Annual General Meeting 2005
CIRC Report

For over 20 years the Community Information & Referral Centre in Thunder Bay has linked those who need help with those who can help in our community. When people need a safe place to stay, a nourishing meal, counselling, health and emergency services, we help them make the connection to suitable resources. In 2004 an increased number of callers looked to the CIRC to point them in the right direction to services for themselves, a friend, relative or client.

The nature of our calls range from very simple calls such as a caller wishing to donate furniture and clothing, to addressing more complex needs such as a senior citizen needing assistance with utility or prescription expenses, or a young family seeking affordable housing. Once caller’s needs are assessed, the person is referred to the appropriate community, social, health or government service. Our callers are often dealing with daily struggles due to health problems, illiteracy, a family crisis, lack of knowledge about available resources or uncertainty about the choices available to them.

In our basic work of linking people with programs and services, the CIRC:

• Operates an Information & Referral Service accessed by the public through a telephone help-line, in person, by email and regular mail.

In 2004, trained staff and volunteers
• Responded to over 13,000 requests for information. Over 21,000 referrals were made in response to the enquiries
• Manages a computerized database of agencies, organizations, programs.

In 2004, volunteers and staff
• Updated 1400 records; collected and augmented our database system to include human service agencies and programs in area code 807; commenced conversion of data to CIOC (our new online data base system)
• Publishes Directories, produces Handbooks & specialized lists.

In 2004, staff
• Produced the 2005 Directory of Community Services
• Distributed 1,000 copies of the Hard Times Handbook to low-income and unemployed people; in-person and through community service organizations
• Generated subsets of sector specific print material on request from individuals and organizations eg. Lists of “women’s” organizations

Builds and maintains collaborative partnerships, In 2004, we
• managed the Elder Abuse telephone help-line; providing confidential help to seniors being emotionally, financially or physically abused or to their caregivers on behalf of the Thunder Bay Community Elder Abuse Prevention Committee
• facilitated mediated access to community resources for breastfeeding mothers for the Thunder Bay District Health Unit
• renewed annual database leasing agreements with Findhelp Information Services (Community Information Toronto) for the following contracts: Telehealth, Youth Justice Services & Access to Professions & Trades - electronic provincial directories
• maintained list of local emergency food providers in cooperation with the Food Action Network
•disseminated weekly housing registry lists to people seeking suitable and affordable housing and to clients of the Canadian Mental Health Association living in the south ward
• updated & verified information for the “Seniors Information Page” and “Where to Go For Help” page in the telephone book for Thunder Bay Telephone
• administered and co-facilitated the Income Tax Clinic serving over 300 low income clients in conjunction with Revenue Canada’s Thunder Bay Tax Services office
• offered fee for service broadcast & email services to our local non-profit sector seeking to publicize and announce community events, fundraisers, workshops, conferences, etc.
• renewed memberships with InformCanada, InformOntario, Alliance of Information & Referral
Systems (AIRS) and the Community Information Online Consortium (CIOC)
• contributed as a member of the Thunder Bay “211” Steering Committee
• managed and supervised the on-site Community Access Program, (Industry Canada) offering computer and internet access to 100 visitors per week

Participates in Professional Training & Development
In 2004, staff attended the:
• Canadian Information & Referral Conference – “Making a Difference in Your Community”, Toronto
• 211 Day, National United Way Conference, Winnipeg
• Train the Trainer Workshop – training in Information/ Referral, assessment, communication, advocacy, conducted by Findhelp Information Services (Community Information Toronto)