It has been about a month since our world became influenced by COVID 19. I wanted to provide an update on how respect, integrity, compassion and perseverance are guiding CSI!
CSI is weathering the storm! All supports are on modified schedules bringing the transitions down to 7 or less each week for every support. That means less than seven times someone enters a persons home that could be carrying the virus, the majority of the homes are 5 or less.
All supports have no visitors allowed and if anyone CSI supports goes home with families, etc. they cannot return until the crisis is over. We cannot control the environments outside of our world and are very worried about increasing exposures. A tough decision in many cases, but one I feel will make a difference.
Each support is working to ensure schedules and routines are in place to help our folks to acclimate to our new normal. I think having less staff changes has helped people feel more grounded and secure. CSI is monitoring temperatures on staff and those we support twice a day and before anyone enters a home.
Across the four states, CSI has had three employees who tested positive for COVID. All three had been out for a week or more before their diagnosis or symptoms.
There has been one positive case with a person supported in MA (an 84 year old woman). It has run its course and she was asymptomatic. There is one person supported in VA who is awaiting COVID testing results. There have been a number of people tested and the results were negative.
Personal Protective Equipment
CSI is working to distribute cloth mask to all staff and people supported who would like them. At CSI DE , Nichelle Rothrock, RN and her friend made all the masks for staff in DE. Judy Little, a retired DE nurse is making masks for the people we support. Jina Kang, Program Director is coordinating the efforts in VA. Justine Lydon and Lori Avila, Program Managers in MA have secured donations of masks. Guri and I are making masks and gathering donations. Lori Avila, Program Manager in MA has secured 500 masks from the Amish women in Pennsylvania. I believe that by Wednesday we will have distributed at least 1200 masks!! We will then work on a second mask for each staff person!!! Another attempt to keep our world safe!!
Our diligence to stay ahead of the game has paid off. We started the crisis with 9000 masks on hand, and have used minimal amounts. Georgette Dorsett, ED collaborated with another agency and is getting a direct shipment of 9,000 more masks. We are receiving hand sanitizer in bulk from a distributer and two distilleries and we have ample gloves available. Our only challenge has been getting protective gowns to be worn if someone has an active case of COVID. We have supplied 500 disposable rain ponchos in locations we cannot get gowns, but are continuing the search. MA received 50 gowns from the National Guard, delivered in a very big truck!!
There have been many, many efforts from so many to help the CSI Family stay intact and safe during this difficult and ever changing time. What may appear to be a small gesture such as taking a person CSI supports to the woods to walk off energy or to dropping off a bottle of disinfecting spray or securing 9000 masks- each contribution is important to the greatness of our accomplishments.
One month down……..
Wash your hands!!!
Be safe….stay in!!
Janet Butler,
CEO/President
Today is a day that brought about the need to reflect and give thanks. Easter is normally a day many people spend with families, deep with traditions, surrounded by loved ones and often sharing our faith. In our world of new schedules, mandates and quarentines many people are unable to be with their families and are with their CSI families this Easter Sunday. For many people we support and their families this is a difficult change in traditions and routines. For our staff it is giving up the time they can be with those they love. The CSI values of Respect, Innovation, Integrity, Compassion, Accountability and Perserverance are guiding our world as never before. Each person has shown how much they truly care and continue with a smile and positive attitude.
A deep thank you to families……
To the families of those we support, thank you so much for keeping everyone at CSI safe by respecting our policy of no visitors and no home visits.
To the families of our staff, thank you for sharing your loved one so selflessly.
Let us all take this day to reflect on our many, many blessings and how the world is a better place because of each and every one of you!!
To you and your family, be safe and our deepest gratitude!!
Janet Butler, CEO Guri Davis, COO Sandra Coady, CFO
Chad Leavell, Dir.of IT Nan Vierra, Adm. Assistant
Statement from Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul about COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments for Beneficiaries
“I want to provide an update to people who receive benefits from the Social Security Administration.
The Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced on April 1 that Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive an economic impact payment. The IRS will use the information on the Form SSA-1099 to generate $1,200 economic impact payments to Social Security beneficiaries who did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019.
Treasury, not Social Security, will make automatic payments to Social Security beneficiaries. Beneficiaries will receive these payments by direct deposit or by paper check, just as they would normally receive their Social Security benefits.
For updates from the IRS, visit www.irs.gov/coronavirus.
Note for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Recipients:
We are working closely with Treasury to address outstanding questions about our SSI recipients in an attempt to make the issuance of economic impact payments as quick and efficient as possible. We realize people are concerned, and the IRS will provide additional information at www.irs.gov/coronavirus when available. Please note that we will not consider economic impact payments as income for SSI recipients, and the payments are excluded from resources for 12 months.
