COVID-19 Resources and Activities

Activities for Babies, Toddlers & Children 

Activities for Youth

Breakfast Club - Shelldale Family Gateway

Shelldale's Breakfast Club will look different this school year.

Grab & sit-down Breakfast Club Time: 8:00 to 8:30 am

Where: Shelldale Gym, enter through the back door

Child Care 

Looking for child care, authorized recreation or school board before or after school programmes?

Visit the Wellington County Children's Early Years Division website for listings of all licensed child care Centres, providers and authorized recreation programs across Guelph and Wellington County. 

Child Protection and Family Support

Family and Children's Services of Guelph & Wellington County

Supports for families who are struggling or in an unsafe situation.

1-800-265-8300 or 519-824-2410

Children with Disabilities and Special Needs

KidsAbility

KidsAbility offers physio, occupational, speech and recreation therapy, social work, augmentative communication and specialized clinics. 

KidsAbility continues to serve their clients. Visit their Contact Us page for: contact information, locations and COVID hours.

KidsAbility has compiled a list of therapy and community resources. 

Wee Talk

Wee Talk is a partnership of agencies that provide speech and language services to families with preschool children in Wellington County, Dufferin County and the City of Guelph. Wee Talk services have been reduced due to COVID-19.

For those who have already had an in-person assessment, one-time phone consultations with a speech pathologist have been offered when possible. Wee Talk has a large number of clients who have been waiting for services and, going forward, will be contacting as many clients as possible to schedule virtual or phone appointments.

There may be significant delays and/or sudden suspensions in service due to COVID-19 response, and your patience is appreciated.

If your child is receiving Wee Talk services at one of the Wee Talk partner agencies, please contact them directly. Otherwise, please call 1-800-265-7293 ext 4676 for more information.

Find helpful resources and free webinars to support children at home.

Developmental Services

Access Information and Referral (AIR)

The centralized intake and referral point for all developmental disability services for infants, children and youth in Guelph and Wellington County. 

Visit Access Information and Referral (AIR) for more information.

Phone: (519) 824-4015/Toll-Free: 1-877-216-1116

HERE4KIDS

Supports parents in the City of Guelph or Wellington County who are looking for support with their child’s development. Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington is proud to be the host agency of HERE 4 KIDS.

Parents can call HERE 4 KIDS at 1-844-454-3711 to speak with a service coordinator about linking to services for challenges relating to their child’s speech, movement, play, behaviour, learning, and/or development.

EarlyON Child and Family Centres

EarlyON Child and Family Centres in Wellington County and the City of Guelph are currently closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. EarlyON teams remain dedicated to supported children and families and have taken programming virtual! Team members are also available to provide support to families including answering questions about parenting and child development.  

See below for a list of EarlyON operators and links to contacts, resources and virtual programming.

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is partnering with EarlyON Child & Family Centre staff to provide support to families with new babies during COVID-19. For more information on this program, please see Families with New Babies.

Emergency Food Support

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guelph-Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination has updated their Emergency Food Access Guides.

Employment Support

2nd Chance Employment

2nd Chance Employment provides personal, customized services for people who want to find employment or explore their training and career options. Unlike trying it on your own or using a temp service, they guide, assist and support you throughout the process.  And it works! Most clients find jobs or enter education or training to move towards their goals.  The agency serves youth, students and adults out of all our locations across Guelph and Wellington County.  All services are free.
2nd Chance is now offering virtual workshops via ZOOM and on their YouTube channel.

Learn more about the programs available for youth: Ways 2 Work, Youth Job Connection Summer Program or Youth Job Connection.

Lutherwood

Visit Lutherwood's Youth Job Connection or the COVID-19 Online Employment Portal. Virtual paid workshops are running continuously to build skills, awareness, goals, resumes, interview preparedness and job search techniques for the job that is right for you. 

