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Connection

As staff strove to meet the needs of all of clients and community members, and equity-deserving groups in particular, they fortuitously discovered and developed a new and deeper level of collaboration among KCHC’s programs. A new and reinvigorated approach to both internal and external communications became the “connective tissue” that kept everyone informed, regardless of whether staff were working onsite or off. Staff members learned from one another that in addition to social isolation and trauma responsiveness, the need for food security, increased Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigenization and Accessibility (EDIIA) training and funding, and access to green spaces were just a few of the themes that continued to surface for our community. Learning and growing collectively, KCHC’s staff collaborated – regardless of funding sources, job descriptions or levels of responsibility – to always put those we serve first.

We asked our staff to talk about some of the ways in which they have kept in touch and nurtured relationships, both with colleagues and with clients, even when people couldn't physically be together. Here are some of the moments and methods of connection our staff members have seen over the past year.

OHRDP

The work of OHRDP has always been remote and virtual, COVID did not change how we communicate or work with the programs we support. Every year, we conduct two large surveys directed at our core programs. They capture key data which helps us be responsive to community needs and trends across Ontario. Collaborating with our provincial partners, CATIE and OHRN, we co-hosted two provincial webinars. The webinars were for frontline harm reduction workers from: Public Health Units, AIDS Service Organizations, Ontario HCV teams, and other community-based agencies. We collaborated with multiple community programs to develop new harm reduction educational resources. OHRDP supported the Ministry of Health in implementing and analyzing an overarching provincial needs assessment in all Public Health Regions.

Ordering processing times are quick and supplies always arrive in a timely manner and rarely, if ever, not complete. Information is shared quickly. Thank you for what you do. Without the OHRDP, thousands of folks across the province would not have access to harm reduction supplies.
- Core Needle Syringe Program via OHRDP

NACHC and RFLA

The newly integrated regional Electronic Medical Record (EMR) was leveraged to communicate efficiently with providers and patients.

ISKA

The ISKA team has used Zoom, WhatsApp, and email when in-person connection is not possible, and have maintained a high level of communication with the community at large through service innovation.

ISKA has had to reimagine service delivery in a post pandemic world. This manifested in innovative delivery of groups for newcomers. Their youth group moved online and took advantage of outdoor venues. Their children’s group moved to virtual programming and delivered art therapy activity based packages to 47 unique clients.

Dental

The Dental team never stopped connecting! The team was on site providing care through every COVID wave. Through every change in direction and precaution, the dental team was connecting with one another and the community to ensure their safety and the safety of their patients.

Throughout the year, the team collaborated and connected in new ways. Telemedicine nurses supported IPAC standards and practices as dental staffing transitions and COVID-related pressures occurred. The team also supported COVID vaccination booking by calling and offering dental patients the opportunity to receive their vaccinations at KCHC.

P2E

With the ability to be nimble being one of the values at KCHC Pathways to Education, this team was able to seamlessly shift to the virtual world during these uncertain times. They got creative in maintaining support and service for students and connection among staff and community partners. When not able to provide in-person programming for students, staff were able to still able to connect with students with door drop-offs or online for homework help or a social activity. Extra connection times were established with staff to ensure that they stayed connected and that service was coordinated. This included taking time out of their busy schedules to participate in a staff wellness day that consisted of a Compassion Fatigue Training from Leila Reynolds and a mindfulness activity run by Sticky Henderson from OHRDP. P2E also remained active across social media platforms to ensure that the community was kept up to date about programming and service delivery. With established relationships and partnerships in the community, they were able to shift to the virtual platforms to keep these partnerships active.

Community Health

KCHC’s outdoor academy and PC C.H.E.F. sessions engaged youth in ways that were both fun and safe. The PC C.H.E.F. students learned to cook meals for their entire families.

Our Seniors’ Good Food Box staff and volunteers were cheerful and kind when delivering to seniors, often entering homes when mobility was a challenge for the seniors. Good Food Box volunteers and staff were steadfast in their commitment to getting food to those who needed it most. They drove through all kinds of weather, wearing PPE while doing lots of heavy lifting.

Volunteerism at KCHC has forever changed. KCHC will continue our commitment to creating capacity-building opportunities for some, while other volunteers have now embraced virtual volunteering with genuine enthusiasm.

Coming Up

Financial Statements

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