Kingston Community Health Centres

Appointments are available at our Flu Shot Clinic tomorrow (Wednesday, November 18) at our Weller site (263 Weller). Hours of operation are 9 a.m.-12 noon and 1-7:15 p.m. To book your appointment, call 613.542.2949 x3 and leave a voice mail on the flu clinic line with your name and phone number. Someone will call you back to book an appointment.

If you are an adult who came to Canada less than five years ago, you can participate in this study on newcomers' experiences during COVID-19. Participation will will enter you in a draw for a $50 gift card!

There's a new bi-weekly support group for Non-Binary Individuals. Next meetings are: Nov 17th, Dec 1st and Dec 15th. Join us on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2032327733

What is the cost of COVID? Two local physicians are working to understand the social & emotional impacts of the pandemic. Participants in the online survey (details on the two surveys below) are eligible to win an iPad!

Feel sick? Find out if you need a COVID test, and if so, book your test right away! https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/

If you think all students from grades 1-12 should learn hands-on skills to grow, prepare and choose healthy foods, you’ll be happy to know that Bill 216 is on its way to third reading in the Ontario legislature. More info here: https://foodpolicykfla.ca/home Read and consider signing the petition here: https://www.change.org/Bill216-Food_Literacy_in_Education_A

Introducing an eight-week education and exercise program for people with symptoms of knee or hip osteoarthritis. All you need to know is on the flyer below!

Wondering about the new recommendation to wear three-layer non-medical masks? So were we. Here’s some info and instruction on how to make your own! https://www.canada.ca//sew-no-sew-instructions-non-medical

Spots are still available in this free, five-session skills group on managing stress and emotions for youth ages 16-24 - please share widely!

Have you wondered what's going on at Artillery Park the past few months? Here's a video that explains what's happening at the Integrated Care Hub. Spoiler alert: it's pretty amazing.

The COVID-19 assessment centre is moving to Beechgrove this weekend. Details about the new location, hours, drive-through testing (available this Saturday and Sunday) are in the article below.

Kingston Immigration Partnership is running a survey to better understand the gaps and barriers experienced by newcomers in accessing health care. Please click below to participate, and you may be eligible to win one of two grocery gift cards! (A newcomer may be a Refugee Claimant, a Permanent Resident, a Long Term Immigrant, a Citizen or an International Student.)

Wondering if you need a COVID-19 assessment? You can visit the Assessment Centre's website to see if you should be tested and if so, how to book your appointment. https://kingstonhsc.ca//covid-/community-assessment-centre

Updates from Pathways - programming starts next week!

Coming up next week: a virtual update for local businesses on the Integrated Care Hub and its future home at 661 Montreal St. Details: https://kchc.ca//2020/10/ICH_Flyers_Business_2020_10_13.pdf

Please note that the hours of the COVID Assessment Centre at the Leon's Centre are changing as of Monday, September 14. The centre is still open every day; the new hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. https://kingstonhsc.ca//covid/community-assessment-centre

Coming up next week: a virtual public meeting and community update on the Integrated Care Hub and its future home at 661 Montreal St. Details: https://kchc.ca//20/10/ICH_Flyers_Community_2020_10_13.pdf

More from KIP on the Let's Talk event coming up on Thursday! Spurred by the positive community engagement through the ‘Let’s Talk Race’ Townhall in June, we wish to continue conversations with Kingston residents to learn more about individual experiences. The first in a series of thematic panels will be led by Indigenous Elders and a youth from the community. The discussion will be co-moderated by Dr. Aba Bailey & Sunita Gupta. We are grateful to the Emergency Community Support Fund received from United Way that allows us to move forward with this important dialogue. Follow the event here: https://fb.me/e/ggDz5hfQW

Please note that testing at the Kingston COVID-19 Assessment Centre is now by appointment only. Details in this post from Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

Help wanted! We are gratefully accepting donations of homemade masks to give to clients to attend essential in-person visits at our locations. This pattern is from the Centers for Disease Control and is appropriate for our needs. Masks should be placed in plastic bags and can be dropped off at any of our sites: Weller has a drop-box at the reception desk, NACHC and Barrack will accept them at their main entrances, as well. Thank you in advance your help is much appreciated! https://www.cdc.gov///how-to-make-cloth-face-covering.html

Please join Kingston Immigration Partnership for this, the first in a series of panel discussions to discuss race and racism in our community.

Back to school looks a little (OK, a lot) different this year. Here are some tools and information from Public Health that may be helpful.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to very high volumes the COVID-19 Assessment Centre in Kingston has reached capacity and will not perform any more testing today. The cen...tre will re-open tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. We also ask, that if you plan on attending tomorrow, please do not arrive or line up in your car before that time in order to prevent a backlog in service. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Our Napanee Area Community Health Centre site is offering a great workshop series about Adverse Childhood Experiences. Please see the flyer for more information.

Remembering those lost, acknowledging the grief of those left behind, and fighting to #EndOverdose every August 31st.

KCHC, Maltby Centre, and Resolve Counselling Services present a free online screening of the film "Resilience". This is an award-winning documentary about toxic stress and its effects on the brains and bodies of children. After the film, join a facilitated discussion about how our community can work together to fight against and address the impact of adverse experiences in childhood. September 16, 3 p.m. More information here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/resilience-the-biology-of-stre

Thanks to Kingston Pathways to Education for sharing this information about the new change to back-to-school plans for high school students!

Queen's Family Health Team offers virtual groups about breastfeeding and all things baby! See their flyer for more details.

