Murray McKinnon Foundation (MMF) Pandemic and Vaccine Policy
Protecting Youth, Families and our Staff

The safety and wellbeing of MMF’s youth, their families, and our staff, is MMF’s top priority. The risks of the current COVID-19 pandemic have meant we have had to make several changes to our services and processes to keep everyone as safe as possible.

Vaccination against COVID-19 has proven to be one of the most effective public health measures available to protect people, communities, and our health services. Public health evidence has shown that COVID-19 vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

MMF is following best advice from public health experts. All the staff working at MMF, our volunteers, students and contractors are encouraged to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless they have an approved medical, personal or human rights exemption. To protect you, we will continue to wear personal protective equipment, like masks and gloves, and continue to deeply clean all of our sites.

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, visit the Ontario government’s COVID-19 website here.

The safety and wellbeing of youth, staff and the community remain a top priority. MMF follows the advice and guidelines provided by Public Health Ontario, by the Provincial Ministry of Health, Health Canada and the Ministry of Children Community and Social Services. Additionally, we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Ontario and adjusting service delivery as needed.

Some of our youths are best served, and prefer to receive their services, in-person. Our careful and well planned approach to re-opening in-person services at MMF sites has positioned us to meet the needs of our youth and their families while also meeting all Public Health requirements for infection prevention and control.

MMF Infection, Prevention and Control Measures:

For critical services and programming, we have shifted to providing all in-person and direct delivery. Our priority is to ensure we have an environment conducive for mentoring, restorative, and healing relationships as well as one that decreases risk of exposure or transmission of COVID-19. We are doing this by applying several important practices outlined below.

Screening, Monitoring and Tracking

  • MMF staff, youth, their families/guardians, and essential visitors will be asked to self-screen for symptoms of COVID-19 before attending any appointment at a MMF site and you will be required to complete a COVID-19 Screening Checklist at your point of entry.
  • Anyone who indicates they have symptoms, have travelled outside of Canada or have been exposed to COVID-19 within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter MMF sites and will be directed to seek COVID-19 testing.
  • All are required to confirm they have received a negative test before entering a MMF site if they initially triggered the assessment tool (symptoms, travel and/or exposure).
  • To further reduce risk to youths, families, and visitors, any MMF staff exhibiting symptoms, or who have travelled outside of Canada, or who have been exposed to COVID-19, are required to self-isolate at home until a negative COVID-19 test result has been provided.

Handwashing/Cleaning and Disinfecting surfaces

  • All persons who enter a MMF location will be asked to disinfect their hands with available hand sanitizers. All products used by MMF meet Health Canada guidelines.
  • All high touch surfaces are disinfected regularly, and any equipment or surfaces used during appointments are disinfected before and after each appointment.
  • Rooms, high touch surfaces and the MMF office sites are thoroughly cleaned each day.

Face masks, face shields and other barriers

  • All persons who enter a MMF facility/office will be asked to wear a mask. Masks will be worn during all assessment and program meetings.
  • All persons who enter Residential and Specialized Residential sites will be asked to wear a mask and optionally a face shield or goggles.
  • All adults will be required to wear a mask, all others will be encouraged to do so.
  • Staff will be wearing surgical masks, and some will be wearing face shields or goggles.
  • Arrows on floors or walls provide direction through corridors to decrease interactions with others.

Appointments/bookings and entering the premises

  • Most locations will require you to call in when you arrive so you can be escorted directly to your appointment space.

These practices and procedures are based on current evidence and advice from public health (https://www.publichealthontario.ca/), the Government of Ontario’s framework Enhancing Public Health and Workplace Safety Measures in the Province wide Shut down, and infection control experts. We continue to learn more about COVID-19 and will review these practices as new information becomes available.

If you have concerns about risks, any of the infection prevention and control procedures MMF has put in place or would like to discuss other options for receiving service, please contact your MMF worker.

All programs are in-person and are being delivered using enhanced health and safety/infection prevention and control measures.

These sites include:

  • Main Administrative Office
  • M.A.C. Community Based Programs
  • Ajax Learning Centre

Sites open by appointment only

  • Lavender Hill Healing Home
  • Murray McKinnon House
  • Supportive Reintegration Residence

It can be very difficult to feel like you are staying up to date about COVID-19 when information is changing so quickly. We recommend that you visit The Public Health Agency of Canada’s website for up to date information you can trust.

MMF Pandemic Safety Response Plan