The province of Ontario is experiencing a second wave, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to safety protocols. The developmental services sector is still under emergency order and the people we support are some of the most vulnerable people in our community. We must remain vigilant to protect them and their support workers.

Monday, November 16, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., we (York Region) moved into what is referred to as the “Control – Red Zone”. In this zone, broader-scale restrictions must take place to control transmission. This is the most severe zone before widescale closures. Keep Ontarians Safe.

With rapidly changing environment, out of an abundance of caution, the closure of our day/evening programs has been extended January 31, 2021. It’s been a challenging 8 months. Please reach out to staff for support, participate in the virtual programs, send your ideas for programs, it is important we stay connected.

We are please to confirm, Community Living Central York (CLCY) has not had any COVID 19 cases to date. We are extremely grateful for our dedicated workforce. CLCY employees are demonstrating commitment, courage and resilience, as they provide essential supports and services to people with intellectual disabilities during this most challenging time.

We strongly encourage everyone, to be vigilant and save lives by following recommendations regardless of where you live, to slow the spread of COVID 19:

• Avoid social gatherings and limit close contacts to your household or the people you live with;
• Adhere to the restrictions in your region on public and private gatherings;
• Maintain two meters of physical distancing from everyone else;
• Wear a face covering indoors and wear one outdoors if physical distancing may not be maintained or if wearing one is required;
• Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly;
• Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are mild;
• Cover your cough; sneeze with your arm;
• Get tested if you have symptoms compatible with COVID-19, been exposed to someone with COVID, or suspected case.
• Individuals and families from higher transmission regions should avoid travel to lower transmission regions, except for essential reasons; and
• Download the COVID Alert mobile app

Please visit Ontario.ca/COVID19 for the full list of public health region classifications and the COVID-19 response framework: keeping Ontario safe and open.

We will get through this together, be safe,

Colleen Zakoor
Executive Director

Congratulations to everyone, we are please to confirm, Community Living Central York (CLCY) has not had any COVID 19 cases to date.

We are getting through this challenging time together. The past five and a half months have given us all the opportunity to exercise our resourcefulness, learn new strategies to cope and pause to reflect on where we are today.

It is with an abundance of caution that day/evening programs will not be resuming on September 1, 2020. The reopening date has been extended until November 30, 2020. However, as we reassess our situation, (approx. every six weeks), guided by the legislation, the date of reopening may be adjusted. Our goal is to reopen sooner, safely and responsibly, with all required precautions in place.

When we do reopen, the site will look different, additional signage (physical distancing, room capacity, plexiglass, etc.) and limited site access. Precautions include strict screening guidelines, social/physical distancing, staff and others wearing masks etc. (face shields/gowns), enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of all spaces. We are working with other agencies and partners as everyone plans reopening.

We appreciate your patience and look forward to seeing everyone. In the meantime, know that you and the health of your loved ones is a constant priority for us.

Be safe, be healthy

Colleen Zakoor
Executive Director

Hello everyone;

We are please to confirm, Community Living Central York has not had any COVID 19 cases to date.

I commend all employees for their continued commitment and due diligence to keep everyone safe. We are getting through this challenging period together.

People living in the various residential homes began receiving visitors who followed protocols as set out by Public Health. Since phase II, resuming family visits have been very successful. Warm thanks to the families and visitors for following the required protocols, outdoor visit, physically distancing, completing the screening tools, wearing masks, cleaning and hand washing.

Recently, the Province has removed the requirement for a covid test prior to the visit. On July 22, the Province sent revised guidelines with specifics for our homes, ‘Visitor’s Guidelines: Re-Opening of Congregate Living Settings’, the revisions to our policy are in progress. Families/caregivers are a significant part of peoples lives, it’s been a difficult and challenging time for everyone, and we will get through this together.

This unprecedented time in history has created a new lens; how we work, where we work and the most important lens, supporting people with dignity, respect and grace.

Be well, be safe,

Colleen Zakoor
Executive Director

Over the past three months, Community Living Central York (CLCY) has taken rapid and necessary steps to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these changes came about as a result of information that has been updated or amended as we have adapted to the crisis.

We recognize the Province has announced a phased in approach to re-opening. To remain diligent in stopping the spread of COVID 19, we have extended our closure until September 1, 2020 and reassess.

This extension is essential to ensuring the continued safety of both the people we support and our staff. Despite our national, provincial, and local progress in flattening the curve, daily news reports confirm that the fight is far from over. This is especially true in congregate living settings, such as group homes and long-term care homes. So far, we have managed to keep COVID-19 out of our sites and have kept people as safe as possible.

The Provincial government announced the Framework for Reopening our Province. This is a gradual process; we will be following the guidelines and Public Health directives implementing all precautions when we open.

