I wanted to share a particular example of how our teams build connection and demonstrate what it means to be “people first”.
Just a few weeks ago, staff and clients at Willow Chest Centre, one of our tertiary mental health rehabilitation sites, began a new holiday tradition. They celebrated a Thanksgiving feast together. In fact, they did more than share wonderful food – they planned and prepared a whole Thanksgiving meal together including set up and cleaning afterwards. This is particularly heart-warming as when we think of a holiday gathering, we often think of a comfortable place, delicious food and aromas and good people. The staff and residents at Willow Chest were able to work together and create this environment. Here’s how one staff member summed up the day. “It was a very proud moment for our guys! We also had lots of help from both clients and staff. One client did the yams on her own and another client made the gravy on her own! With lots of volunteers with kitchen prep and clean up – it was a very good special event!”
Thanksgiving tables set and ready for the bounty from the kitchen at the Willow Chest Centre, VGH.
The Willow Chest tertiary mental health rehabilitation program opened in the spring of this year and is designed to provide psychosocial rehabilitation to help adults reintegrate back to their home communities with supports. I was inspired by hearing this story as this is a great example of staff and clients working together and in doing so, they were building connections and engaging in activity that supports clients in their recovery journey. It’s about supporting people where they are, embodying VCH’s People First philosophy.
To learn more about People First and the VCH True North Goals, watch the video and visit VCH Connect.