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York Region offers a wide range of employment and financial assistance programs to help residents meet their basic needs. Services to qualified individuals can include child care, living expenses, rent, utilities and other essential costs. Each program has its own set of requirements and application instructions.

Programs include:

• Child care fee subsidy
• Food access and insecurity
• Homemakers services
• Ontario Works
• Recreation subsidies
• Rent and utility assistance

York Region financial assistance programs

Use the simple monthly budget sheet to keep track of your monthly bills and expenses.

Click on the link below to view, download or print:

Monthly Budget Sheet

York Region residents may be eligible to receive financial assistance for rent, mortgage payments, utilities and other housing costs through two programs. People who are behind on rental, mortgage or utility payments can get support from the Homelessness Prevention Program and people on Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program who are behind on rental, mortgage or utility payments can get support from the Housing Stability Program.

York Region rent and utility assistance programs

Use the simple monthly budget sheet to keep track of your monthly bills and expenses.

Click on the link below to view, download or print:

Monthly Budget Sheet

York Region Homelessness Community Programs is partnering with community agencies to offer seasonal shelter and drop-by programs for clients experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Inn From the Cold Seasonal Shelter
Dates: November 8, 2021 – April 3, 2022
Location: 510 Penrose Street, Newmarket
Services: Overnight accommodations, meals, showers, laundry, case management support
Contact: 905-895-8889 or innfromthecold.ca

Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold Seasonal Shelter
Dates: November 20, 2021 – March 31, 2022
Locations: Ebenezer United Church, 5000 Steeles Avenue East, Markham (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday); Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church, 10066 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday)
Services: Overnight accommodations, meals, case management supports
Contact: 905-955-9964 or bluedoor.ca

Newmarket Drop-by
Dates: Mondays – Fridays, November 18, 2021 – April 1, 2022
Location: Ray Twinney Recreation Complex (Lounge 1), 100 Eagle Street West, Newmarket
Services: Meals, showers, access to computer, Wi-Fi, case management support
Contact: 905-895-8889 or innfromthecold.ca
Learn more about emergency shelter and transitional housing in York Region.

The Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) helps eligible York Region residents, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness not receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Program benefits, to stabilize their housing. To help residents meet their emergency housing needs, York Region can help with costs such as first and last month’s rent, rental, mortgage and utility arrears, moving costs and more.

Follow up support will be provided two weeks, one month, three months and six months after receiving benefits from this program.

Learn more about the Homelessness Prevention Program

This ‘toolkit and resource guide’ is intended to be a short, accessible guide for organizations wanting to help their tenants build long-term, stable tenancies. The toolkit provides a scan of tools used by organizations undertaking eviction prevention work — also known as housing retention or housing stabilization.

The toolkit was created by the Institute for Urban Studies at the University of Winnipeg.

Download Eviction Prevention: Toolkit of Promising Practices

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is pleased to launch the Toolkit for e-Mental Health Implementation, a joint effort of the Centre for Research in Family Health, IWK Health Centre and the MHCC, in consultation with stakeholders. It is a resource for mental health professionals to implement e-mental health innovations, such as telehealth, mental health apps, messaging-based services, and any internet-based mental health technology in clinical practice. e-mental health services are an effective option to provide rapid access to mental health information and care. The toolkit is an important document to help overcome noted barriers in implementing successful e-health programs for mental health professionals and allied health workers.

We invite you to download the Toolkit for e-Mental Health Implementation and share with your colleagues.

This compendium of resources from CMHA Ontario provides information and connections to supports for individuals and service providers. Areas of support include: national mental health supports, provincial mental health supports, COVID-19 resources, and online resources for mental health and social connection.

See the full list of resources for crisis

This implementation toolkit for the Guidelines for Recovery-Oriented Practice is the result of a Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) initiative, supported through a partnership with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores).

This toolkit was created to help those who provide mental health and substance use services and supports adopt the Guidelines into their unique workplace contexts and practices. It gives practical examples of how the core recovery principles show up in organizations through policies, programs, and practices.

This toolkit can be used by:

• Senior executives (e.g., for scope of governance)

• Practitioners and clinicians (e.g., for client- and family-centred care, professional development)

• People with lived or living experience of mental health problems or illnesses and/or substance use and their families (e.g., for co-production, peer support, advocacy)

• Educators (e.g., for training, skills development, evaluation)

• Systems leaders (e.g., for system transformation, system partnerships)

• Managers (e.g., for leading practices, performance coaching)

• Decision makers (e.g., for resource allocation, funding)

Download the recovery-oriented practice: an implementation toolkit

Whether trauma is caused by a single event such as a natural disaster, or by repeated or prolonged exposure to abuse, an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are filtered through their experience and perspective.

