COVID-19 Information
Last Update – 09/23/20 @ 5:00 PM
Recent Updates and Resources
The updates to the left are blog posts with our responses to the most current information available at the time. To avoid contradictory information, only the three most recent updates are posted, though the entire thread can be found here.
Springbrook has taken proactive measures to meet the challenges of COVID-19 beginning on March 15, 2020. Health officials, including Springbrook’s clinical team, are continually monitoring the status and spread of COVID-19. In order to best help families, staff, and the community understand Springbrook’s response to COVID-19, we have assembled this section of our website with both internal and external resources.
Our Response
COVID-19 spreads from person to person. The best means of prevention is to reduce exposure and promote sanitary practices. We ask for your understanding, compassion for loved one and the loved ones of others, and above all, cooperation, as we implement the following health precautions. Click the titles below for information about these proactive steps we are taking to slow the spread of the virus:
Springbrook's Website
This webpage is the most up-to-date source of information for COVID-19 updates. If you have any questions, please see the “Springbrook Contact Information” section below
Program Updates
We are approaching this virus as a threat worthy of serious attention. The following program delivery changes and updates are proactive measures meant to reduce exposure, protecting our staff, and the people we support. Springbrook’s clinical and administrative teams are monitoring the status and spread of COVID-19 daily and updating protocols regularly.
Home Unit Staffing
Employees in Direct Support roles are critical to the health, safety, and well-being of the people we support. The following updates to Springbrook’s staffing procedure are effective immediately:
- All direct support employees are assigned to work in only one home
- Direct support staff may not work in any location outside of the designated home unit, regardless of extenuating circumstances
- Managers may not assign employees to any home outside of the home unit assigned initially, regardless of extenuating staffing needs
- Effective immediately, Springbrook’s CEO or COO will remain on-call (in addition to the assigned AOC), to support management decisions regarding staff minimums that may adversely affect the health and safety of any Springbrook resident
- To support these residential home units in the most effective and safest way possible, a team of support staff have been assigned directly to each residence
- Support staff include education/therapy staff via phone or zoom, departmental administration (also via phone or zoom), and maintenance staff
- Facilities/maintenance staff have limited interior maintenance for Springbrook residences to issues of Life Safety and conditions of peril.
This “home unit” approach to staffing will reduce exposure for the people we support and our entire team while ensuring we can continue to do the amazing work we love.
DAY HABILITATION
Beginning on Monday, March 16, Springbrook began delivering Day Habilitation supports, including limited therapy services, in our Community Homes. Until further notice, Day Habilitation supports continue to be delivered as part of Home Unit services, with limited and scheduled use of our Oneonta Campus for activities and in-person therapy sessions.
THE SCHOOL AT SPRINGBROOK
With the rapid development of the COVID-19 virus, The School at Springbrook has taken several preventative steps to reduce the spread of the virus.
March 2020
- Closed In-Person School Program – Transitioned to Home Unit educational delivery and tele-therapy supports with each home
- OPWDD Statewide Visitation Suspension
- No activities outside the Home Unit
- No Springbrook group activities
April 2020
- Home Unit Staffing, Protocols, and Procedures enacted
- Springbrook Response Team & Emergency Isolation Homes
June, July, and August 2020
- Statewide Visitation Restriction Lifted
- Summer Educational Program
September 2020
- Fall Educational Program – Hybrid learning for Day Students and Home Unit educational delivery for Residential Students
If you have questions, please contact The School at Springbrook at (607) 286-7171, Ext. 378 or sciamem@springbrookny.org, Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm.
COMMUNITY HOMES
For residents of Springbrook’s Community Homes who use day program services outside of Springbrook, all transportation and participation of external day programs are temporarily suspended. This temporary suspicion remains in effect until further notice.
Springbrook’s Community Homes continue to operate with full Home Unit protocols and procedures. Approved activities outside the home currently include the following:
- Oneonta Community Campus Use
- Main Campus Use
- Community Walks – Along approved routes only, all residents and staff must wear masks
- Van Rides – No stops, windows open, van at 50% capacity
- Takeout/Drive Thru Pickup – With Manager approval only, all residents and staff must wear masks. Food must be eaten at home
- Local Parks – With Manager approval only
- Ordering Delivery Meals
If you have questions regarding this Community Homes program update, please contact Springbrook at (607) 353-7272, Ext. 2500 or maciasp@springbrookny.org, Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm.