Events

Families with New Babies

Support for Families with New Babies

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is partnering with EarlyON Child & Family Centre staff to provide support to families with new babies during COVID-19. An EarlyON Child & Family Centre staff member will call families with new babies to check-in on them and answer questions about infant care and local resources. EarlyON Child & Family Centre Registered Early Childhood Educator Programme Facilitators have specialized knowledge and expertise related to child development, parenting, play-based learning and community-based supports. Facilitators work as a member of the EarlyON Child & Family Centre team to plan, implement, and provide information, services and programmes that support parents, caregivers and children 0-6 years of age. 

Born to Read

The Born to Read initiative strives to introduce literacy to all infants born in Guelph. When infants are exposed to regular early literacy experiences they develop essential pre-reading skills which act as building blocks for when children learn to read.

Each new family will receive a Born to Read literacy bag which includes: 

• An environmentally friendly bag 
• A board book generously donated by the Friends of the Library 
• A pamphlet about the importance of literacy in the first years of life
• A pamphlet about Guelph Public Library's system-wide storytimes.
• A Connections magazine 
• A mock library card with membership registration instructions
• A Footprints of the Future information package

For more information, visit the Guelph Public Library website.

Financial Assistance

Emergency Assistance

You may be eligible for short term financial support if you are in a crisis or emergency situation and you don’t have enough money for things like food and housing. If you are not already receiving support from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, you can apply for emergency assistance online. You can also call County of Wellington Ontario Works office to apply over the phone. Please call the  office at: 519.837.2670 (press’1’) or Toll Free 1.800.265.7294 or TTY 1.800.855.0511.

Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program Emergency Benefits

 If you receive OW or ODSP and are facing additional costs related to the COVID-19 outbreak, you can access one-time emergency benefits. Emergency benefits for COVID-19 related expenses are the same for both programs: up to $100 for single individuals and up to $200 for families. This funding can be used to meet a broad range of needs, for example: cleaning supplies, transportation, food or clothing that you may require due to COVID-19. Please call your caseworker.

Support for Families

Support for Families: Learn about funding that families can apply for if they have children who are not in school or child care because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Find out if you are eligible and how to apply.

Health Information

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health

Please visit the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health website for information about:

• COVID-19
• Face Coverings
• School Immunization Clinics

Helplines

Access Information and Referral (AIR)

The centralized intake and referral point for all developmental disability services for infants, children and youth in Guelph and Wellington County. 

Visit Access Information and Referral (AIR) for more information.

Phone: (519) 824-4015/Toll-Free: 1-877-216-1116

HERE 24/7

HERE24/7:  is your front door to the addictions, mental health, and crisis services provided by 11 agencies across Waterloo Wellington. 

Call HERE 24/7 at: 1-844-437-3247 or 519-821-3582

TTY: 1-877-688-5501

HERE4KIDS

Supports parents in the City of Guelph or Wellington County who are looking for support with their child’s development. Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington is proud to be the host agency of HERE 4 KIDS. Parents can call HERE 4 KIDS at 1-844-454-3711 to speak with a service coordinator about linking to services for challenges relating to their child’s speech, movement, play, behaviour, learning, and/or development.

KIDS HELP PHONE

Need help now? You can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone 24/7 by calling 

1-800-668-6868.

ONTARIO 211

To navigate Ontario's network of human services quickly and easily, visit Ontario 211 or dial 2-1-1.

Holiday & Winter Season Support

Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington

Adopt-a-Family

The Adopt-a-Family programme reduces financial stress for parents living on low income, in regards to purchasing Christmas presents for their children. It allows parents to have increased food security over the holiday season as they receive grocery gift cards. It also allows parents to increase their self-esteem as they are able to provide a positive holiday experience for their children. A key piece in this program is that youth are also able to have a positive holiday experience. The Community Resource Centre Partners with the Children’s Foundation of Guelph Wellington to help make this possible.

Winter Wear Program 2020

The Winter Wear programme provides coats, boots and so much more to low income children, ages 0-18 of North and Centre Wellington.