Increasing your awareness about the trauma a person has experienced and the impact it has on them can help you when they become anxious or disruptive.

As you sharpen your understanding of their experience, your relationship will strengthen, and that rapport can make your interventions more successful.

When you have the trust of someone who exhibits challenging behavior, you know how to reach them, how to communicate with them, and what will help them calm down.

This guide will give you:

• Deeper awareness about key trauma-related concepts

• A greater understanding of trauma’s effects on behavior

• 7 tips for preventing re-traumatization

• A helpful De-Escalation Preferences Form

• Resources to explore the subject further with your staff

Read the trauma-informed care resources guide

This is a physical bin you can open just like a First Aid Kit, with some of the essentials needed to help support someone through a loss, worry, or a death.

In a newly virtual world, the Loss & Found Kit is something tangible that individuals can see and feel and use. As the name of the tool kit suggests, it can give individuals a way to find hope in a time of loss. Its intention is to
foster the development of pre-requisite skills needed to participate in future Loss & Grief supports in an individual’s community.

View the Loss & Found Tool Kit

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the Mental Health Commission of Canada have joined forces to provide three new resources that offer key insights into the relationship between physical chronic disease, including cancer, and mental health problems or illnesses while showing ways to support those living with concurrent symptoms.

The three new resources include:

• Quick Facts sheets:
o Mental Health and Cancer
o Mental Health and Chronic Disease
• A scoping review synthesizing current international knowledge on physical and mental health co-morbidities

This new inventory provides justice-involved persons, their support networks, and front-line service providers with community-based mental health and substance use programs and resources across Canada.

People released from correctional settings often face challenges related to housing, income and employment, connections with family (or other supports), social isolation, and access to health and social services. As a result, they also face a higher risk of suicide, overdose, and other health-related harms.

The National Inventory of Mental Health and Substance Use Services and Supports for People Transitioning Out of the Criminal Justice System aims to take some of the guesswork out of navigating mental health and substance use services for people returning to the community.

The inventory includes a detailed list of community-based mental health and substance use services and supports from across the country. Organized by province and territory, it seeks to facilitate additional connections to community-based supports and services by supplementing and going beyond correctional discharge and release planning.

“Signal for Help” is a simple one-handed sign someone can use on a video call. It can help a person silently show they need help and want someone to check in with them in a safe way. The Signal for Help was launched by the Canadian Women’s Foundation in response to COVID-19, and is now being shared by partner organizations around the world.

If You See the Signal:
If you see someone use the Signal for Help, check in with the person safely to find out what they need and want you to do.

They may want to tell you what is happening. They may ask you to listen and be there for them. They may ask for help finding services.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services (police, fire, ambulance).

Learn more about the Signal for Help and download the toolkit

According to the website Apartment Therapy, “apps are another convenient and common method of self-care — you just grab your phone and start a guided reflection. Some apps, like the ones focused on meditation and mindfulness, have a more direct mental health benefit. Other apps — from audiobooks to journaling exercises — offer practical ways to unwind, distress, and process your emotions. If you’re hoping for new ways to take care of yourself in 2022, here are 10 apps that can help, as recommended by therapists.”

10 best apps for mental health in 2022

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), in collaboration with the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, the Centre for Suicide Prevention, and the Public Health Agency of Canada has developed two toolkits to support people who have been impacted by suicide. One toolkit is tailored for people who have attempted suicide, and the other is focused on resources for people who have lost someone to suicide. The MHCC wishes to thank the Advisory Committee comprised of people with lived experience related to suicide for their assistance in making these toolkits possible.

In the summer of 2017, the MHCC conducted an online survey to elicit feedback from people who have been affected by suicide. With over a thousand responses, the survey helped gain a better understanding of what topics, content areas, resources, and information were important to include in the toolkits.

Language

Many respondents indicated a preference for “people-first” language as opposed to “survivorship language”. For this reason, “people-first” language is used in the toolkit. That said, many of the resources linked from the toolkits use “survivorship” language.

