The System Navigator project, led by CWHC and CWAV, provides trauma-informed support to help vulnerable clients navigate health and community care. The program helps reduce barriers, build trust, and connect people with the services and support they need.

CWHC gathered stories from women and LGBTQIA2S+ folks across the Cowichan Valley to better understand their experiences with the health care system. The findings offer valuable insights and recommendations for creating more inclusive, responsive care.

CWHC and community partners are bringing trauma-informed healthcare directly to women facing barriers to accessing care. Through on-site services and systems navigation, the program helps connect vulnerable women with the healthcare and follow-up support they need.

With youth mental health needs reaching a critical point in the Cowichan region, this report identifies gaps in local services and opportunities to strengthen support. Its goal is to help ensure young people get the care they need—when they need it.

Many women in the Cowichan Valley face gaps in accessing the health care and support they need. The Cowichan Women’s Health Collective is working toward a stronger, more accessible future through collaboration, advocacy, education, and connection.