INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FRONTLINE WORKERS THROUGH A MODEL MENTAL-HEALTH TRAINING-PROGRAM

The Ontario Ministry of Housing provides permanent, affordable, indepe ndent housing for mental health consumers. This approach, not continge nt on consumer participation in support service programs, is part of a continuum of housing options. To help integrate consumers into social housing communities, the ministry engaged a Senior Advisor, Mental He alth, to develop alternate ways to maintain housing for this group. A province-wide mental health training initiative aimed at front-line ho using staff, which uses unique techniques such as popular theatre, exp eriential exercises and partnership building/strategic alliance develo pment will be described in this paper.