Please note that the toolkits are not intended to replace a conversation and are not designed to be an exhaustive list of the wide variety of resources available across Canada for support. If you or someone you know is experiencing distressing thoughts or thoughts of suicide, please contact your local distress centre or Kids Help Phone.

It’s human nature to skirt difficult conversations, especially when they involve uncomfortable circumstances and topics. But sometimes we need to face these challenges head on.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has developed Talking to Children About a Suicide, “a resource designed to walk parents, teachers, and others through these discussions, step by step.” The resource is designed “to let caregivers know how to mentally prepare, what to expect (or not expect), and how to respond with language that is helpful, not harmful.”

Download Talking to Children About a Suicide

Everyone experiences anxiety, stress and worry from time to time. However, for some children and families, these emotions can be overwhelming, especially as we continue to face challenges and uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning in May 2021, EarlyON agencies in York Region will be offering free Fear-Less Triple P parenting programs to help anxious children and their parents. This program will introduce parents and caregivers to key strategies to support children with managing anxiety. Parents will learn how anxiety works and ways to help their child develop coping skills to successfully manage anxious behaviours.

Learn more about EarlyON Child and Family Programs

The Peer-to-Peer Community is a collection of online support forums. In the community, youth can anonymously share their personal experiences, offer inspiration and ask questions to connect, comfort and cheer each other on.

It’s a community co-created by youth, for youth. Kids Help Phone collaborated with hundreds of young people across Canada to build this platform and test it out. With youth input every step of the way, you can now navigate mental health info and support through authentic, real-life experiences in the community.

Whether you’d like to use the platform to tell your story, provide encouragement or get help (or all of the above!), this space belongs to you. When you visit the community, you’ll find:

• Support forums that everyone can browse 24/7 (without an account)
• Space to register for / log in to an account to post / reply on the moderated forums (you just need to add a nickname, email address and password)
• Links to wellness resources and connections to other e-mental health services

Learn more about the Kids Help Phone Peer-to-Peer Community

It’s human nature to skirt difficult conversations, especially when they involve uncomfortable circumstances and topics. But sometimes we need to face these challenges head on.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has developed Talking to Children About a Suicide, “a resource designed to walk parents, teachers, and others through these discussions, step by step.” The resource is designed “to let caregivers know how to mentally prepare, what to expect (or not expect), and how to respond with language that is helpful, not harmful.”

Download Talking to Children About a Suicide

Everyone experiences anxiety, stress and worry from time to time. However, for some children and families, these emotions can be overwhelming, especially as we continue to face challenges and uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning in May 2021, EarlyON agencies in York Region will be offering free Fear-Less Triple P parenting programs to help anxious children and their parents. This program will introduce parents and caregivers to key strategies to support children with managing anxiety. Parents will learn how anxiety works and ways to help their child develop coping skills to successfully manage anxious behaviours.

Learn more about EarlyON Child and Family Programs

The Peer-to-Peer Community is a collection of online support forums. In the community, youth can anonymously share their personal experiences, offer inspiration and ask questions to connect, comfort and cheer each other on.

It’s a community co-created by youth, for youth. Kids Help Phone collaborated with hundreds of young people across Canada to build this platform and test it out. With youth input every step of the way, you can now navigate mental health info and support through authentic, real-life experiences in the community.

Whether you’d like to use the platform to tell your story, provide encouragement or get help (or all of the above!), this space belongs to you. When you visit the community, you’ll find:

• Support forums that everyone can browse 24/7 (without an account)
• Space to register for / log in to an account to post / reply on the moderated forums (you just need to add a nickname, email address and password)
• Links to wellness resources and connections to other e-mental health services

Learn more about the Kids Help Phone Peer-to-Peer Community

Your Support Services Network (YSSN) has put together important resources for individuals who are interested in applying for the Passport Program as well as those who are approved for funding including:

• Important documents
• Passport news & events
• Online resources

Learn more about Passport Resources

Passport eCLAIM is a new site where you can register an account, download a personalized eCLAIM form (fillable pdf) and submit all your Passport claims online.

Your claims will be processed electronically, and you will be able to view your submission history and claim status from your Passport eCLAIM account.

To find out more about Passport eCLAIM, please visit DSTO – Learn About Passport E-link

The Inspiring Possibilities Planning Guide, published by Community Living Ontario, is a tax, benefits, trusts and wills guide for Ontarians with disabilities.

Download the Wills and Estate Planning Guide

This booklet, created by the Family Resource Specialists in the Family Resource Centre at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, contains a list of some government funding programs, charitable organizations, recreation and housing funding sources and other financial resources that may be helpful to families.

