Coast Cottages

The goal is to maximize each person's potential and level of independence

Coast Cottages opened in 2003 to assist people with a mental illness who have had involvement with the criminal justice system but have been found not guilty due to mental defect. Coast Cottages serves 41 residents in 12 cottages  and provides 24 hour seven day a week care. The goal of the program is to maximize each person’s potential and level of independence. Coast’s services and methodology are designed to equip residents to transition into the community so they are at a low risk of re-offending.

Residents have a level of time flexibility depending on their needs as identified in assessments and progress towards achieving rehabilitation goals. Coast staff worked closely with treatment teams from Forensics Psychiatric Hospital and Forensics Regional Community and with other care providers in all aspects of case management. Forensics Psychiatric Hospital staff, clinicians, Coast staff, residents, and community case workers developing a partnership to work toward individualized consumer-identified goals (In keeping with Custody Disposition or Conditional Discharge).

The program includes:

• A Key Worker assigned to each resident to act as his/her primary worker
• Establishing realistic and attainable goals with resident to set them up for successes
• Establishing time frames to motivate the resident to attain personal goals with staff support
• A regular review of progress with resident's Key Worker, case managers and other team members
• Adjustment of goals as needed in consultation with residents and their clinical and community staff supports.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation

Coast Cottages operate within a Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) methodology. The PSR approach and a recovery model are critical underpinnings to the delivery of the Coast Cottages program.

Some of these practices include:

• Resident involvement, choice and self-determination in care planning
• De-emphasizing illness and focusing on function
• Zero tolerance for non-prescription drug and alcohol use with residents under orders
• Instilling hope by helping residents manage their symptoms and build on their strengths
• Resident , families and staff involvement in planning, developing and evaluating services.