Situation tables

Last updated on April 15, 2026

Collaborative Public Safety Programs (CPSP) helps create and enhance situation tables and intervention circles across B.C.

Read the 2025 Situation Table Report (PDF, 3.8MB).

What are situation tables?

Situation tables are community led. They bring together frontline workers from many sectors. This can include public safety, health and social services. Working together, they help people and families at risk.

Situation tables collaborate and coordinate to help people get rapid supports and services. This work prevents negative outcomes like victimization, overdose or eviction.

Situation tables work together to improve well-being, safety and resiliency in communities.

Each community agency handles their own work, and together, they are more effective. The goal is to collaborate, coordinate and rapidly address risk. This includes protecting privacy.

Intervention circles

Like situation tables, intervention circles are a partnership of service providers and community supports. They are led by the Nations and offer culturally safe supports. Each community chooses who it would like to participate in the circle.

Circles guide people away from the policing and justice system towards those who can offer the right supports. This helps reduce cases of harm and victimization.

How do situation tables work?

Situation tables are made up of service agencies. They support individuals and families in crisis. The agencies collaborate, coordinate and help with rapid interventions. People can be referred to the tables by any service agency in the community.

Rapid

Immediate (usually within 48 hours)

Collaborative

Community partners and agencies work together
Integrated, often creative, and comprehensive response to multiple needs

Coordinated

Avoid traditional barriers like waitlists
If this is not possible, provide interim support

Agencies involved in a situation table

It varies for each community, but the core table participants often include:

Mental health
Addictions
Police
Education
Indigenous and culturally specific services
Housing

Income assistance
Health
Community-based organizations
Victim services
Child and family services

Additional local contributing organizations

Some additional organizations may not be involved at the table each week because they are not often involved in either presenting situations or interventions. For these organizations, if and when needed, they can be brought into the "filter four" intervention (away from the table) by the designated agencies.

Benefits of situation tables

Offer improved service delivery from public safety, health, and social service agencies
Connect individuals to the resources they need
Prevent harm or victimization
Strengthen collaboration, inter-agency relationships and trust
Support people in crisis through privacy-compliant information sharing
Inform community safety and well being decisions and policies with risk-based data