The Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) provides time-limited funding for a wide range of innovative and evidence-informed projects including substance use prevention, harm reduction and treatment initiatives across the country.
The Government of Canda is providing more than $8 million for nine projects across Atlantic Canada under SUAP that will support community-led initiatives to improve health outcomes for Canadians affected by substance use and addictions.
The backgrounder below describes the projects receiving funding.
SUAP Projects:
New Brunswick (NB)
ENSEMBLE Services Greater-Grand Moncton Inc. - H.O.P.E Helping Overlooked Persons Excell, Moncton, NB
$524,560 for their project engaging people with lived and living experience (PWLLE) of substance use in the Moncton region through the provision of workshops, information sessions and group activities designed by PWLLE participants. These education sessions are increasing knowledge, harm reduction practices, and self-advocacy among PWLLE. Through this initiative, ENSEMBLE also provides all participants with access to on-site counselling and a nurse practitioner for health assessments.
Young Women's Christian Association of Moncton - YWCA Pathways, Moncton, NB
$541,926 for their project increasing the success of women and gender diverse individuals in maintaining long-term sobriety. This project is providing one-on-one and group-based post treatment aftercare that supports individualized recovery plans including developing and practicing positive coping skills for withdrawal symptoms and/or destabilizing life events within a safe, and trauma- informed environment. The project also provides peer-led groups and networking, and adaptive wrap-around supports for women and gender diverse individuals within Greater Moncton and the surrounding area.
Sophia Recovery Centre Inc. - Expanding and Strengthening the Peer Substance Use Health Workforce through Co-Designed Mentorship and Wellness Training for Women, St John, NB
An amendment of $20,000 to provide an opportunity for women with lived and living experience of substance use in Saint John, St. Stephen, and Quispamsis, NB, to be trained to provide community members with substance use health information, to provide mentorship, and to deliver prevention, harm reduction and recovery initiatives. The project also includes access to supervisory support from leaders with lived and living experience, access to individual therapy, participation in an ongoing wellness education program and participation in a community of practice.
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)
Bell Island Support Network, Inc. - A Model in the Continuum of Care for All-Addictions Management: A Recovery Community in Rural NL, Wabana, NL
$1,891,090 for their project offering a range of supports for people who are in recovery or contemplating a change in their substance use in the rural community of Bell Island, NL. The project focuses on individuals aged 18-50 who are in active addiction or recovery and have experienced lack of opportunities, low levels of education and poor family support as a result of addiction. Education programs for youth are also being provided. The project builds life skills such as literacy, computer literacy, budgeting, being a responsible tenant, trade skills, skills for food security and healthy eating, self-care, mindfulness, and effective social media use such as podcasting and storytelling. A component of the projects offers people an opportunity to participate in activities that can generate income such as producing and selling food.
Stella's Circle Community Services Inc. - Transition and Aftercare Project for Stella's Circle, St. John's, NL
$674,513 for their project piloting a new Transition and Aftercare initiative at Stella's Circle within Emmanuel House. The new project collaborates with individuals leaving Emmanual House and provides referrals to the existing residential counselling program, as well as to other clinical programs. These referrals include the Community Support Program, which offers intensive case management, and the Just Us Women's Centre, a program supporting women with history in the justice system.
Nova Scotia (NS)
Ally Centre of Cape Breton (The) - Peer Led Community Integration Through Navigation, Sydney, NS
$186,510 for their project providing health and social resources to people with lived and living experience in Cape Breton, NS, who have been incarcerated or hospitalized due to substance use, including individuals who are being discharged from these institutions to homelessness. The project employs two Peer Navigators to meet with individuals throughout their institutional stay to help develop release plans. The Peer Navigators provide resources to individuals post release, including support with housing, opioid agonist treatment programs, health care, treatment, and harm reduction services.
Nova Scotia Health Authority - Enhancing Care and Support for People Living with Concurrent Disorders, Halifax, NS
$2,673,500 for their project developing and piloting a new provincial service model for adults living with concurrent disorders and their health care providers. The model provides multidisciplinary care and support for clients. To ensure the model is client-centred and meets the needs of people living with concurrent disorders, it is informed by best and emerging practices, people with lived and living experience, and subject matter experts. The pilot is being implemented in a variety of outpatient and inpatient client care settings across NS.
Prince Edward Island
Health PEI - Embedding Enhanced Case Management in Substance Use Services, Charlottetown, PEI
$372,400 to provide enhanced case management training to Health PEI substance use service providers as well as community partners across PEI. The advanced training provides access to comprehensive, multidisciplinary, strength-based, and client-centered care in alignment with evidence and best practice. There is an ongoing exchange of knowledge to build a supportive network of practitioners, to support sustained training and to foster continuous service improvements.
Health PEI - Embedding Peer Support Workers in HPEI Substance Use Services - Charlottetown, PEI
$1,175,137 to pilot the integration of people with lived and living experience (PWLLE) into addiction treatment settings in PEI as peer support workers (PSWs), with the goal of increasing client engagement and treatment outcomes. PWLLE who have completed certified PSW training act as a liaison between clients and clinical staff to bridge the gaps between clients and their clinical care teams and to empower clients to take part in their own recovery. The new service delivery model is being co-developed with staff, clients, and community partners. The pilot is occurring across the communities of Summerside, Charlottetown, and Montague.
