By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Every call will be answered.
That’s the message Linck is sending out following the receipt of a $39,400 Ontario Trillium Grant.
Thanks to the funding, the agency was able to upgrade its outdated phone system with new state-of-the-art technology.
According to Linck Child, Youth and Family Supports executive director Teri Thomas-Vanos, the improvement was long overdue.
“Essentially what we had was a very dated legacy phone system,” Thomas-Vanos said. “Throughout COVID and moving to a more hybrid model, we needed to modernize access for children, youth and families to be able to reach us when they need us.
“By updating the phone system, that has increased capacity for staff when they’re out in the field,” she said. “It assures that there is consistent reach to build up the resiliency in our responsiveness to families in a timely way.”
“Connection is our most important tool,” said Linck public relations co-ordinator Barb Easter. “It’s our superpower.”
Costel Popa, part of the Linck IT team, said the 3CX system increases accessibility across the board.
“You will not miss important calls,” Popa explained, adding the technology dovetails with similar agencies across the province.
The grant also helped pay for the refurbishment of the parking lot, Thomas-Vanos explained, noting it was badly needed. Due to a partnership with the adjacent Chatham-Kent YMCA as well as onsite child care, parking lot safety is paramount.
Linck offers child protection and mental health supports to youngsters up to the age of 17 – and their families – and services all of Chatham-Kent.
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault was on hand for the grant announcement, as was Nammar Cristofari, executive assistant to Chatham-Kent–Leamington MPP Trevor Jones.
Both brought greetings from the province, with Pinsonneault presenting a certificate to the organization.
Speaking on behalf of Jones, Cristofari said the funding announcement celebrates the “meaningful impact strategic investments can have at the community level” noting the phone and parking lot upgrades “strengthen” day-to-day operations.
“These improvements enhance accessibility, improve efficiency and, most importantly, help ensure that children, youth and families remain connected to the services they rely on,” Cristofari said.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities. Last year, the OTF invested $105 million into 732 projects and partnerships.