We will continue to update Social Security’s COVID-19 web page at www.socialsecurity.gov/coronavirus/ as further details become available.”
To get more Social Security news, follow the Press Office on Twitter @SSAPress.
All indicators show us being in the stay at home mode for at least four more weeks. I believe it is important to provide the supports needed to get folks through the isolation in the best way.
Each CSI support should have a schedule for each day. It can be for the house, with some break outs for separate activities for individual people. Everyone will function better if there are schedules and structure in place, they will know what to expect. Work with the people you support to determine a set routine that involves interaction, stimulates the brain, provides exercise and most of all provides predictability. We can also be addressing goals. You may support someone with a goal to take a vacation, they can use this time to explore and plan. On the CSI Facebook page we have shared a number of resources. There are open classrooms, concerts, museum tours, art lessons, music lesson, physical fitness and more. Many resources are listed below.
Predictable, staff know what is expected of them each day. Predictable the people supported know what to expect. Let folks see the schedule, so they know what is next.
Does it have pictures and Velcro so when you are done with a block it could come off the schedule? Make sure it is colorful and FUN!! Lots of great ideas!!
Routines Are Life
When you work with ID/DD, mental health, residential youth, and even people in their senior years of life, in various types of residential settings, you quickly learn that routines are vital to success. During times of Natural Disasters, Contagious Illness Outbreaks and Government Shut Downs, these routines get broken, switched around, and lost. When this happens, behavioral challenges rise. The resources often become limited.
Here is the beginning of a schedule, get input from those you support, modify as needed but lets put some structure in our day.
SAMPLE
Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | ||
8-9 A | Breakfast James cooks Today is: Talk about day, weather, what to do | Breakfast James cooks Today is: Talk about day, weather, what to do | Breakfast James cooks Today is: Talk about day, weather, what to do | Breakfast James cooks Today is: Talk about day, weather, what to do | Breakfast James cooks Today is: Talk about day, weather, what to do | Breakfast James cooks Today is: Talk about day, weather, what to do | Breakfast James cooks Today is: Talk about day, weather, what to doCSI | |
9-10 | Church services and music | Bingo | Fun with numbers | Fun with colors | Interesting science | Bingo | Chores | |
10-10:30 | snack | snack | snack | snack | snack | snack | Snack | |
10:30-11 | Exercise and movement | Exercise and movement Lets try yoga | Exercise and movement | Exercise and movement Learn a dance on youtube | Exercise and movement Sidewalk chalk | Exercise and movement | Exercise and movement | |
11-11:45 | Arts and crafts Cards for shut ins | Arts and crafts Building with blocks | Arts and crafts Make stars to create a night sky | Create a movie | Board Games | Healthy living Cooking healthy | Bingo | |
12-1 | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | |
1-2 | Art lesson on computer | Art lesson on computer | Learning something new | Art lesson on computer | Managing my money | Art lesson on computer | Art lesson on computer | |
2-3 | Writing, coloring and creating. r | Museum lesson on computer | Learn about animals on line | Traveling the world | Museum lesson on computer | Museum lesson on computer | Museum lesson on computer | |
3-4 | Music and dance | Music and dance | Music and dance | Music and dance | Music and dance | Music and dance | Music and dance | |
This definitely presents a unique challenge for all teachers (and families), and especially special education teachers who are wondering how in the world am I going to do that? Here’s a few ideas, including some FREE (and some paid) resources.
88 Adventures for Residential Settings Based Services Employees To Create
Posted on March 18, 2020 by manda_mckinney
I am a firm believer that Adventure can happen anywhere. I wholly believe that Adventure is more about ATTITUDE than DESTINATION.
Finding adventure is a way of life for me. It’s a need that’s deep inside of me. Taking adventures with a destination in mind brings me happiness and peace. I love spending time with my friends, families coworkers creating memories and laughing.
I have worked with individuals with various disabilities, socio-economic, and mental health struggles for the past 18 years in a professional setting. I have a deep appreciation for the struggle of the Human Services worker.
Hard Times
During times of Natural Disasters, Contagious Illness Outbreaks and Government Shut Downs, the Human Services field as whole is under immense pressure. The workers step in and step up even harder. The hours are long. The emotions high. Adventures can seem few.
When you work with the various populations of people that I have, you encounter a specific struggle. And let me tell you, the struggle can be real. The struggle I am referring to is … How do I keep my individuals that I serve entertained, engaged, and calm when their routines are thrown off during these challenging times.
