FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. -- Earlier this week, Northern Health confirmed the Peer Outreach Program in Fort St. John would be saved, but that isn't the case.
The team is made up of those who got off the streets and now helping others to do the same. Members provide harm reduction services, such as naloxone and clean needles. They also offer food to those who don't have access to meals.
Last Saturday was supposed to be their last paid shift before the program was cancelled.
In a statement from Tuesday, the Health Authority said quote, “Northern Health Leadership is in contact and discussion with the peer outreach team leaders to continue peer outreach services in Fort St. John. The community mobile harm reduction program and hiring of peer support staff is not being halted, it is being restructured”.
Terilynn Schultz, a member of the outreach team, says they have in fact ended the program. Schultz told CJDC-TV News she has quit the peer outreach team and accused Northern Health of lying about cancelling the peer-outreach team program. Schultz says the team doesn’t want anything to do with the Health Authority.
So we asked Northern Health if the program was going to be cancelled. They couldn't provide us with an answer. We asked to speak with someone else at Northern Health about the story, they didn't make anyone available.
