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COVID-19

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Categorized under: General

Tagged under: Coronavirus (2)COVID-19 (6)Public Health (1)

AUGUST 6, 2021

Following the changes in public health orders, SOURCES is working on a gradual return to normal operations with the goal of operating at 100% capacity in early September.

This means that services that were closed for in-person appointments are open again with reduced capacity. Virtual services will continue to be offered in some programs.

For program-specific information, please contact the program directly.

All SOURCES locations will continue to adhere to the precautions and guidelines set by the Provincial Health Officer. Our top priority is always the health and safety of our team, clients and community.

If you are in need of support, we look forward to seeing and serving you!

MAY 27, 2020

To Our Community:

It has been over two months since the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. Our staff have taken significant measures to modify the way we work and interact with clients and community, so that we can continue to provide our essential social services while keeping all of us healthy, safe and well.

I am extremely proud of the way our team rose to meet the challenges of COVID-19. Across our 20+ locations and 60+ programs throughout British Columbia, the creativity and resilience shown by our team have resulted in minimal service disruptions as we sought to innovate new ways of connecting with and serving the individuals and families who depend on us.

As we enter Phase 2 of our Province’s COVID-19 response, and approach it with some relief and optimism, we must remain cautious. At SOURCES, all programs and locations have their own customized COVID-19 Prevention Plan that lays out the policies, guidelines and procedures in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. These plans are posted on site per the order of the Provincial Health Officer and WorkSafeBC. Below are some points that apply to all programs and locations:

WHAT SOURCES IS DOING FOR YOU

  • Modifying service delivery methods and hours to reduce risk and anxiety
  • Offering remote (e.g. phone or video conferencing) appointments when possible
  • Limiting the number of staff on location to ensure a safe physical distance
  • Attending work only if healthy and not symptomatic
  • Accommodating staff to work from home to minimize service disruption
  • Installing signage with reminders to wash hands, maintain distance, etc.
  • Placing floor markers to ensure minimum distance is adhered to
  • Establishing maximum occupancy limits for all locations
  • Enhancing sanitation and frequency of cleaning by our Concierge Team and by staff (e.g. disinfecting common touchpoints before and after use by a visitor)
  • Wearing Personal Protective Equipment when needed
  • Posting regular updates on our COVID-19 response publicly and online

WHAT SOURCES IS ASKING OF YOU

  • Before visiting any of our offices or locations, please phone, email or otherwise contact that office or location in advance to confirm their availability and check their procedures. If possible, make an appointment (drop-in visits are not recommended)
  • Do not visit if you are symptomatic (stay home if you are sick)
  • If you are symptomatic and must visit, wear a face mask
  • Read and adhere to posted signage
  • Maintain a physical distance of 6 ft or 2 m
  • Sanitize hands upon entry
  • Wash hands as often as necessary
  • Practice respiratory hygiene

In general, our programs remain open to provide direct and in-person, or modified (e.g. telephone, video conferencing) services to clients, with some exceptions. Please note that response times may be longer than normal, as we limit the number of staff in offices to allow for physical distancing and allow more time in the work day to disinfect common touchpoints more frequently.

Your patience with us as we adjust to this “new normal” is much appreciated. SOURCES will continue to deliver our essential social services. Our key focus will always be on the health, safety and well-being of our team, clients and community.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Stay well.

David Young
Chief Executive Officer

 

APRIL 1, 2020

To Our Community:

Two weeks have passed since we decided to suspend in-person services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our team of staff and volunteers have been working hard to continue our social wellness programs, which were deemed by the Province on March 26 to be essential. The Province defines essential services as “the services British Columbians rely on in their daily lives [that are] essential to preserving life, health, public safety, and basic societal functioning.” In addition, the recommendation by the Province and the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) is that essential services “should and are encouraged to remain open [and] must follow the orders and guidance provided by the PHO to ensure safe operations and reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.”

We take this very seriously. With this designation, we feel more confident and supported to continue to do everything we can to support the most vulnerable people in our communities.

You have helped us do that. Some of you have reached out with offers to volunteer. Others have donated money, food and other items that our clients need. Your caring and compassion during this difficult time encourages all of us. I have been asked by various people what is the best way to support us right now, and I would encourage you to make a direct donation to our programs which are continuing to provide service. This way, we will be able to respond quickly to the greatest needs as they arise. The easiest way to donate is online: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/23761

As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 virus, we have followed the expert advice from our PHO and local health authorities, and our programs have implemented further measures to prevent possible spread. We are regularly reviewing the modifications we have made to ensure we are fulfilling our mission while maintaining the health, safety and well-being of our staff, volunteers, clients and community.

For the foreseeable future, we will continue to operate our programs with modified service delivery, and will let community know – through our website and social media – as and if things change.

Our executive team continues to meet daily to evaluate the evolving situation and coordinate how we can best support our community. Now more than ever, we need each other. Despite social distancing, we need to keep promoting social wellness.

Take care and stay well.

David Young
Chief Executive Officer

 

MARCH 23, 2020

These are exceedingly challenging times for all of us. Both at work and at home. As we strive to cope with confusing messages and uncertain times, I encourage you to think carefully about how you respond to a continuously changing environment and avoid reacting to a range of mixed messages and rumours. I know it is difficult. Let me share with you my approach.

