Two Abbotsford organizations and their employees have been recognized for developing new, more efficient ways of providing services to the community.
The Abbotsford Youth Health Centre and the Ministry of Agriculture’s plant and animal health branch have received the Lower Mainland Premier’s Award.
The award honours a total of 196 public-service employees and teams from the Lower Mainland who have made a difference in their communities.
The Abbotsford Youth Health Centre was recognized in the “partnership” category for providing health services to high-risk youth.
The team consists of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Fraser Health, Abbotsford Community Services, Impact Drug and Alcohol Services, the Abbotsford school district and the Division of Family Practice.
The centre opened in the fall of 2010 and offered services by one doctor for three hours a week.
The program has expanded over three years to include several doctors, interns, residents and two nurse practitioners offering health-care services four days a week.
The plant and animal health branch was recognized in the “organizational excellence” category for achieving improved financial sustainability, significant time savings and increased cost recovery.
The branch consists of 50 veterinarians, technical and administrative staff, and is responsible for maintaining animal and plant health in the province and responding to critical disease outbreaks.