Download the Funding & Financial Supports Guide

Community Living York South Simcoe has published a Creative Programming Toolkit.

This toolkit has been created for parents and other caregivers to guide the creation of creative programming options with a collection of tips, suggestions and samples.

This toolkit is for caregivers that are looking to work together with other families to create affordable options for loved ones. You might be looking to create a program for something that does not yet exist, for example, perhaps you are looking for an opportunity to work with families that speak the same language as you– well this toolkit can assist you with that!

*NOTE: This toolkit is not limited to caregivers– anyone with a passion for creating programming options can use this.

Download and read the Creative Programming Toolkit in English, French, Chinese and Tamil

The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) provides a free 24/7 helpline in English and French at 1-833-416-2273 (CARE). Community resource specialists can connect you to community-based services and supports across Ontario based on individual needs. Live chats available 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The following toolkits for caregiver can also be accessed on their site:

• Caregiver 101
• Caring for a senior
• Caring for an adult
• Caring for a child or youth

This handbook, produced by Your Support Services Network (YSSN), serves as a self-help guide for senior caregivers aged 55 and older, living in York Region or South Simcoe who are caring for a family member with a mental health challenge. It includes resources and supports that can help connect seniors and their loved one(s) to local formal and informal supports earlier on in the process, so that they may both live a more meaningful life.

This initiative has been funded by the Government of Canada-New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Mental Health Senior Caregiver Handbook – English

Mental Health Senior Caregiver Handbook – French

• The Eastern York Region North Durham, Ontario Health Team has launched three new initiatives to keep residents connected and informed:• The Health and Community Support Directory has information on health, social and government services, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in Eastern York Region, North Durham and across the GTA• The Seniors Home Support Program is an integrated primary care program delivered by an interdisciplinary team to home-bound seniors who cannot access office-based primary care services• The Staying Connected Newsletter is online quarterly newsletter that will keep subscribers informed of the latest news and initiatives from the EYRND Ontario Health Team

So much of our everyday language excludes different backgrounds, genders, and abilities. While this is oftentimes unconscious, some commonly used phrases can read as male- or cisgendered-centric, while others can reinforce negative stereotypes about mental health or physical ability. It’s time for our workplaces to embrace a new, more inclusive way to communicate to and about one another.

Read the guide to inclusive language in the workplace.

• The Eastern York Region North Durham, Ontario Health Team has launched three new initiatives to keep residents connected and informed:• The Health and Community Support Directory has information on health, social and government services, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in Eastern York Region, North Durham and across the GTA• The Seniors Home Support Program is an integrated primary care program delivered by an interdisciplinary team to home-bound seniors who cannot access office-based primary care services• The Staying Connected Newsletter is online quarterly newsletter that will keep subscribers informed of the latest news and initiatives from the EYRND Ontario Health Team

York Region is pleased to announce that they have made available Multifaith Action Society’s Diversity Calendar, which helps raise awareness about faith, culture and other significant dates throughout the year for partners and residents. Please visit york.ca/inclusiveyr to access the calendar.

This calendar is one of the many actions resulting from the Inclusion Charter for York Region. You can also download the calendar to your Outlook following the instructions on the Diversity Calendar page.

Women are no stranger to the role of primary caregivers, which is why up to one-third of working mothers have considered quitting their jobs since the onset of COVID. And the weight of leaving the workforce can be a heavy burden.

That’s why the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) created a mini-guide specifically designed to support the mental wellness of women who have been sidelined from the workforce, whether by pandemic business closures, caregiving, or other responsibilities.

Download the Mini-Guide for Women Sidelined from the Workforce

Indigenous Centered Approaches to Harm Reduction – a free webinar series courtesy of Homelessness Learning Hub and CATIE.

This two-part webinar series explores Indigenous-centred and reconciliatory harm reduction approaches. These videos spotlight examples of innovative, Indigenous-led programs across the country that are using Indigenous-centred approaches to harm reduction, HIV and hepatitis C.

The first webinar provides an overview of:

• What these approaches look like
• The link between colonialism and substance use, HIV and hepatitis C
• The Indigenous-led response

The second webinar explores:

• What Reconciliation means in the context of harm reduction
• What service providers can do to offer wholistic, person-centred services
• How to address stigma in our healthcare system

Learn more about Indigenous centered approaches to harm reduction and access the video resources

Many Indigenous people are overwhelmed with the tasks of caring for themselves, their families and communities. And many non-Indigenous people are wondering what they can do to help. This article is a collaboration between The Discourse and IndigiNews. It seeks to amplify calls to action from Indigenous people and communities that have been shared in recent days.

