VANCOUVER VIRTUAL FAMILIES
A COVID-19 Support Hub for Parents and Caregivers
WELCOME
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented changes in our personal and professional lives and many of us are stuck in survival mode or are now experiencing pandemic burnout. Even though we started this initiative to support parents through the closure of schools and daycares - which have since have reopened - many of us still face daily challenges and uncertainty. Whether related to the continuation of home learning by choice or from the constant looming threat of school closures and strict illness policies that affect your ability to work or attend school, we are all learning together to function in a state of crisis. Vancouver Virtual Families (BC) is a parent-run initiative aimed at supporting local families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to providing a place for isolated parents and caregivers to connect in unique ways, we will be continuously updating our numerous resource lists to support your family through this. From virtual home learning supports to mental health and financial resources, we will have it all. Most importantly, we would like to ensure families that we are here to support your needs regardless of whether your child is back in school or not. We understand that while many parents have chosen to keep their children at home, some families do not have the option to make that choice and for some children, schools are safer than their homes.
We are making some changes to our website at the moment so please be patient and check back frequently - we are a small group with big ideas and responsibilities of our own. Thank you for visiting our site and we would like to welcome to our virtual family!
While our reach may extend beyond these lands, we would like to acknowledge that most of our families live, work and play on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Our Plan for 2021...
While the challenges of COVID-19 are not over, we recognize that our community's needs have changed. While our Kindergarten Connections 2020 program was a stellar success, we suspect it will not be needed again this year as the schools have had much more time to plan for virtual events, if necessary. We are now focusing our efforts on supporting the ongoing needs of local parents and their children. We heard from a number of you that your top wish is to have access to free and/or low-cost virtual workshops and webinars on topics such as home learning, mental health supports, financial planning, and more. We are currently reaching out to a number of professionals, entrepreneurs, and home-learning savvy parents and would like to make this happen! We currently have three upcoming webinars - dates will be posted shortly and registration opens on March 6th, 2021.
CREATIVE WAYS TO KEEP CONNECTED AND SUPPORT LEARNING AT HOME
Our primary goals are to promote virtual community connections during this period of physical distancing and provide resources to support or supplement home learning plans. Social connections are important for parents and children, so we are working to provide innovative ways to do so in a way that follows current public health orders. In the meantime, please feel free to browse our additional resources or join our Facebook community chat and resource center - we would love to hear what you want to see on our website in the future!
WEBINARS AND VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS
Visit our webinars and workshops page for more information about what we will be offering in collaboration with various local individuals and organizations. This is a brand new program and we will be adding to it over the coming months.
VIRTUAL HOME LEARNING RESOURCES
Vist our home learning pages to browse through a variety of free and low-cost resources that will help you maintain your sanity while providing your children with safe and fun educational opportunities at home.
COVID-19 INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL SUPPORTS
Available financial supports in BC and other important updates regarding the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. This page will be updated as programs are phased in and out.
BC COVID-19 DASHBOARD:
LAB CONFIRMED CASES BY HEALTH AUTHORITY
View the most recent COVID-19 case counts and other data from the BCCDC.
KINDERGARTEN CONNECTIONS:
AN ONLINE INITIATIVE FOR OUR
2020-2021
KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES
This program has now concluded. Thank you to those who participated! Feel free to visit the page to read more about the success of this virtual initiative. Please note that we will NOT be offering this for the 2021-2022 school year as the schools have had ample time to plan for the transition to K.
HELP US SAY THANK YOU TO OUR
HEALTHCARE & ESSENTIAL SERVICE WORKERS
We need your help! Click the link to submit your photos, videos, and written notes to help us thank those who have dedicated their time and energy to saving lives and/or providing us with essential goods and services throughout this difficult year.
YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS.
Maintaining a positive outlook and finding time for self-care during this pandemic can be challenging, even for those who did not already struggle with their mental health. We are continuously updating our Mental Health & Wellness resources, so check back frequently for more great programs and services for children, teens/youth, adults, and older adults.
Science Lesson of the Day:
"Water is the most essential element of life because without water, you can't make coffee."
- Anonymous
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
"Sean's Gift of Sharing" Toy Drive for BC Children's Hospital Oncology Unit
Being part of a community involves supporting those who need it most without expecting anything in return. We are using our platform here as a voice for local community initiatives who wish to spread awareness and/or raise funds for a local project. Thank you to those who donated to the 2020 Sean's Gift of Sharing Toy Drive for BC Children's Hospital Oncology Unit - alongside toy donations, we were able to raise an additional $3,115 to go towards purchasing toys. In total, we donated 1,232 brand new toys to BCCH! Please visit the 'Supporting Our Community' page for more about Sean and Tina's story.
COLLABORATE WITH US!
Please send us an email if you would like to host a webinar or workshop series with us. We are open to collaborating with a wide range of individuals including, but not limited to, subject matter experts with professional qualifications, local enterpreneurs and organizations, and/or individuals with lived experience and a passion for educating others.
