July 20, 2026
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Bruce County is expanding the services and supports that it offers residents, with the launch of a Community Outreach And Support Team.
Building off the success of Bruce County Outreach, this is a mobile, multi-disciplinary team, providing care and support to residents needing assistance with mental health, addictions, and housing needs. It will operate throughout the county, including most rural communities.
Funding for the team is through a contribution agreement with Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund, targeting programs for prevention of opioid overdoses and harm reduction access.
“The Community Outreach and Support Team offers us the opportunity to build on the great work of Bruce County Outreach, while expanding supports to the most vulnerable members of our community," says Steve Schaus, director and chief of paramedic services. "Leveraging strategic partnerships and collaborating on innovative local ideas is proving that we can reduce barriers to care and improve access to supports in our communities.”
Partnering with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Grey Bruce, the team will consist of a harm-reduction counsellor and peer worker, as well as a community support co-ordinator from Bruce County human services, and a community paramedic from Bruce County Paramedic Services.
By offering low-barrier access to mental health and addictions supports, health care, and social services, the county seeks to expand the reach and capacity of Bruce County Outreach with this dedicated team.
The team will:
Track local drug poisonings and provide targeted intervention with support from community partners
Host routine pop-up style outreach events
Assist in making contact and providing care for the under-housed population
Engage with the broader public on harm-reduction awareness
“Addressing complex social challenges requires innovation and strong local collaboration,” said Ian Hanney, director of human services. “Through this team, we are expanding our ability to reach individuals who need assistance. This is another important step toward improving outcomes for some of Bruce County’s most vulnerable residents through trusted local partnerships.”
"CMHA Grey Bruce is proud to partner with Bruce County on the Community Outreach and Support Team," said chief executive officer Stephen Musehl. "This investment will help bring low-barrier mental health, addictions, peer support and social service supports directly to people where they are, especially those who face the greatest barriers to care. By working together through mobile outreach, we can build trust, reduce substance-use related harms, and support safer, healthier communities across Bruce County.”
“Bruce County’s rural communities need solutions that recognize the realities of distance, transportation barriers, and limited access to services," said Grey-Bruce-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff. "This team is an important example of how federal funding can support local partners in delivering mobile, low-barrier care. By expanding access to mental health, addictions, housing, peer support, and harm-reduction services, this initiative will help strengthen community-based support across the region.”
The team is now available in local communities across the county and will run until March 31, 2027. More information and the schedule are available at www.brucecounty.on.ca/getsupport.
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