7 ways to support Indigenous people grieving in wake of news about 215 children

What is the Indian Act? Who counts as “Indian” under the Indian Act? Why haven’t proposed solutions to the Indian Act’s problems worked? What’s next for Canada?

Learn the answers to these questions and more in a brief guide to Canada’s Indian Act written by Freya Abbas, a University of Toronto linguistics/literature student and lifelong learner.

It is the responsibility of every Canadian and every organization to work toward reconciliation. To move toward a better, more equitable future, it is imperative for Canadians to understand past and present injustices committed against Indigenous peoples and what needs to change. The resources in this article represent a few of the many online tools available to help in this essential journey.

Check out 16 resources to help settlers understand and advance Indigenous reconciliation

How do we best address growing colour-coded inequality – for Indigenous peoples and peoples of colour, including Black Canadians? How can individuals, groups, and organizations engage in effective trust-building, ally-ship, partnership development, and advocacy? By highlighting examples of the real economic, health, and social impacts of racism and faithism, this webinar (presented by Maytree) will break down five good ideas for better “walking the talk” on racial equity.

Five Good Ideas

1. Collect disaggregated race-based (and other socio-demographic) data.
2. Incorporate a racial equity and racial justice lens in the development and evaluation of policies, budgets, programs, practices, and cultures – both internally and externally.
3. Adopt an intersectional approach to your anti-racism and racial equity and racial justice work and apply it in the hiring and promotion of staff, as well as in the recruitment of board members.
4. Build effective ally-ship among and across peoples of colour, Indigenous Peoples, and others, as it is critical in the promotion of racial equity and racial justice in all of our partnership building and advocacy, within and across organizations, communities, and society.
5. Lobby governments for systems level changes that promote racial equity and racial justice, and build internal organizational capacity to actively advocate for and support such change-making efforts.

Watch the webinar and download handouts and resources

People with lived/living experience deeply understand  the realities of poverty. Their stories and experiences serve as powerful tools for building compassion and for disrupting and clarifying a community’s understanding of its root causes and scope. This guide seeks to further support the inclusion of these diverse voices as an integral part of reducing and eliminating poverty.

Learn more in the Guide for Including People in Poverty Reduction

York Region is committed to being a welcoming and inclusive community for new Canadians looking for a place to call home. York Region’s Newcomer Guide helps new immigrants find the programs and services they need to live and thrive here. If you are new to Canada or know someone who is, check out this great resource.

Explore the York Region newcomer guide

Key Messages:

• York Region Vaccination Progress, Proof of Vaccination Requirements and Guidance

• Third Dose Eligibility and Updates

• Staying Safe at School

• Key Facts to Promote and Build Vaccine Confidence

Shareable Assets:

• Social Media Content: New Facebook and Twitter Vaccination Messages

• Government of Canada: Ask the Experts Video Series

• Government of Canada: “My Why” on getting the COVID-19 vaccine video series

• Province of Ontario: Multi-lingual COVID-19 Communications Hub

Click here for the York Region COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Toolkit Edition #12

Key Messages

• Clinic Updates and Special Supports for Needle Fears and Anxiety

• Latest Guidelines for Co-administration of Vaccines and Pfizer Use in Ages 12 to 24

• Proof of Vaccination Updates for York Region Sports Facilities

• Staying Safe at School: Latest Vaccination Information and Resources

• COVID-19 In Pregnancy Can Put You at Higher Risk: Information for Pregnant Individuals

Shareable Assets

• Social Media Content: New Facebook and Twitter Vaccination Messages

• Ontario Ministry of Health: Strategies to Reduce Needle Fear

• Province of Ontario: Multi-lingual COVID-19 Communications Hub

• Women’s College Hospital, Maad’ookiing Mshkiki – Sharing Medicine: First Nations, Inuit and Métis Perspectives and Knowledge Sharing on COVID-19 Vaccines

Click here for the York Region COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Toolkit Edition #13

Vaughan Community Health Centre (CHC) is providing COVID-19 wrap around supports to residents who reside within priority postal codes (L6A, L4H, L4K, L4J, L4L) and have been impacted by COVID-19. Such residents may have tested positive, are self-isolating, or dealing with long-term effects of having COVID-19. Wrap around supports include:

• Financial Assistance

• Food access support

• Masks and sanitizer kits

• Mental health support

• Self-isolation centre

• COVID-19 testing

• COVID-19 vaccination

• Transportation Support

Residents within priority postal codes may self-refer through the Vaughan CHC, COVID-19 Information phone line (905-226-7332). Vaughan residents residing outside priority postal codes, may continue to connect with Vaughan CHC for ongoing information and support.

