Many municipalities in Ontario have learned that one of the most effective tools for community safety and well-being (CSWB) is a well-resourced and supported situation table. Situation tables enhance the work of CSWB by bringing together social services, public health, police and emergency services, and community organizations as a means of prioritizing proactive rather than reactive community interventions. By looking at the social origins of risk, they anticipate the supports required by people with acute needs and connect them to the services of table collaborators before more harmful incidences can occur.

In this session, four OMSSA members organizations—the City of Greater Sudbury, Bruce County, the City of Toronto, and York Region—will provide insights into the work that they have carried out to build their situation tables and will highlight the specific needs and risks that they address. The speakers will discuss the challenges they have overcome in order to sustain the work of their tables, from maintaining momentum and engagement amongst the collaborators to ensuring political and financial support.

Among the issues to be considered in this session are: How do you build effective partnerships and collaborations? How do you ensure buy-in from situation table partners? Are there benefits to having a dedicated champion for the table who can rally the partners and advocate for continued support? How do you effectively resource a situation table? What data should be highlighted to demonstrate both the need for and success of a situation table?

Areas of Focus: Situation Tables; Proactive Interventions; Children and Youth; Partnership Building; Privacy.