Routines Are Life
When you work with ID/DD, mental health, residential youth, and even people in their senior years of life, in various types of residential settings, you quickly learn that routines are vital to success. During times of Natural Disasters, Contagious Illness Outbreaks and Government Shut Downs, these routines get broken, switched around, and lost. When this happens, behavioral challenges rise. The resources often become limited.
My Best Advice
My number one advice that I give my team during these times is a 3 fold message.
- Team work is vital to success
- Set a new routine and make it visual and predictable
- Keep the activities going (this is where adventure comes into play)
Adventure is an Attitude
Activities are going to be your work adventures during the harder times, like the ones I referenced above. Choose to come into work with a positive attitude. Choose to come in prepared. Choose to come in looking for opportunities for adventure. The world NEEDS your positive energy.
88 Easy Adventures
Here are 88 EASY Adventures you can try TODAY!
X | Activity to Try |
Bead a Necklace or Bracelet | |
Make a Wind chime | |
Play a “Bored Game” (aka Board Game ) (ex. Candy Land, Pie Face, Mouse Trap, etc.) | |
Play a Card Game (go fish, slap jack, war, solitaire) | |
Make a Card and Mail it | |
Draw/Color a picture | |
Build something from cardboard boxes | |
Read a Book or Magazine (also listen to audio book or pod cast) | |
Play “Name that Tune” song trivia | |
Make a Dream Catcher | |
Learn the Cup Song | |
Act out a movie scene | |
Karaoke | |
Host your own “American Idol” or “America’s Got Talent” | |
Video Game | |
Exercise Challenge (sit up, jumping jacks. Running in place) see who can do the most | |
Learn a hand clapping song routine | |
Try out Ribbon Dancing | |
Take pictures with funny face filters | |
Walk around the back yard | |
Yoga | |
Learn a dance off YouTube | |
Build an indoor tent and tell campfire stories | |
Cut out stars and create the night sky | |
Make a volcano and make it erupt (baking soda and vinegar) | |
Make Slime | |
Learn a new recipe | |
Create your own wall mural (plain color flat sheet and sharpies) | |
Learn to dribble | |
Indoor “basketball” (ball or paper wad and laundry basket) | |
Practice rhythms and make a band (use kitchen supplies, pots, pans, spoons) | |
Play ”I spy” | |
Make positive quote or sayings signs and post in your windows for the neighbors | |
Pick up sticks from your yard (spring clean-up) | |
Online Video Tours of museums or zoo’s | |
Try to sing an Opera | |
Bring a Pet to Visit the home (if your agency allows) | |
Learn to make shadow puppets/animals | |
Turn out the lights and put on a light show (using flashlights) | |
Improve on life skills (making a sandwich, learning to spread jam, peeling a vegi) | |
Re-arrange a room of the home | |
Use Dry Erase markers and make window art or mirror art | |
Make decorations for the next upcoming holiday | |
Do a puzzle (even make one if you need to out of paper) | |
Clean out and organize something in the home | |
Cut out pictures from store ads and make a visual grocery list | |
Use furniture to make an indoor obstacle course | |
Design your own “Team” T-shirts (can use permanent markers) | |
Make superhero capes (towels, flat sheets) | |
Create a scavenger hunt | |
Make Leaf Rubbings | |
Create a treasure map (hide a “treasure”) | |
Sidewalk Chalk Art | |
Play Dress Up Guess Who (dress like character and have everyone guess) | |
Makeovers or Face Paint | |
Learn Origami | |
Play Balloon Volleyball | |
Fly a Kite | |
Make a “magic potion” | |
Read your Horoscope | |
Make a Phone Call or Video Call | |
Create a real life game of CLUE | |
Build a tower using uncooked spaghetti and mini marshmallows | |
Make a live action “slow-motion video” (move slow enough the setting isn’t used) | |
Learn how to say something in Sign Language | |
Make cat toys to donate to an animal shelter | |
Have an indoor picnic | |
Pretend to be a server in a restaurant during meal time | |
Make Friendship Bracelets | |
Make up Pirate Names or Indian names for everyone | |
Play MASH | |
Make a Fairy House (use nature things such as sticks, leaves, moss, etc) | |
Wash the company vehicle | |
Draw or create a target and throw paper wads or a very light ball at it | |
Make a marshmallow catapult | |
Make your own Bubbles | |
Paint Rocks (smooth ones work best) and put them outside for decorations | |
Learn Finger Knitting | |
Learn how to Crab Walk then have a race | |
Play Tic Tac Toe | |
Look up STEM activities to try | |
Plant a seed and watch it grow | |
Make a Marble Run | |
Learn to Tie a Tie | |
Decorate a cake and have a “Cake Boss” challenge | |
Make a time capsule | |
Make Paper Air Planes and do an “Air Show” |
Last Piece of Advice
In case you are feeling stressed, down, or a little empty. I see you my fellow Human Services Worker. I know your heart. I know your struggles. AND, most importantly, I KNOW YOU GOT THIS!