Vaughan CHC Wrap-Around Support Services

Vaughan CHC COVID-19 Community Testing Centre – Appointment Bookings

COVID-19 vaccines are now available for children ages 5 to 11 in York Region. This is great news for bringing the powerful protection of vaccination to more members of our community.

The 5-11 Vaccine Confidence Digital Toolkit contains helpful resources to guide young people and their families along the way. Please feel free to share and promote all items within this toolkit through your personal networks to help spread the word. Included within the toolkit:

Key Messages:

• COVID-19 Paediatric Vaccines: Information and Frequently Asked Questions for Kids and Families
• More COVID-19 Vaccine Questions? Speak Live with a Health Care Professional
• Have You Heard of Max The Vax: Helping Young People Feel Safe and Protected From COVID-19
• Latest York Region Social Media: Helpful Updates to Read and Share on Facebook and Twitter

Extended Resource and Link Library – Credible, shareable multi-lingual resources:

• York Region Resources: Web Links, Videos, Tip Sheets, Consent Form, FAQs and More
• Max the Vax Resources for Kids and Caregivers: Web Links in English and French
• Ministry of Health: Fact Sheet, Poster and Other Resources
• Sick Kids Hospital: COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Youth
• Caring for Kids: Downloadable Resource to Reduce the Pain of Vaccination
• Kids Health First: COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Youth and Families
• Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP): Pain Management Tips and All About Me Kids Book
• Province of Ontario: Paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
• Province of Ontario: COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Youth Website
• The Government of Canada: Vaccines and You Video Series in 17 Languages
• This is Our Shot: Vaccination Information and Frequently Asked Questions in 27 languages

Click here for the 5-11 Vaccine Confidence Digital Toolkit 

Key Messages:

• York Region’s Vaccination Progress, Appointments and Walk-In Information

• Vaccine Confidence: Key Facts to Promote and Build Vaccine Confidence

York Region Shareable Assets:

• Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Vaccine Information from York Region (14 languages)

• Infographic: COVID-19 Vaccine Fast Facts from York Region (14 languages)

• Video: COVID-19 Vaccine May 12 Information Session

• Poster: Vaccines are Safe and Effective

Extended Resource and Link Library:

• Government of Canada: Vaccines and You Video Series

• Province of Ontario: Multi-lingual COVID-19 Communications Hub

• This is Our Shot: National Vaccine Campaign and Multi-lingual Resources

• South Asian Health Network: Vaccine Safety, Side effect, Ingredient and Myth Information

• Public Health Agency of Canada: Vaccine Information for Indigenous Peoples

• Black Scientists’ Task Force: Vaccine Information for the Black Canadian Community

• Canadian Muslim COVID-19 Task Force: Resources from Community Leaders

Click here for the York Region COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Toolkit Edition #11

Key Messages – For responding to public inquiries or use in your own publications:

• York Region Vaccination Progress

• Accelerated Second Dose Eligibility Updates

• Second Doses for Recipients of AstraZeneca

• Youth and Family Vaccination Information

• Vaccine Confidence: New Resources from York Region, the Government of Canada, COVID-19 Resources Canada and the Canadian Muslim COVID-19 Task Force

Shareable Assets – For you to print, post, email or otherwise share within your networks:

• Poster: Vaccine Confidence Information from York Region

• #IGotMyVaccineInYR Social Media Frame: Instructions for How to Use on Facebook

• Video: COVID-19 Vaccines – What You Need to Know (May 12, 2021 update)

• Social Media Messages: Vaccine Information for Pregnant Individuals

Click here for the York Region COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Toolkit Edition #10

Great news! COVID-19 vaccines are now available for youth ages 12 to 17 in York Region. We want to be sure young residents and their families feel confident and informed when booking a vaccine. Please feel free to share and promote all items within this toolkit through your personal networks to help spread the word. Included in the Youth Vaccination Digital Toolkit you will find:

