City of Kamloops Community Services Officers (Image Credit: CFJC Today/File photo)

By Aaron Schulze

Mobile Crisis Outreach Response team

New response team launches to assist at-risk youth experiencing crises in Kamloops

Jun 11, 2024 | 11:41 AM

KAMLOOPS — A team consisting of a City of Kamloops Community Services Officer and an Interior Community Services outreach worker will be assisting at-risk youth in the community for the next four years.

In a news release issued Tuesday (June 11) morning, the City of Kamloops announced the Mobile Crisis Outreach Response team will operate until summer 2028.

Tracey Elias, the city’s community services supervisor, states the Mobile Crisis Outreach Response team began its operations in March and has made 110 connections with at-risk youths as of publication.

The team is targeted toward at-risk youth aged 26 and under who are experiencing mental health or substance-related crises. The city says the intervention project aims to enhance response times, provide referrals for supports and services, prevent and reduce unnecessary police contact, minimize emergency room visits, decrease incidents of youth-involved criminal activity, and ease appropriate case management supports for vulnerable youths.

During daytime hours, the city says Interior Community Services offers clothing, computer access, food supplies, laundry facilities and showers to at-risk youths at their drop-in centre at 408 Seymour St. Interior Community Services also operates the Kamloops Youth Shelter, which offers daytime supports of food, laundry, shower, harm reduction supplies and a safe place to sleep for youths aged 19 and under.

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Then during the evening, the city says the Mobile Crisis Outreach Response team keeps connections with at-risk youths. Young people are encouraged to use support services provided through Interior Community Services, including the Seymour Street drop-in centre.

During evening hours, calls for service can be reported to 250-828-3409, although residents are encouraged to call 911 if there is an emergency or a threat to a person. The Mobile Crisis Outreach Response team will be on duty Tuesday through Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to midnight.