COMMUNITY FORUM Agencies to discuss gaps in service

PORT COLBORNE — Frontline staff from agencies serving Port Colborne and Wainfleet will get together in a community forum Tuesday looking for ways to provide better service and help clients overcome roadblocks.

Bridges Community Health Centre will host Putting the Pieces Together Community Forum, which will be attended by representatives from such agencies such as Port Cares, Niagara Region Public Health, Niagara Regional Housing and Meals on Wheels.

Lori Kleinsmith, Bridges health promoter, said the forum has been held in Niagara Falls and Fort Erie in previous years.

“It’s an opportunity for frontline staff to network and work through client- case scenarios to identify key issues, programs and services available in the community and where gaps may lie. The results will be compiled into a report ( to be) shared with agencies and local politicians,” she said, adding 50 staff from the various agencies will be in attendance.

Dee Tyler, program manager for COAST ( Community Outreach and Support Team) Niagara will kick off the forum by providing an overview of its new program.

The forum will be replicated in Welland, St. Catharines and west Niagara later this spring, Kleinsmith said.

Tuesday ’ s forum is at Community Living Por t Colborne- Wainfleet, 100 Mcrae Ave., in Port Colborne. dave. johnson@ sunmedia. ca Twitter: @ Davejthetribune

welland. tribune@ sunmedia. ca