Things to do from Program Directors in VA
Below are some free, alternative activities that people can engage in during the COVID-19 pandemic or any other situation where social distancing would be in effect.
The BalletNOVA Center for Dance in Falls Church, Virginia, is hosting virtual dance classes for all ages and abilities (https://www.balletnova.org/)
The Cincinnati Zoo is offering free Safari Facebook Live sessions daily where they will feature an animal and provide an activity to do from home (https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is launching a weekday Virtual Classroom on Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/ClevelandMetroparksZoo/)
For more zoo and aquarium live streams and events visit: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/us/coronavirus-zoos-webcams.html
For great recipes to make in home, check out the following sites. They offer free recipes, and some offer free video instructions!
For great arts and crafts to do inside, visit the following. There’s a great variety!
Besides Netflix, Hulu, and other popular streaming services, Sproutflix is offering free, full-screen playlist of 10 popular shorts films. These films feature people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and are great to watch during this time indoors. Go to the following to access the playlist:
You can also take a virtual tour of some of the world’s most famous museums. These tours are interactive and will help enhance your learning experience while being stuck at home.
- British Museum (https://www.britishmuseum.org/)
- Guggenheim Museum (https://www.guggenheim.org/)
- Musée d’Orsay (https://m.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html)
- National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (https://www.mmca.go.kr/eng/)
- Pergamon Museum (https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/pergamonmuseum/home.html )
-Rijksmuseum (https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgvm3vsGl6AIVD5SzCh282wJbEAAYASAAEgKAIvD_BwE) - Van Gogh Museum (https://krollermuller.nl/en/van-gogh-gallery?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInbWpvMKl6AIVmoVaBR31ywJaEAAYASAAEgIvMvD_BwE)
- J. Paul Getty Museum (https://www.getty.edu/museum/)
- Uffizi Gallery (https://www.uffizi.it/en/the-uffizi)
- Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (https://www.sothebys.com/en/museums/museu-de-arte-de-sao-paulo)
- National Museum of Anthropology (http://museu.ms/museum/details/16762/national-museum-of-anthropology)
Exercise webinars are available to stream online, but some require a small fee. Here are some free exercise live streams:
- 305 Fitness: If you like to do your cardio in the form of dance, head over to 305’s YouTube channel for at-home workouts you can do from your living room (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClTBXlWPx7L_jhJ_vdRAu-A)
- Down Under Yoga: Peruse this local yoga studio’s online yoga library for whatever practice fits your fancy for the day. Choose from a 15-minute yoga nidra, a 60-minute yoga for anxiety class, and more (https://www.downunderyoga.com/online-yoga-library)
- Sweat Fixx: Broken down by body part and equipment needed, these classes are a great full-body strength option (https://sweatfixxstream360.com/stream)
For those who are beginning to get bored of the same iPad apps, check out this list of 30 new apps:
Here are daily projects for reading, thinking and growing, targeted towards school age children, but some might like the interactive interface:
For virtual concert listing, visit:
Several colleges and universities are also providing free online learning sessions, so check out your favorite school and see what is offered!
Do you know another company to add? Email [email protected]. They can be added to the list.
