CPCC embracing virtual programming in bid to serve local families

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

As the COVID-19 pandemic keeps families at home, programs and services everywhere have turned to virtual platforms to keep parents and children learning and growing. 

The Caledon Parent-Child Centre and EarlyON Child and Family Centre (CPCC EarlyON) has gone online with a variety of programs and resources for parents, caregivers and children, from birth to 6 years.

“For the time being, all of our services are being offered virtually. Our in-person programs and services are not operational,” explained Program Manager, Ailsa Stanners-Moroz. “We are still available for consultations for anyone who needs us by email or phone call.”

Staff at the CPCC EarlyON are putting in consistent efforts to ensure families at home know about, and can participate in their activities and programs while isolating at home by maintaining constant communication with families.

“Our staff are checking in with families throughout Caledon who have attended our Centre in Bolton, or our mobile village sites. They're doing phone calls and emails from their own homes - trying to make sure that we're connecting with everybody.” said Stanners-Moroz.

“We are busy with social media posts right now. Shelly Ives-Sargent is our social media magician. Assisted by program staff, she is posting several times per day, sharing activities and resources. People can visit our website to find our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram handles or for a full schedule of all of our virtual programs, Monday to Saturday,” said Stanners-Moroz. 

The CPCC is trying to offer a range of programs for all ages and stages. Current online offerings include Drop In Story Time, Toddler Behaviour workshops, and Mom's Meet Up, as well as Bedtime stories, Let's Get Together, Families Food and Fun and the ever-popular Infant Mother Goose. On the website, program categories are colour-coded to quickly identify those programs which would be suitable for all ages from those specifically for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, or families parenting a child with special needs.

“The majority of the programs are drop-in and access is granted via links from the website calendar. All they have to do is click the link at the correct time and day and they'll go straight into the program,” she added. “We even have some grandparents who attend the programs to be able to watch their grandchildren too.” 

With the large online and in-person engagement from the community, as well as various community partnerships, the CPCC EarlyON has been able to thrive and remain relevant during these difficult times. 

“We've been partnering with several agencies to support families in Caledon and Peel. That includes our systems manager at the Region of Peel, who has been tremendous support to us, as well as the United Way of Greater Toronto and a number of other area EarlyON Centres. Caledon Community Services, Meals on Wheels and the Town of Caledon have been very supportive, as have so many others,” said Stanners-Moroz. “And we're very grateful that we've been in a position to work with some of our partners to support Caledon families and individuals in need during this time as well.” 

CPCC has been a registered charitable organization since 1987, responding to the needs of Caledon families, made possible through government grants, community support and donations. The transition to virtual services has been challenging, yet successful Stanners-Moroz admits, but they look forward to a measured, careful, and successful recovery from the pandemic within the province, and to the eventual reopening of their Centre.

“A lot of the challenge is really learning about the virtual platforms because – of course - we are used to supporting our families in person. In the past, we drove our van (our mobile village unit) to all our Caledon village sites to provide support and activities to the children and to the families. We are still offering supports and activities, we have just had to adjust to the virtual component,” explained Stanners-Moroz. “Once we are back to ‘business as usual' we do anticipate the possibility of continuing to offer a combination of in-person and virtual programs and services.”

For more information and to check out the programs provided by the Caledon Parent-Child Centre, please visit cp-cc.org.