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COVID-19 UPDATE: First Phase Re-Opening of Canadian Centre for Men and Families Facilities
Effective Date: September 8, 2020
Effective the day after Labour Day, Canadian Centre for Men and Families facilities across Canada will enter the first phase of our re-opening plan.
All online programs will continue as currently scheduled, including both groups and individual therapy. Please click here for the online programming schedule.
During the first phase of re-opening, one-on-one counselling will become available, with no more than a single client-therapist appointment taking place at any time. Counselling will take place in a designated room. At this time, no group programs will be taking place at our facilities.
The Centre will permit staff or volunteers to occupy additional, separated rooms. Each Centre will impose office occupancy limits according to the size of their facility and consistent with physical distancing requirements.
Individuals will maintain a minimum of 2 meters (6 feet) separation and wear masks at all times in the premises. As much as possible, arrival at the office will be staggered so as to limit contact between individuals. Individuals will be required to self-screen prior to entering the facility. A screening questionnaire will be circulated to volunteers, staff and clients prior to appointments. Individuals entering the premises will be required to fill out an attendance log with their full name, phone number, email address, and the date and time of their visit.
The offices will be cleaned at least twice a day and more frequently as needed. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be made available at the entrance of premises.
This policy establishes minimum standards to be enforced at our locations throughout Canada. Each facility is authorized to modify or add additional requirements which are stricter than those above, in order to comply with local conditions and/or by order of local authorities.
Questions on this policy should be addressed to Justin Trottier, National Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Men and Families, at jtrottier@menandfamilies.org or 647-479-9611.
PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT (April 2020)
Our Canadian Centre for Men and Families locations are proud to continue offering services through telephone and video conferencing. However, we are closed to walk-in clients. Please contact us to register or to learn about our services. If you are a current client, you will be contacted by program facilitators regarding the status of your service. Thank you for your patience and flexibility and we hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well during this difficult period.
Our COVID-19 National Policy Framework
As an organization that promotes the health and wellness of individuals, families and communities, the Canadian Association for Equality and the Canadian Centres for Men and Families are taking very seriously our response to Covid-19.
Branch and Centre Directors are responsible for implementing location-specific policies, depending on local community circumstances, based on these minimum national guidelines.
- Stock up on supplies: Purchase soap, disposable drying towels/paper and other cleaning supplies.
- Post personal hygiene etiquette signage at entrance and washrooms.
- Intensify cleaning & disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces.
- Discontinue shared towels in the kitchen or washrooms.
- Encourage volunteers/staff/clients to stay home if they are feeling unwell and self-isolate for 14 days. Ask volunteers/staff/clients to self-isolate for 14 days after travelling.
- Contact your landlord and other tenants in your building and tell them you want to be notified of any COVID-19 exposure in the building.
- Depending on local circumstances, you may select one of the following two options:
- 1. Institute a Centre-wide policy regarding meetings, appointments and group programs, or
- 2. Allow for each service provider to determine their own arrangements.
- You are encouraged to limit in person meetings or appointments at your Centre in favour of using Zoom teleconferencing for meetings, intake, counselling and group programs.
- If you select to use Zoom, please notify relevant staff of access procedures.
- Ensure clients receive adequate notice of any change to their appointments/meetings.
- Encourage all users of the facility to:
- Do not enter the facility if they have signs of cold, flu, etc.
- Wash hands for at least 20 seconds before and after entering the premise.
- Avoid hand shakes, high-fives or hugs.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with sleeve; or cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the garbage.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Seek medical care early if you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, and sharing your recent travel history with your healthcare provider.
- Keep minimum 2 metres distance between people, if possible.
- Follow advisories and best practices of other organizations in your community to escalate precautions as required.
Public Events
We are advising against mass public events, in favour of remote events using Zoom. If you do host public events, follow the same procedures as described above for visitors to the Centre. In particular, we recommend seating people a minimum of 3 seats and 1 row apart.
Public Health Canada has prepared this useful guidance document for public events
Toronto