational review, eventually siding with Collaborative Strategies.

A release from ARCHES states that “it is no secret that ARCHES has had its share of recent struggles, and in turn, this has put pressure on our community, partners, funders, and staff.”

They add that it is apparent that they will need to facilitate “big change” while working towards goals that take into consideration the community as a whole.

“We have learned a great deal these last few weeks and we want to share with the public how we plan to move forward and regain the trust of our community,” reads the statement from ARCHES.
“We want to assure you that even though our clients have always remained a priority, we recognize that it is also time to make our community a priority as well.”

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The following actions for immediate change have been identified:

• A new streamlined Organizational Structure with extensive operational oversight
• Implementation of new board recruitment strategies and policies
• Improved “Good Neighbour” policies working to improve the look, safety, debris and impact of the Supervised Consumption Site (SCS)
• Improved collaboration with Lethbridge Police & EMS
• Ensuring a consistent and responsible compensation policy that is in line with similar organizations in terms of size, structure, and feasibility
• Enhanced financial oversight
• Recommitment to the original harm reduction strategies
• Renewed focus on all other areas of current programming
• Appropriate and professional communication policies involving the public, media, government officials, and partners

Additionally, ARCHES will be looking at other future changes such as:

• An in-house policy for program participation
• Further inclusion and/or partnerships in education and treatment programming
• Transparent management structures
• Improved statistical accuracy
• Improved relations with the City of Lethbridge and provincial government
• Appropriate staffing compliments
• Advancing the organization’s core competencies
• Internal mental health supports for staff
• Appropriate OH&S policy, procedures and programs
• Improved internal policies and procedures.

While ARCHES does run the SCS in Lethbridge, they run many programs outside of that. They recognize that, in the last couple of years, periods of “extreme change, growth, and program development has at times cast a big shadow over everything else.”

The new organizational structure will look to better support these programs.