Internet Expansion, Computer & Hotspot Lending Programmes

Guelph Public Library

The Guelph Public Library has a large variety of technology available for customers.

The Available Devices and Hardware page offers information on devices that can be used or borrowed from the library, including what is offered at the Tech Bar. Accessible computers are offered at all branches.

Wellington County Public Library

Hotspot Lending Programme

The Library offers 70 hotspots available for loan across the County.

Chromebook Lending Programme

Upper Grand District School Board students have access to 80 Chromebooks. All you need to get started is your UGDSB login, and a valid Wellington County Library card. 

Ask staff at your local branch for availability.

iPad Lending Programme

The Library offers 70 iPads, each available for a 7 day loan. 

Internet Expansion

Learn more about expanding internet connectivity in Wellington County.

 LGBT Youth

• Trans Drop-In is now being offered online (for those aged 16 and up).

Mental Health Services & Resources

Community Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington

Outreach Services

East Wellington Community Services

Face to face sessions are by appointment only, and can be booked by calling the appropriate worker. Social distancing measures are in place and strictly adhered to, and face coverings are required to enter the building. All clients entering the building will be screened for COVID-19.

Phone, video, and text, support is available during business hours by contacting the Outreach Worker, and “porch visits” can be arranged if the client is unable to attend the office.

Outreach services offers community support services to all community members of East Wellington. Our compassionate and energetic outreach team includes hard-working and empathic outreach workers that can provide support and direction in many areas;

• System navigation (health care, social services, legal/justice, government benefits, etc)
• Assistance in connecting to mental health, addictions, housing/homelessness, employment, education, immigration, abuse/trauma/grief counselling, and health care services
• Support in accessing services (i.e. referrals, connecting with services with transportation and/or 1:1 support, assisting with applications and phone calls)
• Direct access to transportation program, food security, income tax clinics, adult day programs, and youth services
• Support while navigating through difficult times, and i.e. grief, trauma, stress, etc.

For more information on outreach and other services, visit: East Wellington Community Services.

Parenting

Online Prenatal and New Parent Program                                                                      

The Online Prenatal and New Parent Program continues to be offered by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. The program is free to individuals and families who are pregnant or have a new baby and live in Wellington County, Dufferin County or the City of Guelph. The online program provides information about having a healthy pregnancy, labour and birth, medical interventions, caring for a newborn and breastfeeding.

Statistics Canada: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Canadian Families and Children

 Ressources pour les familles francophones

Franchement famille

Franchement famille: Le Conseil scolaire Viamonde profite du long congé de la fête de la famille pour lancer une nouvelle plateforme de contenu, inspiré par les réalités, les enjeux, les passions et les intérêts des familles francophones de l’Ontario.

Gym Y

Activité physique virtuelle au Gym Y pour les enfants.

Le coin d'apprentissage

Le coin d'apprentissage: Afin d’approfondir les connaissances à la maison, consultez notre rubrique comportant des ressources en lignes, des services proposés par des organismes extérieurs, des fiches pratiques et tutoriels.

Substance Misuse Resources

Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy

The Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy has put together a

list of substance misuse treatment, recovery and supportive services

that are local and currently operating or running virtually.

For information about safer substance use, see: Safer Substance Use: Keeping Well During the Pandemic 

Youth Shelter

Shelter for Youth (16-24)

How to access local shelter services:

Monday to Friday - 8:30am to 4:30pm call 226-962-3574

Monday to Friday - 4:30pm to 7:00am call HERE 24/7 1-844-437-3247

Weekends - call HERE 24/7 1.844.437.3247

No Phone? Go to Royal City Mission (50 Quebec St.)  meals Monday to Friday at 11:00am and tell staff you need shelter.

Housing and Emergency Shelter Support 

Visit the Wellington County website for more information regarding Housing and Emergency Shelter support during COVID-19.