The importance of a human rights model of cooperation for emergency response strategies

MEDIA RELEASE

The importance of a human rights model of cooperation for emergency response strategies 

Edmonton COVID-19 Rapid Response Collaborative Model- Successes, challenges and Learnings 

Edmonton, December 13, 2021 − Join us in celebrating the success of the Edmonton COVID-19 Rapid Response Collaborative (ECRRC)  as we prepare to wrap up the project on December 13, 2021. ECRRC was an effort of over 13 social service agencies and community partners that came together over the nine months to provide culturally appropriate and dignified support for those that were COVID+ or in isolation. 

ECRRC recognizes that community members whose daily lives are intersected by poverty, trauma, racism, housing insecurity, and/or language barriers require special support to isolate and heal with dignity. These population groups include Indigenous communities, racialized minority communities, people living in poverty, people with mental health issues, people living with disability, people with addictions. 

The ECRRC team consisted of outreach workers, call centre facilitators, IT support, marketing liaisons and coordinators to implement the vision of the collaborative. They collectively spoke 33 languages to ensure seamless delivery of services and all team members brought various backgrounds and strengths to their work. ECRRC facilitated rapid, effective, and culturally relevant financial, food and mental health support to vulnerable and marginalized communities. 

The emergency response strategy supported over 2,674 individuals in Edmonton. A project evaluation was conducted and after analyzing the data we found:

  • 1006 culturally and health appropriate hampers delivered

  • 537 Financial support - rent, mortgage, bills.

  • 221 individual  mental health and culturally relevant  sessions

  • 18  popup clinics: shots, information, food support

  • 1151 attendants to clinics

ECRRC’s success relies on creating an inclusive human rights model of collaboration: meeting the urgent emergency needs of individuals and families needing to isolate and heal with dignity. 

_________________________________

Public Registration Link: December 13 ECRRC Wrap-Up Celebration (google.com)

Neximar Alarcon