The Denman Hornby Connector for Expecting Mothers helps families cover the accommodation expenses incurred due to the necessity of temporary relocation to the Comox Valley, in order to be closer to maternity care and the Hospital in the weeks surrounding their baby’s birth.
Like all Comox Valley families, residents of Denman and Hornby Island are eligible for our regular program when out-of-region healthcare is needed for children or expecting mothers.
Similarly, when a child from Denman or Hornby Island requires overnight medical care at the Comox Valley hospital, families are eligible for support through YANA’s regular program. Contact us for more information.
Eligibility Requirements for Denman Hornby Connector for Expecting Mothers
– Support is for a pregnant mother and her immediate family
– Pregnant mother is a resident of Denman or Hornby Island
– Pregnancy care provider has verified the pregnant mother’s need to be near the hospital and predicted dates of stay
– The maximum thresholds of $150/night and $2100 total support per birth have not been exceeded
– In-person or phone intake has been completed, and all necessary documentation has been provided
Application Process & Initial Funding
The process is easy! There are no applications—just give us a call at 250-871-0343 or visit our office during open hours. Appointments outside of those days and times are available upon request.
To help us assist you, please have the following ready before your phone call or visit:
- Proof of residency, such as a copy of a driver’s license or a utility bill.
- A quote or receipt from your accommodation supplier, dated within one month of your inquiry. (If you don’t currently have an accommodation, please feel free to contact YANA for suggestions.)
- A letter from your pregnancy care provider detailing the dates the expectant mother needs to stay near the North Island Hospital, Comox Valley.
We aim to review and approve applications as quickly as possible once all supporting documentation has been received. Up to $1000 of the total available funding support approved applications will be dispersed two weeks before the date you intend to be away from home. Additional funding will be dispersed.
Post-Discharge Process & Additional Funding
Once the parent and baby are discharged and cleared to return home, the family must connect with YANA to provide the following details:
- The date the parent and baby were discharged.
- The baby’s name.
- The baby’s birthdate.
- Final accommodation receipts for all completed payments.
YANA will then contact your care team (doctor or midwife) to confirm these details.
After confirmation from the care team, YANA will calculate and provide any eligible additional funding based on your total days away from home and the nightly cost of accommodation. Total maximum support available is $2100 and the maximum nightly accommodation rate supported is $150/night.
This new program is meant to ease the financial burden for families but does not necessarily cover all expenses. We appreciate your understanding of these program parameters.
Program History
In response to learning about the unique needs faced by Denman and Hornby residents due to the remote aspect of the islands and challenges related to accessibility, YANA implemented a pilot program on June 1, 2016. The pilot ran for a year with seven cases supported: five related to birth, two related to sick infants. We received excellent feedback about the pilot program from Comox Valley healthcare workers and from the clients we supported. The YANA Board of Directors approved the program as an ongoing service to Denman and Hornby residents July 6, 2017 according to new program parameters and will continue to evaluate the relevance of the program and YANA’s ability to offer it.