New Facebook group created for resources on School Closures: Educator Temporary School Closure for Online Learning https://www.facebook.com/groups/Temporaryschoolclosuresupport/?notif_id=1583892698579939¬if_t=group_r2j_approved
Company Web Address
Age of Learning (ABCMouse, Adventure Academy yes , ReadingIQ) https://www.ageoflearning.com/schools
BookCreater App https://bookcreator.com/2020/03/support-for-schools-affected-by-coronavirus/
Breakout Edu https://www.breakoutedu.com/funathome
Buncee https://blog.buncee.com/supporting-remote-student-learning/
Discovery Education https://www.discoveryeducation.com/coronavirus-response/
EdPuzzle https://support.edpuzzle.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039805612-Help-for-schools-affected-by-Covid-19
Education Perfect https://epforlearning.com/2020/education-perfects-technology-minimising-impact-on-100-coronavirus-affected-schools-in-china/
Elementari https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJ1LAywQdwvNKN_SpsypVA48XOaoCTQoGhuaP7e12fgwPnWA/viewform
Flipgrid https://kahoot.com/blog/2020/02/27/kahoot-free-access-schools-higher-education-coronavirus/
Freckle https://www.freckle.com/
GoGuardian https://www.goguardian.com/blog/learning/goguardian-teacher-for-remote-learning/
Google for Edu https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/distancelearning-covid19
Hapara https://hapara.com/from-home/
IXL https://pronto.io/coronavirus/
Junior Library Guild https://kahoot.com/blog/2020/02/27/kahoot-free-access-schools-higher-education-coronavirus/
Kahoot yes https://kahoot.com/blog/2020/02/27/kahoot-free-access-schools-higher-education-coronavirus/
Kami https://blog.kamiapp.com/remote-learning-with-kami-during-school-shutdowns/
ListenWire http://blog.listenwise.com/2020/03/listenwise-support-for-schools-affected-by-the-coronavirus/
Manga High 6 https://www.mangahigh.com/en-gb/blog/2020-03-06-free-access-schools-online-maths-coronavirus
Microsoft Education https://educationblog.microsoft.com/en-us/2020/03/how-schools-can-ramp-up-remote-learning-programs-quickly-with-microsoft-teams/
Mystery Science https://mysteryscience.com/?fbclid=IwAR0tiDhJA1fs0tvraKnXpDLa2JlJGXQhzPR4UnQRVfbOR1Ca3C5yQY5tNwQ
NearPod https://nearpod.com/coronavirus
Parlay https://parlayideas.com/school-closure-support/
Pear Deck https://www.peardeck.com/staying-connected
Prodigy yes https://www.prodigygame.com
Pronto https://pronto.io/coronavirus/
Reading Bear https://www.readingbear.org/
Scholastic https://pronto.io/coronavirus/
ScreenCastify https://twitter.com/Screencastify/status/1226934956930281472
Seterra Geography https://online.seterra.com/en/p/corona-support
Slido Education https://blog.sli.do/slido-for-education/
Texas Instrument SmartView https://www.discoveryeducation.com/coronavirus-response/
Tynker https://mailchi.mp/tynker/in-support-of-schools-facing-health-related-closure
Wakelet https://wakelet.com/wake/3af73ea4-a652-4e38-934d-765aefe0f35b
We Video https://www.wevideo.com/education
starfall starfall.com
abcya abcya
Up until now, if you are out of work for being a high risk for COVD19, been exposed to COVID19, you don’t have child care or you are self-quarantined or quarantined, CSI has continued to pay you without using your earned leave. There are a number of new federal benefits available, that will help you to get paid during this crisis, but also can relieve some of the expense from CSI. If CSI pays you according to the FFCRA programs, we can get reimbursed for the cost of your salary. As we are paying you now, there is no method for CSI to recoup the funds paid for these “extra” salaries.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.
These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 and are separate from your earned leave and CT and MA state mandated sick leave.
PAID LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS
Generally, employers covered under the Act must provide employees:
Up to two weeks (80 hours, or a part-time employee’s two-week equivalent) of paid sick leave based on the higher of their regular rate of pay, or the applicable state or Federal minimum wage, paid at:
- 100% for qualifying reasons #1-3 below, up to $511 daily and $5,110 total;
- 2/3 for qualifying reasons #4 and 6 below, up to $200 daily and $2,000 total; and
- Up to 12 weeks of paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave paid at 2/3 for qualifying reason #5 below for up to $200 daily and $12,000 total.
A part-time employee is eligible for the leave for the number of hours that the employee is normally scheduled to work over that period or the number of hours committed in a pay period.
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES
CSI employees are eligible for up to two weeks of fully or partially paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons. Also, employees who have been employed for at least 30 days prior to their leave request may be eligible for up to an additional 10 weeks of partially paid expanded family and medical leave for reason #5 below.
QUALIFYING REASONS FOR LEAVE RELATED TO COVID-19
An employee is entitled to take leave related to COVID-19 if the employee is unable to work, including unable to telework, because the employee:
- is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19; (full pay for two weeks)
- has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19; (full pay for up to two weeks)
- is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis; (full pay for up to two weeks)
- is caring for an individual subject to an order described in (1) or self-quarantine as described in (2) (2/3 pay for up to two weeks)
- is caring for his or her child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) due to COVID-19 related reasons; or
- is experiencing any other substantially-similar condition specified by the US Department of Health and Human Services related to CoviD19. (2/3 pay for up to two weeks.)
FFRCA Sick Leave
Each CSI employee will be awarded two weeks of paid FFRCA sick leave. This leave can be used for COVID19 related absences. (1-6 above). If your hours were reduced because of a change in schedules, this leave policy does not apply.
You can use the FFCRA sick leave if you are absent for self-quarantine, mandatory quarantine or isolation, quarantine because of symptoms, or out because your child has lost their school or daycare.
