By Tyler Sutherland
St. Amant has received a $950,000 grant to improve healthcare for people with developmental disabilities, autism, acquired brain injury and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
The Winnipeg Foundation grant will support three initiatives at St. Amant in partnership with the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Medicine, the St. Amant Research Centre and many disability agencies.
“As St. Amant shifts from one of the last developmental centres in Canada to a healthcare centre, we as a community need to look at the web of support available and ensure that we can help children and adults with developmental disabilities, autism, acquired brain injuries and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders to live healthy lives with the most comprehensive and person-centered services possible,” said John Leggat, president and CEO of St. Amant.
A community healthcare clinic will be created for people with developmental disabilities. The second initiative is for research and evaluation of three critical new projects: transitioning people from long-term care to the community, a continuum of respite services and a crisis stabilization unit.
One of the living spaces at 440 River Road will be renovated to become a space for a healthcare facility for people in crisis, respite or longer term for complex medical needs or palliative care. The first unit will be renovated to meet personal care standards of other long term care facilities, increasing the dignity and privacy for people supported in this environment.
