Council for the Rural Municipality of Hanover has been asked to consider an increase in funding towards Headway. Heidi Harder Falk, who is Headway Program and Youth Coordinator appeared before Council last week to make the request. Harder Falk explains that Headway is a community mobilization organization that has been in Steinbach since 2016. It started as a support program for youth who were engaging in at-risk activities or lifestyles. She notes Headway builds a wraparound support team around the individual, creating space for all those involved to come together. This includes the youth and caregiver and then the different organizations that Headway partners with, such as RCMP, Probation Services, Child and Family Services, Hanover School Division, Shared Health, Southern Health-Sante Sud, mental health, and the Addictions Foundation. The program underwent a significant change in 2019. It was that year when Manitoba Justice contacted them to ask if they could expand their services in order to start working with adults as well. For six years now, Headway has also been working with justice-involved adults through what is known as the Re-START program. These are adults who are tired of their lifestyle and are seeking help. There is also a START Families program that works with perpetrators of domestic violence. Harder Falk told Council that her office sees a 35 to 57 per cent decrease in police occurrences and calls, due to Headway involvement. She notes this provides valuable savings in police time and resources on a preventative and intervention basis. Harder Falk asked Council to consider a grant worth $10,000 for 2026. In 2025, Hanover provided a grant of $2,500. Harder Falk told Council that their budget in 2025 was $130,300. "I think they are doing a wonderful job," said Hanover Reeve Jim Funk after hearing the presentation. He notes that RCMP have also expressed their appreciation towards the work that Headway is doing in Steinbach and area. "They are doing a wonderful job with our schools, with our people around us that need help," he adds. Funk says one thing that surprised him was hearing what percentage of individuals they work with come from the RM of Hanover. "She was saying 30 per cent came from Hanover," notes Funk. "So that's quite a bit actually." Meanwhile, Funk says Council will eventually sit down and consider this request for additional funding. Funk suggests the consideration will be made around the time that Hanover starts preparing its 2026 budget, something he says could still be a few months away.