Community Living Supports – Group Living Homes

We have realigned our work to focus all our efforts on keeping the people we support and our staff safe from COVID-19. Active screening measures are in place in all our sites and staff have been asked to limit their employment in the vulnerable people sector to CLCY Home and family visits have been suspended until further notice to stop the possibility of spreading COVID-19 through movement in-and-out of our sites.

Virtual Offerings

We have launched online programs to help ease the pain of social isolation at home during the pandemic. We host fun activities, Music with Steve, Yoga, and much more. Beyond these measures, we are also ensuring that all group homes have the technology they need to keep the people we support happy and connected to their families and friends. Please contact your supervisor to arrange phone calls, Facetime chats, or other virtual connections with your family member.

Day Programs/Employment Supports

As much as possible, our employment supports continue to match individuals seeking work through on-line programs. Day programs across CLCY were suspended in accordance with Public Health guidance around physical distancing and limiting journeys outside the home to essential needs only.

Associate Family Program

We continue to provide support and guidance to associate families, protocols were implemented, given the people we support live with families, we’ve worked together to ensure the individuals in the program limit their interactions with people outside their household, social distancing and follow hand washing protocols. We equipped families with resources to engage the people we support while staying at home. We have implemented a variety of methods to remain in contact, support families and individuals in the program.

Main site

CLCY continues to significantly limit the number of people entering our main site at 575 Penrose Street. Only essential staff are permitted entry to our offices, and anyone entering must complete self-screening at the entrances, follow physical distancing 6 ft apart and follow hand washing protocols.

Supported Independent Living

Many individuals supported with CLCY live independently in the community with modified support. We have recommended that people living independently take measures to limit the number of visitors entering their homes and that they practice physical distancing as much as possible. We have provided PPE to households or visiting staff where physical distancing is not possible.I can assure you that we are extending these measures under the best advice from public health authorities to keep your loved ones safe. We will also use this time to plan for how and when we can ease some of these restrictions as soon as it is safe and responsible to do so.

Be safe, be healthy

Colleen Zakoor
Executive Director

IMPORTANT UPDATE

We have extended our closure following all Provincial Health guidelines to flatten the curve and lesson the spread of COVID-19.

The safety of the people we support , their families, and our valued staff remains our top priority.

Helpful links

1. https://www.publichealthontario.ca
2. https://www.york.ca

EXTENDED CLOSURE

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on many aspects of our lives. Every day, we all take new social distancing and other preventative measures to ensure our safety and that of the people around us. These are such unprecedented times; we are very grateful to have the ongoing support of families and stakeholders in this challenging global situation.

In alignment with current practices, we made the difficult decision to extend the closure of day and evening programs until further notice. We will continue monitoring this situation closely and provide updates as they occur. CLCY staff will make every effort to minimize the impact of the closure and offer alternatives such as phone calls and virtual meetups.

Community Living Central York (CLCY) is committed to doing everything we can to protect the health and safety of our individuals, their families, our staff and volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is with that at the forefront that we are, as an agency, working collectively to contain the spread of the virus and support those who are most vulnerable.

We monitor updates from World Health Organization (WHO), Canadian Public Health, York Region Public Health and Public Health Ontario. Our teams are working around the clock to prepare, plan and respond to all situations relating to the COVID-19 virus.

The health, safety, and well-being of people we provide support to and our employees is our focused priority. We are proud of our dedicated employees across the entire organization who continue to go above and beyond in providing support!

We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding,

Colleen Zakoor
Executive Director

We encourage everyone to visit trusted public health websites to ensure you get the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Helpful links

1. https://www.publichealthontario.ca
2. https://www.york.ca

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to rapidly change, first and foremost, the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, individuals we support, families, and community participants remain our top priority. The public health risk remains low in York Region and Ontario, however, Community Living Central York (CLCY) is taking swift and decisive action to protect our community and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Effective Immediately, the day and evening programs are closed. Community Visitor’s/Families will be required to complete Self Screening tool to limit potential exposure to the COVID 19 virus prior to entering group living sites. Effective immediately, individuals we support will NOT participate in any community activities, events and programs (internally and externally).

The precautions follow the York Region Public Health, Public Health Ontario and the Public Health Agency of Canada. These includes hand washing, social distancing, avoiding large groups and cleaning (etc.). This is an important line of defence in slowing the spread of COVID-19. We know it is a possibility that some people will contract the virus and we are working to minimize the effects on everyone and the services we provide.

https://www.publichealthontario.ca

We sincerely appreciate your understanding as we navigate the challenging circumstances related to COVID-19. We will continue to monitor this evolving situation and communicate updates as they become available.

For more information and ongoing updates, please visit our website at clcy.ca and or Social Media Sites. Should you have any specific questions regarding the above closures please do not hesitate to send an email to info@clcy.ca.

Colleen Zakoor
Executive Director