Portage la Prairie’s Community Mobilization program is making a real impact by helping individuals overcome barriers through a team-based, multidisciplinary approach.
Mari Kozar, executive director of the Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation, notes the program’s success during the 2024-2025 fiscal year, supporting 122 participants.
She says the program is designed to connect people with multiple agencies in the community to address their unique needs.
“Community mobilization is an approach to supporting people in a multidisciplinary way,” Kozar says. “We have almost all of the human service delivery agencies in Portage la Prairie attached to this project."
How it works
Kozar remarks that when a new participant joins the program, a coordinator assesses the barriers preventing their success and helps form a support team tailored to their needs. The team might include agencies addressing housing, parenting support, healthcare, or other areas.
“This person needs help for housing, parenting support, healthcare support. That team would come together every month for up to a year to make sure that person is supported towards their goals and whatever goals they want to work towards,” she continues. “It’s very person client centered and that person directs how their team supports them too.”
Kozar adds the program has produced impressive results for participants and their families.
“Of those who had connection to Child and Family Services, 86% of parents regained custody of their children due to participation. 74% of family participants had increased number of increased support through the program. 67% of participants saw reduction in criminal charges since participation in the program and 67% of participants entered the workforce or maintained employment due to participation,” she notes.
She also says the program maintains a steady caseload of about 20 clients at a time and continues to innovate.
“We typically carry about 20 clients at a time, which has been pretty steady over the years. We sometimes see an increase in referrals,” Kozar says. “It’s a busy program and our coordinator always has lots to do and is looking at new, innovative ways to approach the program.”
Community impact
Kozar remarks that one of the biggest challenges is that people are often unaware of existing resources or how to access them.
“Sometimes people don’t know what resources exist in our community or who to go to for help,” she says. “This is a great way for people to be connected to appropriate supports when they need help from multiple agencies.”
She continues, “We have so many stakeholders who are engaged in this work that have been very supportive and looking at ways to break down barriers within the organizations. It’s been very successful.”
The program has been running since 2018 and remains a key part of Portage la Prairie’s social support system, focusing on helping individuals with complex needs achieve success through collaboration.
The Community Mobilization program offers a model of how teamwork among local agencies can provide tailored help, improving safety, stability and opportunity for people facing multiple challenges.
For more information or to get involved, contact the Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation.
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