After the two weeks, the person should be able to return to work. If you are unable to return to work, please contact your supervisor to make arrangements on a case by case basis
CSI is committed to help all of their staff remain financially stable and will pay the additional 1/3 of your salary to bring you to 100% pay if you fall in a leave category that is classified as 2/3 payment.
FFRCA Family Leave
An employee is entitled to up to 12 weeks of leave if they are caring for their child whose school or place of care is unavailable because of COVID-19. The first two weeks is unpaid but you can use your FFRCA Sick Leave or your earned leave. Up to 10 weeks after the two week waiting period is available at 2/3 your salary.
CSI is committed to help all of their staff remain financially stable and will pay the additional 1/3 of your salary to bring you to 100% pay if you fall in a leave category that is classified as 2/3 payment.
If you are out of work because your hours were reduced because of scheduling changes, you do not qualify for this leave and will continue to use pay code CSI-COVID-19 on your timesheet.
You will receive an additional email in the next few days to help guide you through the new process.
Janet Butler
President/CEO
Community Systems, Inc.
To our Valued Clients:
We have a very important update to announce to you! On Friday, March 27th the President signed The CARES Act into law.
This law has many important components, one of which permanently reinstates coverage of Over the Counter (OTC) drugs and medicines as items eligible for reimbursement under Code 213(d) expenses in FSA, HRA, and HSA plans. With this law, the drugs and medicines will no longer require participants to have a prescription to prove eligibility.
- A high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA) will be allowed to cover telehealth and other remote care services prior to an individual reaching the deductible. This allows HDHP participants to receive first-dollar coverage for these services without disqualifying them from being eligible to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). This provision is temporarily in effect beginning January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021.
- Non-prescribed, over-the-counter medicine and medical supplies are now covered as qualified medical expenses for HSA, HRA, and health FSA purposes. This includes over-the-counter menstrual care products. The changes take place retroactive to January 1, 2020 with no expiration date. This provision reverses laws put in place as part of the Affordable Care Act in 2011, which stated that over-the-counter expenses were only eligible for reimbursement with a prescription.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Regarding the OTC medicine and medical supplies, this will occur gradually over the next 4-6 weeks as SIGIS (Special Interest Group for IIAS Standards) will make available the list to be implemented by participating merchants.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health & Human Services
Department of Developmental Services
500 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
To: DDS Individuals and Families
From: Commissioner Jane Ryder
Date: 3/25/2020
Subject: Coronavirus Update for Individuals and Families
Dear DDS Community:
I’d like to provide an update on the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) response to COVID-19 as of Wednesday, March 25.
State of Emergency
The Governor has announced important updates to the State of Emergency including:
- Nonessential businesses must close their physical workspaces and facilities to customers, workers, and the public. Essential businesses include grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and restaurants offering take-out or delivery.
- The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has issued a Stay-at-Home Advisory for residents who are not providing essential services.
- Gatherings are limited to 10 people, a reduction from the previous 25-person limit.
- Child care programs are now closed. Exempt Emergency Child Pare programs are being made available to provide emergency, back-up, drop-in child care for emergency workers, including essential human service and health care staff.
Essential Services for your Family Member
Group home and facility-based residential services are essential and the staff who support your family members in those settings are performing essential work. Medical and personal care are also essential services. Providers of mental and behavioral health care, personal care attendants, home health aides, and home care workers are performing essential work. Some of these services may be provided remotely.
Visitation
To protect the health and safety of your loved ones, all in-person visitation to group homes and residential facilities is now prohibited, except for certain compassionate care situations, such as an end-of-life situation. We encourage families to stay in contact with their loved ones using technology, including phone and video calls. DDS and provider staff can help facilitate.
Mitigating the Risk of Spreading COVID-19
Staff, vendors, and individuals with any of the conditions below are restricted from entering areas of care:
- Sick with fever (100.3), cough, or sneezing.
- Recent international travel (i.e., within the past 14 days) from a COVID-19-affected geographic area.
- Close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
In accordance with the DPH Stay-at-Home Advisory, we are suspending short visits with family into the community or to the family home. If you wish to take your family member home with you, they must remain with you for the duration of this public health emergency.
Remote Services
DDS programs, including Day Programs and Family Support Centers, are encouraged to continue offering services and supports remotely. If you do not have the technology available, DDS can help you access it. Please contact your Area Office to learn more.
Individual Support Plan
We are advising our employees that regular business, such as ISP meetings, may continue to be conducted remotely using conference calls and other group communication technology, if individuals, guardians, and staff can participate. In cases where it is not possible to conduct a scheduled ISP remotely, DDS will be seeking to extend state and federal time requirements related to service planning.
