ACCESS NETWORK STORIES
Access Network Member Profile: Rachelle
There are many amazing professionals who are part of the Access Network. Each quarter, we will highlight just one of these professionals so you can meet them, get to know a little about them, and learn about where they work… For this quarter, we will be introducing you to Rachelle Mumm, who is a social worker that works with the Intensive Community Transitions (ITC) Team.
What the ICTT does
The ICT Team is a Level 4 mental health and addiction stabilization team. Level 4 is the most assertive level of engagement that exists before hospitalization (which is Level 5 – medically monitored sites). ICT uses a multidisciplinary Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model. The team is comprised of two psychiatrists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, addiction counsellors, mental health therapists, independent living skills (ILS) workers, peer support workers, and an Indigenous health coordinator.
ICT receives referrals from Access 24/7 and also through the “community stream.” Organizations that refer through the community stream are the Bissell Centre, Boyle Street Community Services, George Spady Society, Women’s Emergency Accommodation Centre, Edmonton Remand Centre, Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre, any Alberta Health Services (AHS) program that puts in for transfer, such as Alberta Hospital Edmonton or other lower involvement AHS programs, and the psychiatric emergency departments at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the University of Alberta Hospital. Currently, ICT also receive referrals from the shelter at the Edmonton Convention Centre.
People being referred are homeless or very close to being homeless, experiencing persistent, acute mental health symptoms, and have tried to access other traditional services for help but have not had positive outcomes. People referred are often experiencing psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, or mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder. The cause of the mental health symptoms (which can include substance use) should not impact the person’s eligibility. People do not need a pre-existing diagnosis; the team will ensure that they are connected to a psychiatrist to receive a diagnosis once referred.
ICT members meet with people in their community and do not expect people to come into an office. Stabilization can take from 3-6 months, to a year, to six years. In some cases, there is just no other service available that is appropriate.
What Rachelle loves about her work
Rachelle loves the fact that the work is ever-changing and there is the ability to be flexible and creative with both engagement and treatment plans. There is a good mix of utilizing both community and systemic resources and working to try and bridge the gaps between. It’s very relational work and it feels important providing consistent and reliable holistic support for people who haven’t traditionally had many reliable supports. Finally, Rachelle also appreciates being part of a multi-disciplinary team and has grown to appreciate and respect her other teammates’ perspectives.
What Rachelle finds most challenging about her work
What Rachelle finds most challenging is balancing the administrative expectations with direct service to people on the ICT caseload. As well, as a trained social worker, Rachelle has to work really hard to function in a medical environment, as the values do not always align. Understanding and respecting each other’s diverse and equally important perspectives is a really important part of teamwork at ICT. Finally, always an ongoing challenge, Rachelle acknowledges the gaps that can make the work of the ICT more difficult. The most significant gap? The lack of appropriate supportive housing.
How the Access Network has helped Rachelle in her work
Rachelle values being part of the Access Network as she believes that a key underlying principle of our work is acknowledging that people exist in communities. The Access Network provides the groundwork for real community work. In a community, supports and resources wear many faces and can be utilized in so many ways. The Network provides more opportunities for creativity in interventions and helps the ICT to find the right person for the right job, and the right supports at the right time, capitalizing on timing. Finally, the Network helps Rachelle to remain connected to her community, to stay updated, and to nurture professional relationships.
