Concurrent Disorders Support Services (CDSS) and its partners have formalized their roles and responsibilities through a written agreement. The agreement signifies a shared commitment among the partnering agencies, but does not impart any legal obligations.

The partnering agencies work as a group to:

• Realize a commonly developed value base.
• Provide coordinated access to persons with a concurrent disorder and complex needs.
• Continually promote a more accessible and responsive system.
• Continually identify and address service gaps and needs.
• Participate in the evaluation and reporting systems to monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the partners’ services.
• Ensure accountability.
• Create standards, develop measurement mechanisms and continually seek to improve the quality of the program.

Each partnering agency contributes:

• Two or more CD-knowledgeable, fast-tracked services that complement the range offered by partners.
• Free consultation, training and education to partners’ workers.

To implement the service, each agency agrees to:

• Educate their staff regarding the partnership and the access service.
• Respond in a timely manner to referrals made.
• Provide updates on their availability regarding the agreed supports.
• Review the agreement on an annual basis.

The role of the lead agency is to:

• Ensure that all partners are aware of the range of available services.
• Provide intake services.
• Ensure case facilitation and service planning.
• Support, supervise and administer the manager position.
• Collect and report required data.
• Prepare the annual budget and operation plan on behalf of the partnership.