Guidance for Programs
The Executive Office for Health and Human Services (EHS) has provided guidance on programs including protocols for when to quarantine and use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Find all current guidance documents here.
Please note that the Residential and Congregate Care Program guidance (updated March 20) applies to all DDS state and provider-operated programs.
The website and guidance above and will continue to be updated, so please review regularly.
Health
If you or anyone in your family has symptoms of illness (fever, cough, or shortness of breath) or potential exposure to COVID-19, please take these steps:
- Contact your primary care physician and follow their guidance
- Contact the Massachusetts DPH epidemiology line: (617) 983-6800
- For the latest information on COVID-19, please call 2-1-1 or visit: mass.gov/covid19
Family Support
DDS-funded Family Support Centers are here to support you through this crisis and can be a source for emergency support and information about local resources. Please contact your DDS Area Office if you need help connecting with your local Family Support Center.
Disabled Persons Protection Committee (DPPC)
To report suspicion of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse or neglect of a person with a disability, contact the DPPC 24-hour hotline:
- 1-800-426-9009
- 1-888-822-0350 TTY
Communication
Your Area Office will remain the primary DDS point-of-contact for you regarding ongoing services and supports. Provider agencies have been directed to contact you immediately should they close or alter service schedules. Area Offices will remain in contact with you to help mitigate any disruptions and ensure needed supports are addressed.
We will continue to update the DDS COVID-19 Resources and Support website and social media as information becomes available. Please contact your Area Office with any immediate questions or for assistance.
Thank you,
Jane F. Ryder
Commissioner
Department of Developmental Services
Thank you to Jina Kang, Program Director a CSI Virginia for this great list of things to do from your home!
Below are some free, alternative activities that people can engage in during the COVID-19 pandemic or any other situation where social distancing would be in effect.
The BalletNOVA Center for Dance in Falls Church, Virginia, is hosting virtual dance classes for all ages and abilities (https://www.balletnova.org/)
The Cincinnati Zoo is offering free Safari Facebook Live sessions daily where they will feature an animal and provide an activity to do from home (https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is launching a weekday Virtual Classroom on Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/ClevelandMetroparksZoo/)
For more zoo and aquarium live streams and events visit: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/us/coronavirus-zoos-webcams.html
For great recipes to make in home, check out the following sites. They offer free recipes, and some offer free video instructions!
For great arts and crafts to do inside, visit the following. There’s a great variety!
Besides Netflix, Hulu, and other popular streaming services, Sproutflix is offering free, full-screen playlist of 10 popular shorts films. These films feature people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and are great to watch during this time indoors. Go to the following to access the playlist:
You can also take a virtual tour of some of the world’s most famous museums. These tours are interactive and will help enhance your learning experience while being stuck at home.
- British Museum (https://www.britishmuseum.org/)
- Guggenheim Museum (https://www.guggenheim.org/)
- Musée d’Orsay (https://m.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html)
- National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (https://www.mmca.go.kr/eng/)
- Pergamon Museum (https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/pergamonmuseum/home.html )
-Rijksmuseum (https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgvm3vsGl6AIVD5SzCh282wJbEAAYASAAEgKAIvD_BwE) - Van Gogh Museum (https://krollermuller.nl/en/van-gogh-gallery?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInbWpvMKl6AIVmoVaBR31ywJaEAAYASAAEgIvMvD_BwE)
- J. Paul Getty Museum (https://www.getty.edu/museum/)
- Uffizi Gallery (https://www.uffizi.it/en/the-uffizi)
- Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (https://www.sothebys.com/en/museums/museu-de-arte-de-sao-paulo)
- National Museum of Anthropology (http://museu.ms/museum/details/16762/national-museum-of-anthropology)
Exercise webinars are available to stream online, but some require a small fee. Here are some free exercise live streams:
- 305 Fitness: If you like to do your cardio in the form of dance, head over to 305’s YouTube channel for at-home workouts you can do from your living room (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClTBXlWPx7L_jhJ_vdRAu-A)
- Down Under Yoga: Peruse this local yoga studio’s online yoga library for whatever practice fits your fancy for the day. Choose from a 15-minute yoga nidra, a 60-minute yoga for anxiety class, and more (https://www.downunderyoga.com/online-yoga-library)
- Sweat Fixx: Broken down by body part and equipment needed, these classes are a great full-body strength option (https://sweatfixxstream360.com/stream)
For those who are beginning to get bored of the same iPad apps, check out this list of 30 new apps:
Here are daily projects for reading, thinking and growing, targeted towards school age children, but some might like the interactive interface:
For virtual concert listing, visit:
Several colleges and universities are also providing free online learning sessions, so check out your favorite school and see what is offered! fffffff
From Janet Butler, CEO/President
Today brings more information, changes, and challenges. Here at CSI, the positive energy is bringing together strong teams to focus on helping everyone to be healthy of mind and body, engaged, and secure in a time of uncertainty. There are many, many superstars in our CSI Family, my deep gratitude to all of you!