KIDS UNLIMITED PRESCHOOL
With the rapid development of the COVID-19 virus, The School at Springbrook has taken several preventative steps to reduce the spread of the virus.
March & April 2020
- Suspended in-person Special Education program – per Governor Cuomo’s executive order – Transitioned to remote instruction (supported by Educational staff) and tele-therapy supports
- Daycare remained open for currently enrolled students. We took preventative steps to ensure that daycare students stay in settings of fewer than ten people, as outlined in federal guidelines.
- Staff training and family webinars
June, July, & August
- Daycare remained open for currently enrolled students
- Education and Therapy assessments of student needs
- Hybrid Summer Program for Special Education students
SELF-DIRECTED SERVICES/HCBS SERVICES
There are no program changes to Springbrook’s SDS or HCBS services. We have issued recommendations to Springbrook SDS/HCBS staff regarding prevention and suspended the use of crowded indoor spaces for delivery of services. We will issue program changes if needed based on Springbrook’s assessment of the COVID-19 situation and guidance we receive from local, state, and federal oversight organizations.
If you have questions regarding Springbrook Community Services, please contact Springbrook at (607) 353-7272, Ext. 2500 or maciasp@springbrookny.org, Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm.
Home Units
Decreasing Community Exposure
The most effective way to limit the spread of COVID-19 is to reduce external exposure to program participants.
- As mentioned above in “Home Units,” Springbrook facilities will be limiting interior maintenance for our residences to issues of Life Safety and conditions of peril.
Program Travel
Community trips and visits to crowded indoor spaces, like malls and movie theaters, are temporarily suspended.
- This travel suspension includes all Springbrook-facilitated drop-off/pick-up bus and van trips.
Appointments
Limited, necessary appointments have resumed.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
- We are reinforcing handwashing and use of hand sanitizer across all program and office locations.
- We have increased our already rigorous standard cleaning process within residences, program areas, and common-use spaces.
- We have centralized the distribution of essential cleaning supplies to ensure we retain ample stock for as long as possible.
Monitoring
Springbrook managers are monitoring all residents and employees daily for fever and cough. Additionally, the following is in place for staff to follow:
STAFF HEALTH MONITORING & EXPOSURE REDUCTION
Upon arrival for a shift, all staff must complete the following Health Monitoring & Exposure Reduction Check-In Procedure. The layout of each Springbrook home is different. Below is Springbrook’s organization-wide recommended sequence for the required check-in procedure.
- Complete the current health monitoring procedure using the Staff Symptom Log
- Staff Name
- Time In
- Yes/No – Symptoms of Respiratory Illness
- Heart Rate
- Yes/No – 10-20 Respirations per minute
- Temperature
- Time Out
- If all vitals on the Symptom Log are normal:
- Immediately and thoroughly wash hands for a minimum of 20 secs
- Put on a face mask
- Thoroughly rewash hands after putting on a mask, before reporting for duties
- Keep your assigned face mask on for entire work shift
Note:
- If vitals are NOT normal, inform your manager and immediately go home.
- Each Springbrook home will have its own SPECIFIC sequence of these required check-in procedures. Be sure you know your home unit’s specific sequence.
Event Cancellations
When are These Precautions going into effect?
These measures are already in effect, and we will update these protocols as guidance is provided from the oversight organizations who govern our daily operation.
Springbrook Contact Information
We have established a hotline to address questions and concerns; 607-386-4882. Please leave a voicemail with your name, question, and contact details so we can get match your inquiry to the correct Springbrook resource.
Alternatively, emails with questions/concerns can be sent to clinical@springbrookny.org.
Trusted Resources
Springbrook has been in contact with or follows advice from the state and federal agencies below. The Centers for Disease Control continues to be the leading voice for a national response. The first section has selected resources from their COVID-19 coverage, followed by several other resources we have found helpful during this time.