Photo caption: (L to R) Fatima Medeiros, Program Manager, Dufferin County, Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services with Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services volunteer Shonette; TeleCheck volunteers Linda and Martha; Jennifer McCallum, Manager, TeleCheck
Orangeville, Ontario (April 22, 2024) - In partnership with Polycultural Immigrant & Community Services, TeleCheck clients can now receive social care calls in a variety of languages. This community-driven initiative underscores a shared commitment to diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility by addressing the diverse linguistic needs of the Dufferin-Caledon community. TeleCheck is an award-winning, free, and confidential telephone check-in service to support adults 55+ independently living at home, and connects clients with vital community health services, or a friendly social connection. Clients can tailor calls based on individual needs. TeleCheck volunteers support their clients, every day of the week.
The addition of the language support feature is made possible with the partnership and support of Polycultural Immigrant & Community Services, a charitable, not-for-profit, community-based agency that provides support and services for seniors, newcomers, refugees, and immigrants in Orangeville and across the Greater Toronto Area.
The new collaboration ensures that TeleCheck services now reflect linguistic diversity by breaking down language barriers, ensuring that older adults from various cultural backgrounds feel comfortable and understood in the following languages:
- Bengali
- Hindi
- Portuguese
- Urdu
- Yoruba
The above language interpretation options are available through Polycultural staff, with the potential for additional languages to be added in the future.
To arrange a call with language interpretation or language specific services, current and new TeleCheck clients can fill out a self-referral form online
headwatershealth.ca/TeleCheck
Quotations
“In the year since launching our Orangeville site, we’ve witnessed the richness of the multicultural tapestry in Dufferin-Caledon. Our exciting collaboration with TeleCheck will link new Canadians with social health services that are personalized to their needs and made accessible in their preferred language.”
Fatima Medeiros, Program Manager, Orangeville site, Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services
“TeleCheck’s collaboration with Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services demonstrates innovation and leadership in our community’s health and social system. Our volunteers are thrilled to extend our team capabilities with the language interpreters at Polycultural so that more diverse older adults can be supported with system partners.”
Jennifer McCallum, Manager, TeleCheck
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About TeleCheck
TeleCheck is an award-winning, free, and confidential check-in phone call service to support adults over the age of 55 living independently in their homes. Running successfully for more than 15 years by staff and volunteers, TeleCheck is affiliated with Headwaters Health Care Centre, and operates out of Orangeville. Telecheck exemplifies health and social system leadership, passion, commitment, and innovation that helps inform system partners where there are opportunities for change and improvement.
About Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services
Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services is a charitable, not-for-profit, community-based agency that provides support and services for seniors, youth, the unemployed, newcomers, refugees, and immigrants. In its over 50 years of service, Polycultural has helped thousands of people make Canada their home. The organization has seven convenient locations across the Greater Toronto area - Mississauga, Toronto, Etobicoke, two in Scarborough, and Orangeville. Each location offers a variety of programs including, settlement services, employment assistance, language classes, and youth and senior programs. It currently serves clients in over 20 languages including Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Dari, Farsi, Hindi, Punjabi, Ukrainian, Polish, and more. For more information, download the Polycultural app wherever apps are sold or visit polycultural.org.
Media contacts
Jenna Mannone
Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services
jenna@kapowcomms.com
(416) 804-2848
Valerie Lam-Bentley
Headwaters Health Care Centre
vlambentley@headwatershealth.ca
(519) 941-2410 x2248