The C+W Sibling Support Centre
We are currently under development and working towards opening our doors safely for siblings of patients within BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre.
Please come back and check for updates on our Centre’s opening.
Current Update
With Provincial mandates and policies in place for COVID-19, we are being thoughtful and thorough in our planning for our pilot period.
Check out our Centre!
The space was co-designed with the help of patients, families, colleagues and stakeholders. From the fun and functional furniture design, to the abundance of natural light, the space is ready for children to enjoy.
Online Booking System
We are currently working to create an online booking system to help families’ book sibling respite time online. We will also provide a 1-800 number to offer families an alternative to be able to book a space.
Sibling Support Centre Staff
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.
Staff Introductions
Coordinator, Sibling Support Centre:
We are delighted to welcome Rhiannon Satherley, to the C+W Patient Experience team as of January 2021, as our Coordinator for the Sibling~ Support Centre.
Rhiannon comes to us from the Mental Health Programs where she was the Coordinator, Projects and Executive Administration 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 Carla Samra, 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.
Carla joins us from the HEMBC Provincial Disaster Psychosocial Program team, including the Disaster Psychosocial Services (DPS) Volunteer Network. She has worked in the community social services sector with a variety of agencies. Her work has included helping women and their children fleeing abuse in shelter and outreach programs, providing pre-employment life skills services, being a partner in mental healthcare and recovery in community homes, and supporting community education initiatives.
Throughout her career, Carla has been a dedicated supporter and advocate of individuals and families facing multiple barriers and is honoured to have witnessed their strength, resiliency and recovery. She is proud to be a member of the team at the Sibling Support Centre, and to help provide such an important family service.
Organizational Structure for C+W Sibling Support Centre
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 Carla Samra.
Onboarding and Orientation for Volunteers 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.
Mural Design
The Centre is working 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 been making the rounds for feedback with patients, families, partners and stakeholders and they will help us to decide on the final imaging.