Youth Vaccination Key Messages:
• Vaccines Available Now for Youth Ages 12 to 17
• Mental Health Resources and Quiz: For Youth and Families
• Frequently Asked Questions About Youth Vaccines
• Youth Transportation Options to Vaccine Clinics
Youth Vaccination Shareable Assets:
• Fact Sheet: Vaccination Information for Youth 12 to 17
• Poster: Youth and Family Mental Health Resources and Quiz (attachment to email)
• Video: Take a Tour of a York Region Vaccine Clinic
• Video: Take a Tour of a York Region Drive-Thru Vaccine Clinic
• Infographic: Quick Facts to Build Vaccine Confidence
• Web Links: More Youth Vaccine Materials from the Province of Ontario
• Social Media Messages: For Facebook and Twitter

Youth Vaccine Special Edition: Vaccine Digital Toolkit

#IGotMyVaccineinYR – Youth Mental Health Poster

Key Messages – For responding to public inquiries or use in your own publications:

• NEW Vaccine Eligibility Updates

• Transportation Options to Vaccine Clinics

• Vaccine Confidence: New Messages and Resources to Support Vaccine Confidence from York Region, the Canadian Muslim COVID-19 Task Force and the This is Our Shot Campaign

Shareable Assets – For you to print, post, email or otherwise share within your networks:

• Video: What to Expect at a Vaccine Clinic

• Vaccine Confidence Social Media Graphics and Messaging

• ActiveNet Step-By-Step Booking Guide: How to Create Your Account and Book a Vaccine

• Province of Ontario Vaccine Information Hub: Multi-lingual Communication Resources

Click here for the York Region COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Toolkit Edition #9

Key Messages – For responding to public inquiries or use in your own publications:

• Vaccine Eligibility Updates: NEW Pregnant Individuals, Postal Code L4H and Child Care Workers

• Vaccine Confidence: Resources to Support Vaccine Confidence from York Region, Public Health Ontario and The Black Scientists’ Task Force on Vaccine Equity

Shareable Assets – For you to print, post, email or otherwise share within your networks:

• COVID-19 Vaccine Program: Roles and Responsibilities News Story and Graphic

• Vaccine Confidence Social Message and Graphic

• ActiveNet Step-By-Step Booking Guide: How to Create Your Account and Book a Vaccine

• Province of Ontario Vaccine Information Hub: Multi-lingual Communication Resources

Click here for the York Region COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Toolkit Edition #8

Key Messages – For responding to public inquiries or use in your own publications:

• Vaccine Eligibility Updates and Extended Stay-At-Home Order Information

• Transportation Options to York Region Vaccine Clinics

• Vaccine Confidence – Updated Facts and Resources to Promote and Build Vaccine Confidence

Shareable Assets – For you to print, post, email or otherwise share within your networks:

• CBC Video: Dr. Samir Gupta Explains Why all COVID-19 Vaccines are an Excellent Choice

• COVID-19 Information in York Region: Printable Poster

• ActiveNet Step-By-Step Booking Guide: How to Create Your Account and Book a Vaccine

• Province of Ontario Vaccine Information Hub: Multi-lingual Communication Resources

Click here for the York Region COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Toolkit Edition #7

Key Messages – For responding to public inquiries or use in your own publications. New topics:

• Vaccine Supply, Clinic and Eligibility Updates

• Transportation Options to York Region Vaccine Clinics

• Vaccine Confidence – Key Facts to Promote and Build Vaccine Confidence

Shareable Assets – For you to print, post, email or otherwise share within your networks. New assets:

• Registration Link: Upcoming April 17, 2021, York Region Alliance of African Canadian Communities Interactive COVID-19 Discussion

• Vaccine Confidence Infographic – Multi-lingual Versions Available

• ActiveNet Step-By-Step Booking Guide – How to Create Your Account and Book a Vaccine

• Ramadan COVID-19 FAQs – Useful COVID-19 and Vaccine Information During Ramadan

• Province of Ontario Vaccine Information Hub: Multi-lingual Communication Resources

Click here for the York Region COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Toolkit Edition #6

Click here for the Ramadan & COVID-19 FAQ

Click here for the ActiveNet Step-by-Step Book Guide

Key Messages – For responding to public inquiries or use in your own publications. New topics:

• Joint Statement from the Medical Officer of Health and Hospital CEOs in York Region

