Introducing the Provincial Assessment Centre Outreach Program
Get to know members of this newly launched program, which provides specialized support for clients, community outreach, and education for care providers.
When Neena Gopal and Jacqui Munro heard about the new Provincial Assessment Centre (PAC) Outreach Program, they knew they wanted to join it.
Launched in early 2025, the PAC Outreach Program (POP) is an initiative designed to enhance support for adults and youth over 14 with developmental disabilities and concurrent mental health concerns or behaviour issues.
POP is based out of the 10-bed PAC facility on the səmiq̓ʷəʔelə lands on kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation territory in Coquitlam, BC. The centre came under the umbrella of BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services in 2023. Prior to this, it was operated by Community Living BC.
POP provides:
- Pre-admission outreach support
- Post-discharge outreach support
- Community-based support without PAC admission
- Education and capacity building for care providers and support systems
An outstanding team
Meet Neena, nurse, and Jacqui, behaviour analyst, and learn more about POP, which also includes administrative support, clinical manager, nurse case manager, occupational therapist, psychiatrist, and social worker.
Neena Gopal
As a registered psychiatric nurse, Neena has been supporting and advocating for clients for 20 years – long before she started with POP. In fact, Neena requested to be placed at PAC when she was in nursing school, but PAC was not accepting student preceptors at that time.
“All the years of working with families and people with developmental disabilities, changing my career path in later years, to have known one day I could return to a capacity where I could share my experiences and skill set, is an honour," says Neena. “I am excited about my role at PAC and feel our team will strive to make change for clients living with disabilities."
Assisting clients before they're admitted to PAC and/or following discharge, with a focus on smoother transitions and sustained, coordinated care, is one stream of specialized support provided by Neena and POP.
When clients and their care circles share their challenges – for instance, finding supportive housing, developing life and social skills, or feeling a sense of belonging in their communities – Neena is there to reassure them support will be provided, and barriers and gaps will be addressed.
“My aim within this role is to instill hope for individuals and care providers," says Neena. “We're advocating for the need for individualized services that benefit overall health care outcomes."
Jacqui Munro
Jacqui was working for a community organization when she heard about an available position with POP. She was excited to make a difference in the lives of the vulnerable population PAC serves.
“I thought it would be a great opportunity to bridge my passion for supporting clients in their home environments, with the expertise and multi-disciplinary approach that PAC is known for," says Jacqui.
As a board-certified behaviour analyst, Jacqui helps people understand the reasons why they may use behaviours that are unsafe or unhelpful. She recommends environmental changes and helps teach alternative approaches, with the aim of reducing the individual's need to use that behaviour to get their needs met.
Community support is the other stream of support provided by POP. This support helps enhance stability, strengthen existing supports, and navigate available services – particularly for those who may not require or benefit from an inpatient stay.
“Without taking a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach, along with considering how both the mental health and disability diagnoses overlap and impact them, PAC clients can and likely will be misunderstood and underserved by those around them," says Jacqui.