UCP of the North Bay
Adult Day Program Update
April 10th, 2020
How UCP of the North is helping participants through personal connection
“UCP of the North Bay would like to reassure our participants, family members, and the community that we are doing everything possible to stay socially connected by providing online training and education programs that support the continued health and well-being of the children and adults that we serve.”
Our Adult Day Programs have all moved online as the UCP of the North Bay Outreach Program. We are continuing to use Zoom Video Conferencing as our primary means of offering online classes, activities, and meetings. Each of our programs have established private Facebook pages as an additional means of communicating and sharing information, both program and individual updates. We are seeing a viable program emerge thanks to the hard work of our staff members and the willingness of our participants to engage in online activities with their friends from OADS, WineBev Services, Gone for Good, and Senior Program.
We began regularly scheduled classes on April 6, 2020 after testing several classes the previous week. Our first WineBev Services Zoom Class, taught by our Education Specialist, was Sign Language. We have scheduled up to four classes per day, five days a week, with a variety of topics including Art, Music, Current Events, COVID- 19 Hygiene, Zumba, Math, Cooking and Baking, Reading, Meditation, History and Geography, Trivia Games, Sign Language, Dance, and Self-Care. Our classes are open to all UCP of the North Bay participants, family members, and staff members, and are recorded for viewing at any time.
We are reaching out to all our participants to engage them as much as possible in our Zoom Classes and online activities. This also requires providing some education about how to use the technology available to them. We have created an incentive program for our participants where we draw names every two weeks from those that have participated in classes. The more classes in which an individual participates, the more entries they receive. The winner receives a $25 Gift Card that can be delivered and redeemed online. Two of our staff members are currently working additional hours in residential facilities where their support is greatly needed.
Our staff members are team teaching, putting class schedules together, planning curriculum, and gathering educational materials in preparation for upcoming classes. We have surveyed participants on Zoom and Facebook about what classes and activities they would like offered during remote learning. Many of the participants were able to express their interest in classes including Self Advocacy, General Health, Exercise and Nutrition, Work Preparedness and Safety, and Arts and Crafts. We are encouraging staff members and participants to join classes across all UCP of the North Bay Adult Day Programs and actively engage in as many as possible. Our participants also requested another OADS Zoom Social for this week. It is a very popular, fun opportunity to see and talk with each other.
Gone for Good hosted two Zoom Meetings for staff members and participants with 36 and 37 participants joining the meetings respectively. The attendees had a chance to see each other and talk to each other in very friendly, lively sessions. It’s the closest thing to being together at Gone for Good that is possible at this time and it is exceptionally worthwhile.
Our Gone for Good Recycling Business continues to roll out shipments and keep up with schedules with dedicated staff members performing the work while observing personal safety guidelines. Gone for Good is an exceptionally strong community and, as such, we are finding it easier to accomplish work while providing ongoing, daily support for our participants.
We are hearing from our participants that they are doing well at their homes. From our daily calls, we know that they are enjoying playing games, going on van trips, watching movies, doing art projects, and generally staying busy with their staff members or family members. We conducted two Zoom Meetings for all our participants and staff members this week. Those that were able to participate were able to see and visit with staff members and friends. We are very excited to offer our first Senior Program Art Class on Zoom to be followed by Gardening, Cooking, Fitness Exercises, and Meditation and Relaxation. We can adapt most of our regular activities for Zoom and have them still be enjoyable for our participants.
Individual Supported Employment is continuing to provide job coaching for individuals employed in positions deemed essential by the State of California. Focus is placed on supporting individuals to practice safe social distancing, utilize personal protective equipment, and follow universal precautions including hand sanitizing.
For individuals that have been laid off, we are updating resumes, practicing job interviewing on Zoom, applying for essential jobs, and signing up for virtual career fairs through the Social Security Ticket to Work Program. Group Supported Employment crews are continuing to work for many local businesses, even though some jobs are not available due to shelter in place guidelines.
Several of our Job Coaches are helping individuals with grocery shopping and delivering supplies to those individuals that have significant challenges due to health, loss of income, and emotional well-being. They also make daily contact with work crews and individuals to combat the negative effects of social isolation. Like our Adult Day Programs, we have access to Zoom Video Conferencing to connect with as many individuals as possible. We are committed to succeeding at social distancing without social isolation until we can all return to work.
