April 2020 Newsletter

 
 

A Message from Our Co-Chairs

During these unsettling times of Covid-19, the Community Health Network is sending you our heartfelt thoughts and hoping you are all navigating this uncertainty as best you can. We recognize that these times create difficulties. Please be kind to yourself and reach out to others when you feel like you need some support.

We are also feeling appreciative of the caring community we live in with so many people reaching out to help others. The network believes that a healthy, sustainable, resilient community is a shared responsibility and we are certainly seeing this in the Comox Valley now! Thank you.

Kate Fish and Betty Tate

Co-Chairs on behalf of the Coordinating Circle of the Comox Valley Community Health Network

Network Update

In collaboration with the Comox Valley Regional District, our Network is providing support and resources to the collective efforts that have mobilized in the Comox Valley to support those that are most vulnerable during this time. These include poverty reduction and food security, housing and seniors wellness. We are in unprecedented times. In response to the Covid-19 crisis, the network is focusing its resources on helping meet the immediate health needs of our community, while still operating within our mission.
 

Poverty Reduction and Food Security

Funds were provided to our partners at the Food Policy Council for their Emergency Food Share Response Plan. These funds are being used to support Lush Valley's Hot Meal and Good Food Box Delivery programs. These programs are providing food to those in need in the Comox Valley, including those in need of financial and/or food delivery assistance. These programs also provides pick-up and delivery of donated food items from businesses and supports neighbourhood food drives.

Lush Valley

Housing

Funds were provided to our partner the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness who are preparing an Emergency Response Plan to provide shelter to homeless members of our community during the crisis.

Coalition to End Homelessness

Seniors Wellness

Funds were provided to the Comox Valley Senior Support Society, to support seniors in our community who are self-isolating or in quarantine through the coordination of volunteers to provide phone support. The Senior Support Society helps seniors and their caregivers to access the programs and services they need to stay safe and healthy.

CV Seniors Support

RESOURCES 

Safe Seniors, Strong Communities

This program brings together caring community volunteers and seniors in need. As more and more people are appropriately self-isolating, many seniors who are able to live independently with the help of family and friends, are finding those supports unavailable. This program helps seniors with simple day-to-day tasks like grocery shopping, meal prep and prescription pick-up or receive friendly check-in call by simply dialing 2-1-1 or filling in an online form at www.bc211.ca

BC 211

Community Information

The Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness is doing their best to keep the community up-to-date on services for those experiencing or at-risk of homelessness due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Resources are regularly updated

Resources

Information about COVID-19

For information about COVID-19 the Comox Valley Community Health Network recommends looking to the following websites for the most reliable sources of information:

The BC Centre for Disease Control

Island Health

Health Link BC

BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

Public Health Agency of Canada
 

The network is:

A forum for our community to identify, prioritize and take collaborative action to make improvements in determinants of health. We focus on areas for change that require the involvment of multiple people, groups, and organizations to develop and implement solutions. Our network includes Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, K’omoks First Nation and areas A, B, and C

We advocate for :

  • A basic income for all and national dental and pharmacare programs.​​​​​​
  • Appropriate, affordable housing for all.
  • Access to safe supply and/or legalization of all drugs.
  • A change post crisis that sees a focus on planetary health, sustainability and a shift to focus on renewable energy.