UCP of the North Bay
Adult Day Program Update
June 19th, 2020
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.”
UCP of the North Bay is participating in online discussions with North Bay Regional Center and other Adult Day Program providers about best practices for re-opening. We are in a good position to provide positive feedback about how to return to site-based and community-based activities while continuing and maintaining a base of distance learning for those participants that need or choose that level of support. Our position is that it is critical to maintain our current level of service and funding for all participants until reopening begins in earnest and regular programs are re-established.
Our Adult Day Program Survey was released on Wednesday, June 17 and we are awaiting responses from our participants to the following questions: (1) do you want to return to your program site, (2) what might prevent you from returning, (3) can you provide your own transportation, (4) will you wear a mask as required, (5) have you or any member of your household been in contact with a person who has tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, (6) do you live with a person that has a compromised immune system or is over the age of 65, and (7) do you have any additional information or have any questions? This is a participant questionnaire only to help with our re-entry planning. It does not represent our re-entry plan.
We added three new classes to our Outreach Program schedule: Hygiene Management, Telling Time, and Virtual Tours. Our purpose is to continue providing distance learning, while having classes that are fun for our participants. Social interaction continues to be a significant benefit of our online classes, not unlike the importance of learning social skills along with job skills in the workplace. Our staff members also visited three homes this week to provide supplies and emotional support, a practice that will continue until it is no longer necessary.
Families have contacted our staff members to commend them on our commitment to our participants. One parent told us that she is very pleased we are doing such “an amazing job keeping participants busy and active.” Another said, “I could tell my son was loving seeing and hearing everybody, and was excited about getting the new device. These last few months must have been so difficult for your staff to navigate at WineBev Services, but you are all doing an amazing job of giving him and the others something to look forward to everyday with your classes.”
The Senior Adult Program is focusing on adding new online social opportunities and recruiting more of our participants to attend. We added Storytelling to our schedule and welcomed one participant to their first class. We are meeting regularly to develop a plan for re-opening. Although still in the planning stages, we are incorporating health and safety by taking advantage of our proximity to outdoor spaces and following the guidance of North Bay Regional Center, Sonoma County Department of Health, and the State of California.
With the development of plans for re-opening our program sites, our classes have focused on health and safety updates including proper handwashing, hygiene, wearing masks, disinfecting, and social distancing. We are developing options for providing program activities that best support participants that are expected to have difficulty following safety procedures. Outdoor activities, separated groups, and continued distance learning will all be options.
We have also discussed how to prepare for and respond to a fire emergency with fire season approaching in Sonoma County. We had a surprise visit this week from two former OADS staff members who joined an online class to say hello to everyone. A special birthday celebration for one of our participants included a live stream concert with one of our staff members from Cypress School. Our staff members continue to address the individual needs of each of our participants.
We held our second Family/Caregiver Meeting on Wednesday, June 17. Topics included our initial planning for re-opening following the guidance of North Bay Regional Center and the Department of Developmental Services. We emailed our Adult Day Program Survey to all participants on June 19. Their responses will give us an idea of their willingness, need, and ability to return to site-based and community-based activities. At the conclusion of the meeting, we awarded Amazon Gift Cards to the top 10 participants with the highest number of online classes attended in June. The next Family/Caregiver Meeting is scheduled for July 1 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Group Supported Employment will be providing our second crew of participants to work at the Petaluma Recycling Center, which re-opened for business three weeks ago. Supported Employment staff members will be working with our participants to train them on the health and safety procedures required to work there.
Individual Supported Employment Job Coaches are helping their workers understand the challenges and requirements for health and safety that are in place at each of their business locations. Following Sonoma County guidelines, we are developing a base site for all Supported Employment workers at OADS. Staff member training on county regulations related to Covid-19 begins next week.
Individuals interested in Supported Employment should contact Tony Montoya, Supported Employment Manager, at 707-763-9807.
