The challenge of local care
“We just got the assignment to work with the EPA target group in ‘t Gooi,” Pim says enthusiastically. As project leaders, he and Maarten work closely with various healthcare institutions, municipalities and other parties involved with vulnerable target groups. “Each region has its own dynamics and challenges. The key to success lies in tailoring the approach to local needs and infrastructure,” adds Maarten.
According to them, it is important to look not only at the problems, but especially at the opportunities that arise locally. In the Gooi and Vecht region, the goal is to arrive at a flexible and integral care and support structure for people with EPA. This target group requires intensive cooperation between different domains, such as the GGZ, addiction care, neighborhood teams and general practitioners. “There are so many different parties involved with these people, each with their own perspective and expertise. Without good coordination, you run the risk of everyone working alongside each other,” says Maarten.
From vision to practice
Maarten and Pim emphasize that the FACT+ approach, which has been successfully implemented in Friesland and North Brabant, need not be the solution for other municipalities. “We don’t want to copy indiscriminately. What we need in ‘t Gooi, for example, is an approach that fits the local infrastructure and the specific challenges here,” Pim explains.
He compares it to previous projects he has worked on. “In Friesland, for example, the focus was strongly on integral cooperation between the GGZ and addiction care, because that was a big need there. In ‘t Gooi it is important that we also work closely with the neighborhood teams and sheltered housing, because that is where part of the care demand lies.” Maarten adds: “The challenge is to get the various parties on the same page and to ensure that the care actually matches what people need. It sounds simple, but the practice is recalcitrant.”
Collaboration is essential in an EPA approach
What Maarten and Pim make clear is that cooperation is crucial to the success of an integrated approach. “As project leaders, we see it as our job to connect the parties involved. Everyone wants the same thing: better care for people with EPA. But the way that is realized differs from one party to another. That’s where the challenge lies,” Maarten says.
In ‘t Gooi, they are convinced that the right steps are being taken to develop a successful approach. “We have laid a strong foundation by bringing the various parties together in conversation. In the coming time we will work on a common vision and a concrete action plan to improve care for the EPA target group,” Pim said.
Local realities must be the starting point
An integrated approach for people with EPA can only succeed if it matches local realities. According to Maarten and Pim, this is the most important lesson they have learned in recent years. “We see the same questions coming back in every region: How do we ensure cooperation between different domains? How do we guard clients’ privacy? And how do we provide the right care at the right time? If we tackle those questions one by one, we can achieve something beautiful together,” Maarten says.
Maarten and Pim look forward to the further development of the “Gooi EPA approach” and are determined, together with their colleagues and stakeholders, to make a difference in the care of people with severe mental illness. “This is not an easy task, but by focusing on the local context we can really make an impact,” concludes Pim.
