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Urgent Guidance from CISS under Stay at Home Order





COVID-19 MEMO     En español
 
To:          All CISS Staff and Families
Date:      March 20, 2020
From:      Sharon M. Francis, CEO
 
RE:         Essential Services Designation / Community Access Limited
 
Our organization believes that Respite Care is considered an “essential service” while the State’s Stay at Home Order remains in effect. Our care supports families who have children with developmental disabilities and children in foster care to stay safe at home. Our support offers primary guardians much-needed assistance, and helps them attend to essential activities such as grocery shopping and attending medical appointments.
 
Even though care can and should continue under certain conditions, other terms in the governor’s Stay at Home order must still be followed. Please review https://covid19.ca.gov/ for detailed information.  All transportation of children or adults in our care is not authorized at this time due to the State’s Stay at Home Order. This means that staff should only be accessing the community on foot when it is safe to do so, pre-approved by the family, close to the family’s home, and only if everyone can maintain 6 feet of social distance in public. An example would be walking around the block or to the local park, but not playing on public equipment or using drinking fountains.

No care should be provided if anyone may be ill or has recently been ill. This includes the staff person, the child or adult, or any of the people in the home of staff or families. Care must also not be provided by or to anyone with a compromised immune system or other major medical condition that would increase their risk of serious complications should they become ill with COVID-19. You can review all of our prior guidance at https://www.islandsocialservices.org/covid-19/
 
Regular handwashing and universal precautions must be practiced by everyone. All staff must follow CDC guidelines including washing their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds upon entering the family’s home - that is a good time for the family and children to do the same.
 
We strongly encourage all staff and families to confirm each appointment at least two hours prior to care to ensure that everyone is still well and in agreement. Overtime policies have not changed and must still be pre-approved by the office, which is only done in rare circumstances. Respite Caregivers are allowed to each work up to 40 hours/week (Sunday through Saturday) and those in our Foster and Kinship Respite Program may work up to 9 hours/day up to 40 hours/week.
 
This is a time of increased uncertainty, anxiety and stress for everyone, including those staff and families who are caring for children who are not in school, and adult relatives who no longer have a day program or a job they can go to during the day. Please take care of yourselves and reach out to us if we can help.
 
Thank you for continuing to show compassion and care for each other. We will get through this together!
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Channel Islands Social Services
4000 Calle Tecate, Suite 200, Camarillo, CA 93012
(805) 384-0983   Fax (805) 384-0986
www.IslandSocialServices.org 

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