We are excited to announce, that we have moved to holding our pandemic-centric pilot launch. During this pilot launch period, we have taken into consideration our occupancy numbers, volunteer availability and how we, as staff, can best support the space during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We will be evaluating our pilot period in 3 month increments to allow us to assess our pilot and also to follow any new or updated Public Health orders.
Yes; At this time, we are working with a pilot schedule of 4 days a week (Tuesday-Friday) with three blocks of time
available during the day for children to be booked.
The centre’s pilot scheduled available times are:
We recognize that volunteers who will be supporting the space, will have limited capacity to assist families with
additional needs or support requirements.
At this time, we require children to be:
- 3 years of age and up,
- Toilet trained,
- Able to feed themselves
Our ratio of volunteers to children during our pilot period will be 1 volunteer for 4 children
The centre will provide a safe, short term (up to two hours) play and creative setting for siblings with age appropriate learning activities such as arts and crafts, board games, movies, video games and quiet spaces to read or rest.
The centre will also provide a single-serve nutritional snack for children who may wish to have a healthy snack break during their stay.
Families with children who must be on campus can book online themselves, call us to book a space, email us or drop-by the centre to see if a space is available.
Please note that bookings are first come/first serve and cannot be reserved more than two months from the date of booking.
Please Note: Bookings will be limited to one visit per child, once a day only. This will allow other families on the waitlist, the opportunity to enjoy the space as well.
Online Booking Link to Jane.App:
https://siblingcentre.janeapp.com/
Sibling Support Centre Phone Lines:
604-875-3594
Toll Free: 1-855-875-3594
Sibling Support Centre Email:
siblingcentre@cw.bc.ca
We are located on campus on the ground floor by the connector from BC Women’s Hospital to the Shaughnessy
building, close to the Cafeteria.
The nearest entrance is Entrance 93, from Women’s Hospital.
Volunteer Navigators are stationed at all entranceways and can assist families in locating the centre.
Our Room number is: 1R.44.C (See wayfinding map below)
The Centre will be managed and Volunteers supervised by two Coordinators; one full time Coordinator for the Sibling Centre and a 0.5 FTE Coordinator for Volunteer Resources. Each will play an important role in co-designing the operation and work flows for our Volunteers.
Coordinator, Sibling Support Centre:
We are delighted to welcome Rhiannon Satherley, to the C+W Patient Experience team as our Coordinator for the Sibling~ Support Centre.
Rhiannon comes to us from the Mental Health Programs where she was the Coordinator for the Healthy Minds Centre for the last 5 years. With an interest in staff and patient engagement initiatives, she has been involved in organizing campus wide appreciation events, Mental Health Day activities and heading social groups within the Healthy Minds Centre.
With over 20 years of working on the C+W campus, Rhiannon works to frame her interactions with a trauma informed lens and continuously reflects on being open to others and their cultural experiences. Rhiannon is passionate about supporting siblings and their families through the Centre and looks forward to collaborating with community partners.
Coordinator, Volunteer Resources:
We are also excited to be welcoming Deanna Viscardi, as Coordinator, Volunteer Resources. She will work to support Volunteer Resources across C&W and provide support and continued co-design with the Sibling Support Centre Coordinator and stakeholders.
Deanna comes to us from the Healthy Minds Centre, where she was the Administrative Coordinator for the Compass Program. Deanna’s interest is in providing appropriate and timely Mental Health services and resources to children and youth who deserve the best care possible, regardless of where they live. Her work has included helping families to support children and youth with mental disabilities and developmental disorders, by providing connections through workshops, life skill services, outreach and supporting community education initiatives.
Deanna has also worked as a volunteer coordinator, and in her role has helped organize and train volunteers, as well as coordinated resources for organizational, community and outreach events. She has collaborated with local communities to gather volunteers to sponsor and facilitate events and fundraising initiatives. She is proud to be a member of the volunteer resource team at the Sibling Support Centre, and to help provide such an important family service with the support of volunteers.
The Centre will report into Inter-Campus Operations, which is overseen by Laurence Bayzand, Interim Executive Director for B.C. Children’s & Women’s Hospitals + Health Centres.
Mary MacKillop, Director of Patient Experience, will oversee the Centre’s two dedicated staff, along with management support from Pat Gillis, Manager, Volunteer Resources to Deanna Viscardi.
Approximately 150 Volunteers will be on boarded to create a playful and creative setting, to help reduce the fear and anxiety siblings may experience regarding their family’s hospital stay and to alleviate wait time stressors on families/siblings.
The Centre has worked with a local art program, Earth Foundation Conservation Society, to create a welcoming art installation at the entrance of the Centre. You can visit Earth Foundation’s website to learn more about their commitment to working with communities to promote environmental conservation and community beautification through creative, educational programs for youth.
https://www.earthfoundation.ca/
Mural design samples have made the rounds for feedback with patients, families, partners and stakeholders and they have heped us to decide on the final imaging.
