Chatham-Kent municipal council will vote Monday on implementing the new Community Safety & Well-Being Plan for the next four years.
At council’s May 26 meeting, Erin McEachran, Community Safety and Well-Being Coordinator with Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue, presented findings on significant public health and safety challenges facing the residents of Chatham-Kent.
The action plan needs to be updated every four years. Since the last report was released in 2021, residents have seen a decline in their mental and physical health, a rising rate of mental health struggles in youth, poverty, family instability, and a rise in substance abuse issues.
The 2025 plan proposes to address major social issues such as substance use, mental health needs, housing and income insecurity, public safety, community belonging, and individual and family wellness through six action areas.
McEachran explains that these priority areas are “each supported by local data and community input”, and the plan aims to establish “action tables for each priority area to develop and implement targeted strategies.”
Community organizations will continue engaging community members, especially those with lived experience, while also partnering with community organizations to address gaps in data and seek sustainable funding and partnerships to support implementation.
While no new costs are associated with implementing the CSWBP, if council approves the plan, the next stage of the rollout would be media and public communication, posting the full plan online and at libraries, submission to the Solicitor General and putting the plan into action by activating the working groups focused on each of the six priority areas.
