Lloydminster council recently heard the latest on the city’s social policy framework as part of a 2025 report.
The presentation was made by Sherri Husch-Foote, chair of the social policy framework leadership teamm during the Dec. 8 Governance and Priorities Committee meeting.
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In April 2022, the City of Lloydminster conducted a social needs assessment to gain an understanding of current social needs from residents, businesses and non-profits. Over 2,000 responses were collected and more than 250 conversations took place.
According to Husch-Foote, the purpose of the policy is to create a common vision.
“The purpose was to create a common vision, common language and shared roles for how community partners, businesses, organizations and government can work together,” she said. “At the centre of the framework is the belief that collective impact is stronger than individual effort.”
Working groups focus on key priority areas identified in the assessment.
“The framework connects a leadership team with community-based working groups. These working groups focus on the priority areas identified in the assessment and serve as engines for collaboration, shared problem solving and consistent information flow,” said Husch-Foote. “To date, three working groups have been established, housing and homelessness working group, mental health working group and the access to health and social services working group.”
The leadership team keeps information connected between projects and strengthens partnerships between community organizations, agencies and the city. The model supports coordination and shared planning between partners, which mitigates duplication.
“The model also supports strategic alignment of community resources and strengths, collective awareness of trends, gaps and emerging needs and ensures decisions are informed by data, for evidence-based strategies,” she said.
The housing working group hosted its housing and homelessness symposium earlier this year.
“The housing working group has made significant progress this past year,” said Husch-Foote. “On May 7, in Nissan Hall, the housing and homelessness symposium was held. (A total of) 143 residents registered with over 200 people attending throughout the day.”
A shelter standards document was also developed, which she says is the next step for council in considering the adoption of these standards as a best practice for emergency shelters.
“A shelter standards document was developed to establish expectations and minimum requirements for emergency shelter services in Lloydminster,” said Husch-Foote.
Additionally, for the housing and homelessness working group, they’re looking to develop a tenants guide in 2026 to support renter’s rights and provide stable housing. They are also preparing for the 2026 point-in-time homeless count, which will give an indication as to how many residents are experiencing homelessness and building an understanding of their experiences.
The mental health working group has completed its strategic planning.
“The mental health working group has completed strategic planning just a few days ago and identified three core objectives around training, service mapping and policy alignment, as well as outreach and awareness efforts,” she said.
Two mental health workshops are complete with a third scheduled before year’s end. Approximately 70 residents will receive mental health first aid by Dec. 20.
“For 2026, the working group will be focused on a community-wide training assessment, developing a training plan and local trainers with a long-term goal of 1,000 residents trained in mental health supports,” said Husch-Foote.
The plan, in addition to the training, will see the working group update service mapping and complete a mental-health awareness campaign.
“The working group focused on access to health and social services will be launching an asset mapping in 2026,” she said. “The project will identify current navigation tools for residents, identify existing community navigator roles, catalogue health and social services using clear shared language, identify gaps in communication and access pathways and develop tools so residents can be referred to the right support from any point of contact.”
Coun. Michele Charles Gustafson says it’s important that people get to see the work taking place.
“I think it’s really important for people to know how much the agencies, the leadership, are working together,” she said.
She says the number of responses they received was remarkable.
“What struck me most is the number of responses you got in the social framework assessment; 2,000 responses is a big deal,” said Charles Gustafson.
She followed up by asking when the other five priorities identified by the community will have their own working groups.
“Over the coming year, the focus will be on those three working groups and to really make sure that, because the backbone support is so critical from the city, that we want to make sure we don’t spread ourselves too wide,” said Husch-Foote.
Charles Gustafson says the process is in good hands.
“I think we can all feel good that you’ve got your finger on the pulse. When the time is right, strike when the iron is hot to be able to put those working groups together,” she said.
Coun. Justin Vance asked when the next social needs assessment is and Husch-Foote clarified it’s planned for 2027 or 2028.
Patrick Lancaster, the City of Lloydminster’s social programs and services manager, says one of the tools they have to communicate with higher levels of government is their taskforce.
“One of the aspects is also a policy taskforce,” he said. “There is an opportunity when we run into barriers or need to do some of that communication at the higher levels of government.”
Council accepted the social policy framework update report as information.
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