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Bear Essentials - Healthcare Travel and Equipment Support

Provided by Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island

A family support program that assists with the costs of health-related travel and equipment for Island kids.
Bear Essentials is a family support program that assists with the costs of health-related travel and equipment for Island kids. The program is designed for families that struggle to afford the associated costs or that have barriers limiting their ability to access health care or equipment for their child.

Bear Essentials is a referral-only program. A health care professional familiar with a child’s needs and family circumstances must complete the online application on their behalf, with the consent of the applicant’s parent or primary guardian.
To be eligible for Bear Essentials, applicants must meet all of the following conditions:
  • Age: 0 to 19 years old (up to 20th birthday)
  • Location: Live on Vancouver Island or the surrounding islands
  • Health status: Have a medical condition, health challenge, or disability confirmed by a health care professional
  • Financial need: Require financial support to cover the cost of the item(s) in the application
  • Funding limit: Have not exceeded the lifetime Bear Essentials maximum of $12,500

250-940-4948

Toll Free: 1-833-751-0874

Public email: bearessentials@islandkidsfirst.com

Website: https://islandkidsfirst.com/bear...

345 Wale Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V9B 6X2

Cost: No cost

Referral options:

  • Physician or nurse practitioner referral
Associated Programs/Services

Also offered by Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island:

Availability

Service area: Island Health Area + show cities

Service area cities: Saanichton, Kyuquot, Lake Cowichan, Denman Island, Fanny Bay, Sooke, Sayward, Port McNeill, Black Creek, Victoria, Mill Bay, Ladysmith, Port Alice, Cathedral Grove, Hornby Island, Esquimalt, Quadra Island, Qualicum Beach, Alert Bay, Nanoose Bay, Ucluelet, Pender Island, Gold River, Port Alberni, Port Hardy, Campbell River, Cumberland, Penelakut Island, Courtenay, Cortes Island, Nanaimo, Cobble Hill, Mayne Island, Tofino, Nitinaht, Galiano Island, Shawnigan Lake, Coombs, North Saanich, Gabriola Island, Long Beach, Duncan, Saanich, Langford, Sidney, Salt Spring Island, Saturna Island, Tahsis, Comox, Quathiaski Cove, Horne Lake, Chemainus, Lantzville, Brentwood, Sointula, Deep Bay, Parksville, Merville, and Bamfield

Ways to Access
  • Includes the provision of funding

The listing of this service in Pathways is not a recommendation or endorsement by Pathways.

Pathways does not provide medical advice. If you have an emergency please call 9-1-1. If you require assistance navigating services please call 8-1-1.

For general inquiries or for assistance, please email us:

community-services@pathwaysbc.ca

If you are requesting clinical access to medical Pathways, please provide the following information via the email above:

  1. First Name
  2. Last Name
  3. Email
  4. In which city/town do you work?
  5. What is your role? E.g. Family Physician, Office Staff, Medical Resident
  6. Employer Name (for office staff)
  7. Office Phone

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