Feb. 10, 2021

COMMUNIQUE’

KGCFS Service Delivery Update

Please be advised as with all planning, Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services will continue to focus on the safety, protection and well-being of children, youth and families, the health and safety of staff members and adhere to community responsibility.  On January 21, 2021, the current KGCFS working home from plan was approved for extension until April 2021 with further review that will occur in April 2021.  Please be advised per the Province of Ontario identified child welfare agencies who provide Child Welfare Services as an essential service on March 24, 2020, and as a service that will continue to remain will open.  Furthermore, KGCFS will resume the formal business hours (working from home) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a one- hour lunch effective Mon. Feb. 8, 2021 at 8:30 a.m.

In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is moving to a regional approach and maintaining the shutdown in the majority of the public health regions in Ontario, including the Stay-at-Home order and all existing public health and workplace safety measures.  When it is safe to do so, the province will gradually transition each region from the shutdown measures to a revised and strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open (the “Framework”). 

To support the province’s economic recovery, the government has updated the Framework to allow for a safer approach to retail.  Limited in-person shopping in Grey-Lockdown zones will be permitted with public health and safety measures, such as limiting capacity to 25 per cent in most retail settings.  In addition, public health and safety measures in retail settings will be strengthened for other levels of the Framework. Individuals will also be required to wear a face covering and maintain physical distance when indoors in a business, with limited exceptions.

Due to the fact that public health trends are improving in some regions faster than others, the current Stay-at-Home order will be amended and individual orders making it applicable to each public health region will be made except for the three above.  It is proposed that the Stay-at-Home order will continue to apply to 28 public health regions (this include the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin) until Tuesday, February 16, 2021.

More information can be found at the Ontario Newsroom news release dated Mon. Feb. 8, 2021 at the following link below: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/60261/ontario-extending-stay-at-home-order-across-most-of-the-province-to-save-lives

KGCFS Services will continue to be provided directly with youth and families through face-to-face interactions with the exception of direct (face-to-face) traditional cultural services provided by Elders.  First Nations consultation will continue to occur prior to any face-to-face and should the Band Representative indicate an alternative level of service other than face-to-face that adequately mitigates risk level, KGCFS will work in conjunction with the First Nation to determine an alternate service plan.  KGCFS will continue to work in a supportive and collaborative manner with all First Nations relative to their respective pandemic plans to support the wellbeing of youth and families. Family access planning will continue as coordinated with the agency, First Nations, and families and according to the agency access room precautionary requirements.

Please note, at this time, KGCFS employees will continue to work virtually from their home residence, and from the office setting as deemed required.  While offices remain closed to the public, enhanced cleaning and sanitation continue to occur to allow employees to work from office sites as required.  Family access continues to occur as reviewed with the respective First Nations and access within KGCFS office spaces continues to occur in accordance with the access safety guidelines.

Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services (KGCFS) is continually taking proactive precautions for health and safety concerns due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic crisis.   KGCFS recommends utilizing the Health Ontario website – https://covid-19.ontario.ca/ as your “go-to” site for information as it provides emergency preparedness guidelines and is updated twice daily with facts. The Public Health of Sudbury and Districts website at www.phsd.ca is also recommended for current local updates.

Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services translates into “All of us, we are one,” and is driven by our commitment to delivering positive support to children and families through client-focused service delivery processes.  KGCFS is committed to fostering strong families through its delivery by inclusion of First Nations cultural practices.  KGCFS has three office locations (Wiikwemikoong, M’Chigeeng and Sudbury, ON) to service seven member First Nations and other families identifying as First Nation within the Districts of Sudbury/Manitoulin.  Please visit us at www.kgcfs.org

 

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