You had questions. We had answers.
Over decades of practical experience protecting medically vulnerable clients and months studying novel coronavirus advisories from the Centers for Disease Control, Indiana State Department of Health and others, we are excited to be reopening many of our doors today.
There has been an extensive amount of planning over the past couple of months in anticipation this and an incredible about of logistical work by #TeamADEC over the past few weeks to make it all possible.
We received a lot of questions about how this will work. ADEC president and CEO Donna Belusar hosted a virtual town hall as part of the Family Forums series on May 19th. You can watch the entire recorded video on our YouTube channel. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we received – all of which Belusar touched on in the town hall – and a few other relevant updates to pass along.
How closely have you been monitoring novel coronavirus developments?
Can everyone return to day services?
How is your PPE supply?
What are some of the safety measures you’re putting in place?
Will telehealth continue or will therapies only happen in day centers now?
Will my transportation route be back so I can get to the day center?
What’s going on with ADEC Industries?
What is this new ADEC activity hub?
Is Camp Wy.Not happening this summer?
Has ADEC had any COVID-19 cases?
What is your plan if there is a COVID-19 outbreak at ADEC?
When do you think Gaining Grounds can open again?
How closely have you been monitoring novel coronavirus developments?
We have been closely following pandemic status updates from Indianapolis and Washington, along with what is happening here in Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties, on a daily basis. We have been primarily focused on the ISDH and CDC for best safety practices. Guidance from the Family and Social Services Administration, the Indiana Back on Track plan and other sources has also been included in our plan.
We are aware that, unfortunately, our plans are subject to change based on local conditions. We know we must remain vigilant and we will remain vigilant to help ensure the safety of everyone involved.
Can everyone return to day services?
Starting today, day services, the skills and training center, extended day and after-school programs, are just open to FSW and CIH waiver clients. Clients from supervised group living settings will have the option to return at a later date. Yes, we will have after-school programming even though there is no school because we know it is needed.
How is your PPE supply?
We’re confident in our PPE supply at the moment. We were fortunate that we could provide every employee, even those who do not work directly with clients, with a supply of PPE. We’ve had a tremendous response from community partners on donations in addition to what we were able to both purchase and the masks sewed by #TeamADEC members. We will also continue to look for more as we know that our long-term needs will eventually exhaust our current supply, but we have enough on hand for the next several months.
What are some of the safety measures you’re putting in place?
ADEC’s behavior therapists will have an instruction session for clients when we reopen to talk to them about safety items like social distancing and sanitization. ADEC’s staff either have had or will have a training session about how to implement the agency’s pandemic-related policies.
ADEC has invested in dozens of no-touch infrared digital thermometers and everyone will have their temperature taken both upon arrival at the building (or transportation vehicle) and also throughout the day as needed. We will follow the CDC standard that 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is considered a fever.
Each of the day centers will have a designated quarantine room where a client who exhibits symptoms during the day can be isolated. Several vocational activities will not occur for the time being due to an inability to perform them while socially distant or the necessity of common high-touch surfaces. We will also limit community outings and activities.
Masks are required for all staff who work directly with clients. Mask-wearing is encouraged for all clients, but not mandatory both out of respect for their personal rights and also acknowledging that some clients are incapable of wearing one.
All visitors to ADEC facilities (including parents, guardians, case workers, vendors, non-ADEC therapists, etc.) are restricted in terms of access and also must wear a mask. All guests entering each building, including ADEC staff not based out of that facility, will have to sign in to assist in a potential contact tracing situation. Client-to-staff ratios will be kept lower than usual in many cases to help alleviate the risk of potential spread.
Facilities have been reconfigured and sectioned off with tape to encourage distancing. Supplies will be stored in a different manner. Many items which may have sat out in an open space before will be stored in an enclosed or covered area to decrease the risk of exposure to the virus. The facilities will be deep-cleaned before reopening and also receive additional daily cleanings based upon usage patterns.
Pre-screening questionnaires are also being distributed asking if clients and staff have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, been tested, been quarantined for potential exposure, had a family member test positive, etc. If a client is high-risk, we are encouraging them to stay home.
Will telehealth continue or will therapies only happen in day centers now?
The expansion of telehealth under Indiana Medicaid has been one of the rare growth spots for agencies like ours in this troubling time. Our therapy and community employment clients have benefitted greatly from the expansion of remote services and we greatly appreciate the FSSA and DDRS for permitting it. We will continue to encourage it for higher-risk clients in particular.
Unfortunately, the current approval for this process will expire in August. We will continue with it so long as permitted and anticipate advocating for its extension if needs be.
Will my transportation route be back so I can get to the day center?
Transportation routes will also reopen today. There will be vehicular safety precautions comparable to the day centers in terms of things like sanitation, mask-wearing, temperature taking, etc.
What’s going on with ADEC Industries?
Due to the economic downturn, the external demand for ADEC Industries’ services has significantly decreased and we do not expect this to change any time soon. ADEC Industries will continue to function as a vendor for Ability Indiana and other local corporate partners, but solely as a competitive integrated employment shop with no piece rate work.
What is this new ADEC activity hub?
The hub will be a fun community-based alternative to day services for many of our more highly-functioning clients – particularly those who will no longer be able to work at the ADEC Industries sheltered workshop. Opening day is tentatively set for July 6th. We’re very excited about what this facility will include above and beyond a traditional day service. The full details will come later this summer about both the center itself and client eligibility.
Is Camp Wy.Not happening this summer?
Summer camp is happening as scheduled with opening day set for June 8th. Registration information is available here on our website. We will be adhering to the same safety guidelines as our day centers. We will have to cut back on some, if not all, of the community field trips however as some of the places we regularly visit may not be able to accommodate groups at this time.
Has ADEC had any COVID-19 cases?
Cross our fingers, knock on wood, rub a lucky rabbit’s foot, etc. but ADEC has not had any clients or staff test positive as of this posting.
What is your plan if there is a COVID-19 outbreak at ADEC?
We do have an emergency action plan which covers both what happens if someone needs a COVID-19 test and also includes protocols for a positive case within ADEC. That procedure varies depending on if we are talking about a staff member, a non-residential client or a residential client but the common thread between the three is to isolate the person as quickly as possible and contact trace the path of the person through other ADEC facilities and with other ADEC clients/staff in hopes of mitigating a possible outbreak.
If it is an employee, ADEC will pay their salary for up to two weeks (not counting against their accrued sick or vacation time) so that they can safely isolate at home without prematurely returning to work.
When do you think Gaining Grounds can open again?
The Bristol Gaining Grounds Coffee House will have a soft opening for staff and clients in June and we hope to reopen it to the general public by mid-summer. Unfortunately, the Goshen Gaining Grounds Coffee House will have to remain closed for the foreseeable future because of its location inside of a visitor-restricted day center where we cannot allow public access at this time.
The Gaining Grounds Conference Center will also remain closed to public events for now but hopefully be available for rental again mid-summer.
As for Art by ADEC, because of the decrease in public foot traffic to Gaining Grounds and also with the cancellation of community showcase events like Elkhart’s Rhapsody Arts and Music Festival, we have been exploring e-commerce as a means for our clients to earn some money for their work. Hopefully we will have more details here soon on ways we are trying to expose our clients’ artwork to more potential online buyers.