• Two New Vaccine Clinics Open in York Region: Canada’s Wonderland and Trisan Centre

• New Vaccine Eligibility for Faith Leaders and 65+ at All Clinics, and 60+ at Cornell Community Centre

• AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines Available to residents 55+ at select York Region Pharmacies

• Vaccines Now Available for Residents Age 45 to 59 in Five York Region Postal Code Areas

• Transportation Options to York Region Vaccine Clinics

• Vaccine Confidence – Why Getting Vaccinated Matters / The Best Vaccine is The First One Offered to You

Shareable Assets – For you to print, post, email or otherwise share within your networks. New items:

• New Video: What to Expect at a York Region Drive-Thru Vaccine Clinic

• Voluntary Isolation Centre Postcard – Multi-lingual Options Available

• Province of Ontario Vaccine Information Hub: Multi-lingual Communication Resources

• Social Media Images for 65+ Vaccine Eligibility – Facebook and Twitter

• Social Media Images for 55+ Pharmacy Vaccine Availability – Facebook and Twitter

For more information, please contact York Region Public Health or York Region Corporate Communications at HEOCCommunications@york.ca or YR.Corporate.Communications@york.ca.

Click here for the York Region COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Toolkit Edition #5

This is the 4th Edition of York Region’s COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Toolkit. In this week’s edition, please find new messages and resources to help inform the community:Key Messages – For responding to public inquiries or use in your own publications.

• New Vaccine Eligibility for 70+

• Help Us Help You – Choose Kindness

• Dedicated Vaccine Clinic Days for Indigenous Residents and Adult Household Members

• Transportation Options to York Region Vaccine Clinics

• Timing of COVID-19 Vaccine Second DosesShareable Assets – For you to print, post, email or otherwise share within your networks.

• Updated COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know Video – March 17 Update

• Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Fast Facts Infographic – March 18 Update

• FAQs: COVID-19 Vaccine Identification Information for Indigenous FamiliesDo you have feedback to share? Please email HEOCCommunications@york.ca Click here for the York Region COVID-19 Vaccine Digital Toolkit Edition #4

The York Region Food Network (YRFN) seeks to be an acknowledged and respected centre for the promotion of food security – a healthy, accessible and sustainable food system in York Region.

They’ve compiled a list of emergency food resources for York Region residents during COVID-19 that includes:

• Food banks and pantries
• Take away meals
• Home food delivery
• Emergency assistance

See the full list of York Region emergency food resources during COVID-19

The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) is helping isolated, low-income seniors and people with disabilities and chronic medical conditions across Ontario get meals, groceries, medicine and other essentials to stay safe at home during COVID-19.

OCSA is working with Meals on Wheels organizations and other partners across the province to deliver the following services to vulnerable seniors without family or community support.

Find support during COVID-19

ConnectABILITY is a website and virtual community dedicated to lifelong learning and support for people who have an intellectual disability, their families and support networks. They have assembled information and resources to support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic including:

• Vaccine clinics and events
• Vaccine information and resources
• COVID-19 information (plan language)
• Managing the next wave
• Resources & supports for caregivers
• COVID-19 healthcare resources
• Mental health & wellness
• Virtual connections & online programming
• Education & learning at home
• COVID-19 financial support
• Helpful websites

York Region is advising parents to make a family emergency plan in the event somebody in the household needs to self-isolate or be hospitalized due to COVID-19. This plan should include arrangements for an emergency caregiver in case parents/guardians cannot care for children due to illness.

York Region has developed the Family Emergency Planning for COVID-19 Form and encourages families to print one copy for the emergency caregiver and another to give to emergency services, or a health care provider in the case of an emergency.

Additionally, York Region has developed a COVID-19 Resource Package for Parents and Caregivers that includes information on resources, services, programs and supports in York Region to help families and caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include:

• Family Emergency Planning for COVID-19
• Resources and Supports for Families Handout
• Healthy Babies Healthy Children Fact Sheet

The Family Emergency Plan for COVID-19 Form and the COVID-19 Resource Package for Parents and Caregivers can be found at york.ca/COVID19FamilySupport

CAMH has been at the leading edge of breakthroughs in mental health research for over 20 years, with each discovery giving rise to new treatments, methodologies, and hope. Follow the links below for resources to support yourself and others during the pandemic.

Mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic

Resources for health care workers during COVID-19

Self-management in the moment: quick tips to support yourself during the COIVD-19 pandemic