To  ensure that local community organizations can continue delivering vital services during this pandemic, the Canadian Red Cross is offering the Preventing Disease Transmission Training and Equipment Program. This program targets frontline workers responding to COVID-19 in low to medium risk environments, in support of their direct service delivery to those who are the most vulnerable to the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19. Specifically, this program will support the health and wellbeing of frontline workers by equipping them with critical personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves, and will train them to use this equipment to ensure their health and wellbeing. This government funded training will provide the tools needed to keep frontline volunteers and staff safe. Each learning option will ensure that volunteers and staff will resume their duties feeling safe and confident in the infection prevention techniques they have learned.

To ensure equal access for all, organizations can choose to learn on one of three platforms:

  • Online self-study for maximum time flexibility
  • Virtual classroom instructor-led for groups of up to 20 participants
  • In-person when necessary and possible

Learn more at redcross.ca/communityorganizations.

Free personal protective equipment is also available to ensure the safety of frontline personnel. This includes one mask and two pairs of gloves per person, per day. Each organization that receives personal protective equipment will have an assortment of sizing options. Canadian Red Cross is currently offering support for training and equipment as part of its Preventing Disease Transmission Training and Equipment Program, thanks to funding from the Government of Canada led by Employment and Social Development Canada.

To be eligible, organizations must be organized and operated exclusively for social welfare, civic improvement, pleasure, recreation, or any other purpose except profit and also must:

  • Be incorporated or established in Canada, or have a principaled registered office address in Canada;
  • Have been in operation on or before December 31, 2019;
  • Regularly dedicate at least 50% of core activities to direct service delivery;
  • Have a governance structure with at least three people on the board or management committee, etc.;
  • Have an internal accountability measure such as practices and procedures for internal controls and accountability; and
  • Be working with clients in low to medium risk environments.

Preference will be given to organizations that are:

  • Undertaking vital direct service delivery or essential supports;
  • Addressing a pressing social inclusion or wellbeing need caused by COVID-19 through their direct service delivery;
  • Supporting vulnerable populations through direct service delivery;
  • Have unrestricted cash reserves of less than 20% of their annual operating budget (as an indication of financial vulnerability); and/or
  • Have annual revenues of $1,500,000 or less.

Application is available here http://www.redcross.ca/communityorganizations.