Firstly, be Calm.

Be confident in your ability – and our agency’s ability – to respond and sustain itself in difficult times. Ensure that you make time for appropriate rest and activities to help reduce the stress I know you are feeling. Remember to find time for the things in life that bring you joy – whether that is listening to music, talking to your friends, or putting down your phone and going for a walk in the spring air.

Secondly, Communicate.

Communicate more rather than less with each other. Allow more time to listen. Be assured that our Executive Team and I are meeting daily to ensure good cross-communication and to provide our staff, volunteers, clients and community with the most up-to-date information we have on a timely basis.

Thirdly, be a source of Comfort.

We need to be a source of encouragement, patience, reason and understanding for our colleagues, clients and loved ones. Be willing and open to accept comforting messages of support from others during these difficult times. Offer the same in return. Refer to the factual and reliable information recommended by our public health authorities.

There are many things I don’t know about COVID-19 and the impact it will have on our lives, but I do know that if we approach this crisis keeping these three strategies in mind – Calm, Communicate and Comfort – we will get through this all the better – for our sake and the sake of our loved ones, our clients and our community.

David Young
Chief Executive Officer

 

MARCH 17, 2020

To Our Community:

Our goal remains to keep SOURCES’ services and programs going, and to maintain the health, safety and well-being of our staff, volunteers, clients and community.

We are suspending the Volunteer Dental Clinic based on advice received from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer and College of Dental Surgeons of BC.

All SOURCES locations including Community Resource Centres will continue to provide services EXCEPT for the Connection Café at the South Surrey Recreation Centre and Dental Clinic at the Peace Arch Hospital.

Where possible, services will be delivered by remote means such as by phone, email or video-conferencing (e.g. Zoom, Teams, Skype). We will continue to provide services at our locations by appointment only and expect these to be for urgent matters only. Please contact your worker or location directly to arrange visits.

We are learning new things every day about the virus and our governments’ responses to it, and we are modifying our response accordingly.

Our executive team will continue to meet daily and update you as frequently as possible.

Keep washing your hands, maintain social distancing, avoid touching your face, practice respiratory hygiene, and stay home if you are sick.

We’ll get through this together.

David Young
Chief Executive Officer

 

MARCH 16, 2020

Following today’s announcements by our Prime Minister, B.C. Health Minister and Provincial Health Officer, SOURCES is further increasing the measures we are taking in each of our programs and locations to clamp down on the COVID-19 virus.

SOURCES will continue to serve the most vulnerable members of our community. In order to do this while maintaining the safety, health and well-being of our staff and volunteers, our executive team has made the decision to suspend in-person services effective Wednesday March 18, 2020 for a period of two weeks.

There are some exceptions.

During this time, programs deemed to be providing essential human services will continue to provide direct services to clients. These include:

In other programs, we will continue to see clients on an essential and urgent basis only. To the extent that we can provide help by electronic or other remote means, we will. However, if our staff feel that would be detrimental to the health and safety of the client and the client does not have a means of accessing remote service, we will make arrangements to see them in-person while taking necessary precautions including sanitizing before and after appointments and maintaining social distancing during the session. We are suspending community visits, drop-in programs, outreach, training programs, and support groups.

The following programs/services are closed until further notice:

If you have an inquiry about your specific appointment/program, please contact your local program.

If there are any further closures, we will let everyone know through our website and social media:

Website: https://www.sourcesbc.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SourcesCommunityResourceCentres/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sourcesbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sourcesbc/

These additional precautions may cause some inconvenience, but as our Prime Minister said this morning, “Exceptional circumstances call for exceptional measures.” These measures are based on the latest available science and advice from our world-class healthcare professionals – and following them will help save lives.

Our executive team is meeting daily to evaluate the evolving situation. SOURCES will take every precaution possible to keep people safe. Thank you for your cooperation, compassion and diligence.

Take care everyone.

David Young
Chief Executive Officer

 

MARCH 13, 2020

To our community:

The COVID-19 virus has required a significant response throughout our country as we try to contain the spread of this disease. SOURCES is monitoring the latest updates from Public Health Canada, the BC Centre for Disease Control and our local Health Authorities, who determine the risk to British Columbians remains LOW. Nonetheless, this is a challenging time for all of us, particularly our staff and volunteers, not only because of our roles as service providers in community, but also as family members with concern for our loved ones. I want you to be assured that we have been taking steps in each of our programs and locations to reduce the risk of exposure and transmission of this virus.

SOURCES receives and adheres to guidance received from Licensing and Public Health. We are taking universal precautions which include thorough hand washing, social distancing, sanitizing and reducing human contact where and when possible. Our highest priority is the safety and wellbeing of our staff, volunteers and the people we serve. While we all may feel anxiety around the COVID-19 situation, we are a human service and have a responsibility to continue to serve and support some of the most vulnerable people in our community. And we will continue to do that. If, however, we have to suspend a service because of a local outbreak then this information will be communicated as soon as possible to affected individuals. And if we do, we will have, to the best of our ability, a contingency plan in place to ensure people remain fed, housed, and cared for.

Please stay well – and remember to wash your hands.

David Young,
Chief Executive Officer