Kingston residents ages 16 and up are invited to participate in this Queen's University survey about the social and emotional costs of COVID-19. https://queensu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3EppK3qsWkxktVP

Huge thank you to the Davies Foundation who have donated 248 President's Choice gift cards at $100 each on behalf of the "Kingston Friends Feeding Friends" initiative. This donation will allow Pathways to Education Kingston to continue to offer students full incentive support for the upcoming year. Thank you Greg Davies, Homestead Land Holdings; The Estate of Larry Gibson; The W.J. Henderson Foundation; The Linda Ann Daly & Walter Fenlon Foundation; The Ana & Edward C. Churchill Foundation; The Dr. Samuel Robinson Foundation; The Abramsky Family and B'nai Brith Lodge 1191 Kingston.

We also have two more workshops coming up - you can find more information on the flyers attached to this post.

Here's some information on an upcoming virtual workshop about emotional regulation out of our Napanee site.

Due to IT challenges, our phone system is currently down. Please stay tuned to social media and our website for updates as available. https://kchc.ca

Please note: the COVID Assessment Centre at Leon's Centre is CLOSED tomorrow (Wednesday, July 1) for the holiday, but a temporary assessment centre will be running at St. Lawrence College from 9 a.m. - noon.

More than ever we need to reflect on what we each can do to make Kingston a place where everyone feels welcome and respected. More than ever we see the value i...n trading stories of our experiences. More than ever we need meaningful community conversations. Lets start with #sayHello Watch: https : https://bit.ly/2B4Zzk1 Kingston Community Health Centres KEYS Job Centre Kingston Economic Development Corporation Réseau de Soutien à l'immigration francophone de l'Est de l'Ontario Kingston Immigration Partnership

Online parent and baby yoga starts next week!

Coming up on June 23: an online group focused on Indigenous Health facilitated by NACHC, Diabetes Health Circle and the Community Wellbeing Centre. More info in the flyer below and you can register here: https://flahealth.zoom.us//tJEqcOGorTksHNV2e8ih4NsdHkTXXxk

Here is some information about a virtual townhall meeting to discuss race and racism to be held this Friday afternoon.

We are all experiencing different emotions right now in response to Covid-19; some of us may be having a harder time coping than others. Here is a list of a few healthy coping ideas to try if you are needing a little extra self-love: Eat well balanced meals Contact family or friends virtually/phone/snail mail... Meditate or practice deep breathing Listen to your favourite music Move your body in some way! Limit upsetting news coverage Do something kind for someone else Spend time in nature Take a bath Make a new recipe Watch your favourite movie or TV show Read a book DANCE, DANCE, DANCE!

Love to sew? Want to help? We are gratefully accepting donations of homemade masks to give to clients to attend essential in-person visits at our locations. This pattern is from the Centers for Disease Control and is appropriate for our needs. Masks should be placed in plastic bags and can be dropped off at any of our sites: Weller has a drop-box at the reception desk, NACHC and Barrack will accept them at their main entrances, as well. Thank you in advance your help is much appreciated! https://www.cdc.gov///how-to-make-cloth-face-covering.html

The TIPP skill is to be used when you need to quickly reduce the intensity of your emotions. Practice using these skills so it feels more comfortable reaching for them when your emotions become overwhelming T change your body temperature quickly hold an ice pack on your cheeks and hold for 30 secs I intense exercise release built up energy in your body by running, walking fast, or jumping on the spot... P- Paced breathing - breathe deeply down into your belly; slow your breathing down to 4-5 breathes per minute; breathe out slower than you breathe in P Progressive Muscle Relaxation while breathing into your belly tense your body muscles; feel the tension release as you breathe out

Thanks to Kyla Balderson, one of our Social Workers at Weller, for some more helpful ideas! Tips For Managing Your Mental Health: 1 Remind yourself that feeling anxious and sad is very common and to be expected right now... 2 Remember to practice self-care do something daily that brings you joy! 3 Manage and limit your news consumption- and seek trusted sources 4 Remind yourself to focus on things in your life that are within your control right now

A lot of things feel out of our control right now and this directly impacts our mood. Do at least one thing each day to make you feel competent and in control of your life. Take this opportunity to challenge yourself a little, get better at something, or cross something off your "to-do" list. The experience we feel from learning some new or being productive helps alleviate our mood and feel more in control of our life.

Here is some information on financial help for seniors; thanks to our Practical Assistance team for passing this on! https://www.carp.ca//covid-19-financial-supports-announced/

Birth experiences are as powerful and diverse as birthers are. As doulas, we know the joys, frustrations, surprises and struggles of giving birth. Each story is... different. We want to hear yours! Contest runs June 1st- August 1st 2020 Amazing judges and cash prizes with the opportunity to be published! Visit www.doulasupport.org for contest details See more

A great way of managing difficult emotions is HUMOUR! Spending time with anything or anyone that brings you joy is so important during difficult times in our lives. You can find humour through your own activities or even being able to see other's expressions of joy can also relax our minds and bodies. What does this mean? Tell a joke, read a funny book, get silly with your family and friends, have a dance party, watch a comedy or funny videos online. Taking some time each day to find humour and engage in joy can help lift our moods. ~ Thanks to Kyla Balderson, Social Worker at Weller, for sharing lots of great information.

Meet Justine, an outreach worker at Street Health Centre, who shared her experience of the pandemic with Jon Claytor Art Projects as part of his SPAF artist residency. This neighbourhood holds so many stories. Thanks for sharing yours, Justine.

Mindfulness means paying full attention to something. It involves slowing down to really notice what you are doing in the moment rather than rushing around or multi-tasking. Being mindful is sort of like a superpower! It helps us in almost every part of our life (increases focus and attention, manages stress, increases patience, brings down high emotions, and increases our listening skills). This is a superpower everyone has, we just have to learn how to use it. You can start simply by focusing on one thing at a time and giving it your full attention.