Gather Together Everyone, It’s Training Time

Another change at Telecare is that we are returning to cohort training twice a year rather than on-your-own training via online resources. We used to have group training twice a year, one in fall, the other in January. We used to meet in a local church over ten weeks. Those training times built community as we enjoyed special guest speakers on issues concerning mental health and phone support. Then the lockdowns of 2020 stopped that. We were fortunate that Debbie Cazander and Janet Hitchcock, members of the training team, were already uploading our training materials online. Soon we were set up to offer training individually where each trainee worked at their own pace.

However, we have learned that this method is a lonely uphill experience for trainees. They did not meet Telecare staff except through the odd video chat. Now that we can meet together, we’re going back to live cohort training, but with a twist. Starting in January 2025, people interested in training will gather in a video window to begin a 7-week course learning together. Between video meetings they will read the curriculum and come ready to discuss it with others. We want to thank Keith McIntyre at the Peterborough (ON) Telecare for insights in how to set this up. It is geared to help participants persist and  complete the training and then serve online. This method also permits people from outside the lower Mainland of British Columbia to join us for training and then use our call forwarding system to take calls from anywhere in Canada.

Two Interns at Telecare this Year

Telecare works diligently to develop and maintain cordial relationships with Christian colleges and universities from British Columbia to Ontario. We connect with their programs of social services, psychology, counselling, and pastoral care where students are required to do on-the-job training at places like Telecare. This school year (2024-2025) we are pleased to have two students, each working 300+ hours. 

Aaron Hernandez is in the Counselling Foundations major at Summit Pacific College. He writes:“I am glad to work with Telecare because it allows me to help people receive care from home. I am motivated by the opportunity to make healthcare more accessible and convenient, and I believe this experience will deepen my understanding of patient needs and improve my problem solving skills.”

Hayden Fast is a fourth-year psychology major at Columbia Bible College.  He says: “I chose Telecare for my internship as I believe that this ministry has an amazing heart for those in need and is able to supply a lending ear for those individuals. I hope to gain the experience of being able to help someone who has taken the initiative to call and to listen well and respond how God wants me to respond.”

We welcome Aaron and Hayden to the Telecare team. These students will be serving both on the phone line as well as behind the scenes.

Changes on the Board

In May this year welcomed two new board members and thanked two others who stepped down. We want to thank Elfieda Nikkel and Paul Putman who served with us for years, with Paul ending his term, and Elfrieda moving back to Winnipeg to be near family.

Incoming board member Teresa Reiger is a newly retired nurse practitioner who attends Ross Road Community Church. In commenting on her involvement she writes: “It has been my desire, as someone who has had a career in the healthcare profession, to continue to contribute during my retirement in a meaningful way. I am thankful  to have this opportunity to serve on the board of a service oriented organization like Telecare. I am hopeful that my experience in caring for the mental and physical health of others will give me valuable insight with which to serve the board in the future.”

Also new is Eric Van Egmond. He serves with the Ministry of Children and Family Development and attends New Life Christian Reformed Church.  He writes: “I first came to know Telecare years ago when I was invited to provide a session on BC's child welfare system and when to report child abuse.I provided this training annually for years.  I still work for the MCFD as the Director of Operations for the Abbotsford office. In that capacity, I have a heart for those who are hurting emotionally. In this day and age of high social media use, ironically many people are lonely and troubled, or have mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.  I'm pleased to be a board member where I can help sustain, improve and expand this much-needed compassionate resource for hurting people.”

Telecare’s board operates as a governing body to safeguard the mission, vision, and values of Telecare by setting policies and overseeing Telecare’s leadership team who lead volunteer committees.