A number of years ago, Carol Whitcomb, the founder of CSI guided our organization to develop our continuity of operations plan (COOP) in a time when a pandemic was predicated. The thoughtfulness of the planning was dedicated to ensuring all of our CSI Family would be safe. The pandemic did not arrive, but the plan lived on. That thoughtful planning, years before this crisis arrived, has helped to guide CSI’s decisions in a thoughtful prepared manner. Ms. Whitcomb’s leadership for more than 30 years created the exceptional organization CSI is today.
In the development of our plan and as we have faced the COVID-19 crisis, many decisions have been made with a thoughtful analysis of the risk for potential exposure. In each situation we evaluate what is the potential for exposure, what level of occurrence, and what is the overall risk. Thoughtfully considering potential risks has led CSI to alter how we staff our supports.
I am sharing the thought process to help all to develop a better understanding of how to contain some of the risk of contracting COVID-19 virus.
All of the guidance from the experts states that social distancing is a way to decrease your exposure to the virus. If you don’t come in close proximity to people, there is a reduced risk of you picking up the virus that they may cough or sneeze. The second important factor in social distancing is limiting the actual number of people with whom you come in contact. If through self-quarantine, the only people you come in contact with is your close circle of five people who are on quarantine with you, the possibility of bringing the virus into your body decreases. We are advised to limit how many people you are near and keep your distance. A third priority is disinfecting and handwashing. These steps will help to interfere with virus getting into your system should it come into your world.
In evaluating the level of risk at CSI we looked at all of our supports and how we needed to modify practices to protect the people we support, (many who are have compromised health) and our valued staff. It is easy to implement wash your hands, take your temperature, and social distancing. The challenge was limiting the number of people in any location where we provide supports, therefore limiting the number of potential exposures. The typical staffing pattern in a home (apartment or group home) where 24 hour staff support is provided is for staff to change shifts every eight hours. If this level of shift changes occur in a home it leads to 21 times that staff come and go. Twenty one times the virus could potentially come into the home. If there are two staff involved in those shift changes, you have 42 opportunities for potential exposure. We determined level of potential exposure needs to be contained where ever possible.
CSI is implementing a number of alternative supports and modifications to our supports. All measures have as the priority maintaining health and safety and allow CSI to continue to address the needs of those we support. Right now, the person’s needs are the driving factor in the decision to modify who provides their supports. In the future, it may be the availability of healthy staff. The scope of the supports will remain intact. Limiting exposure also helps to protect our workforce by containing the spread of illness amongst the staff. Should wide spread illness occur in our area, we must ensure we have enough healthy staff to meet the needs of those we support.
For the people CSI supports who live on their own and require only drop in supports, they are being visited daily by telephone or video chat. For people supported who have families who could take them home, we encourage that as well. If there are any urgent needs, staff would be deployed to assist in both of these situations.
Many employees have offered to bring a person they support home with them to self-quarantine for the duration of the crisis. In these situations, the potential exposure of shift changes goes from 21 to zero!
A number of teams will be going into the homes for long shifts. The team members will be allowed to sleep (with one person awake in homes where needed). The staffing will be three days on shift and after three days a second team comes in. This model reduces potential exposures to three times a week.
A number of teams have elected to have select staff move into the group home, again bringing the exposure from staff changes to zero.
I want to emphasize that the changes to staffing patterns will only occur if there are safeguards in place to ensure all the needs of the people who live in the home are met.
The staff who are being displaced by these staff changes will be able to fill in gaps in other homes or will be compensated for their time.
As more ideas are brought forward, they will be evaluated for ability to meet a persons needs, assurance of health and safety and level of potential risk of exposure.
CSI has closed its offices and all of our essential business functions are occurring remotely. We are using the same level of thoughtful planning to ensure CSI weathers this storm on the business front.
Through all of these changes CSI has strengthened our on call processes. Every person supported, therefore every home, has at least four CSI leaders that can be called if needed for guidance, support or an emergency. Our office phones are still functioning and are forwarding calls by extensions to the staff person’s cell phone. All senior staff are checking email throughout the day seven days a week. The senior teams in each CSI are meeting daily (by teleconference).
I hope that by sharing information with all in our CSI Family, it helps to alleviate some stress for everyone involved.
Please, be safe, be thoughtful in your actions and most importantly, be kind.