Thanks to a partnership involving several organizations, help is on the way for those in Chatham-Kent without internet access or electronic devices.
Thanks to a partnership involving several organizations, help is on the way for those in Chatham-Kent without internet access or electronic devices.
The Chatham-Kent Public Library, Chatham-Kent employment and social services and the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team have teamed up to reduce this “digital divide” through the Connect CK initiative.
The digital divide refers to the gap between people who have access to modern information and communications technology and those who do not.
This gap can be either economic or geographical in nature since rural communities continue to suffer from limited access to high-speed internet.
Connect CK allows residents without internet or devices, or who are vulnerable in other ways, to access the internet from home by borrowing a Wi-Fi hotspot or Wi-Fi-enabled laptop, booking a dedicated space in a municipal building, or receiving a free refurbished laptop.
The aim is to help residents attend virtual medical appointments, as well as virtual meetings for social services, court services, employment resources and more.
In a recent Ontario Health Team survey, 75 per cent of respondents reported they had health-care appointments in the past year that were conducted over phone or video conference, but only 35 per cent of respondents reported they had everything they needed for a video health -care appointment.
The initiative will offer private spaces to Chatham-Kent residents at three locations – the Chatham library branch at 120 Queen St.; the Wallaceburg library branch at 209 James St. and the community human services building at 435 Grand Ave W. in Chatham.
All 11 library branches will also lend Wi-Fi hotspots and Wi-Fi-enabled laptops to residents with library cards.
This approach helps eliminate the need to travel long distances to access online services and further reduces health inequities for local residents.
“(Library) staff have long recognized that the digital divide exists in Chatham-Kent,” said Tania Sharpe, CEO and chief librarian. “We are so pleased to be able to partner with the (health team) and (employment services) to address this service gap.”
Employment and social services community navigators, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, can also help qualifying individuals and organizations receive a free refurbished laptop.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have witnessed a growing demand from clients requesting help with accessing important virtual appointments for services they are involved with,” program manager Matt Keech said.
“We are proud to be involved with the Connect CK initiative which will provide additional opportunity to meet this demand.”
The Ontario Health Team is a collaboration of partners committed to co-designing a local health-care system with improved access that is easier to navigate. To learn more, residents can visit www.ckoht.ca
For further information about library programs and initiatives, visit www.ckpl.ca.
For information about community navigators, visit www.chatham-kent.ca/communitynavigators.