COVID-19 Information
Last Update – 5/3/21 @ 3:58 PM
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Vaccine
Information
COVID-19 INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYEES
COVID-19 VISITOR INFORMATION
RECENT UPDATES & RESOURCES
FAMILY UPDATE WEBINARS
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.
Learn More about COVID-19 Vaccine Advocacy
Our Response
HOME UNITS
Springbrook has taken measures to reduce the amount of staff working within individual residential settings in groupings called “home units.” This also helps by having clinical, facilities, and other staff assigned to only one location and eliminating the possibility of spreading infection between residences.
Home Unit Staffing
Employees in Direct Support roles are critical to the health, safety, and well-being of the people we support. The following staffing procedures are currently in effect.
- All direct support employees are assigned to work in primary home or program location
- Vaccinated staff may work in alternative locations only at the direction of location managers
- Un-vaccinated direct support staff may not work in any location outside of the designated home unit, regardless of extenuating circumstances
- 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 therapy staff via phone, zoom, or in person (if fully vaccinated), departmental administration (also via phone, zoom, or in person if fully vaccinated), and fully vaccinated facilities and maintenance staff
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.
Program Updates
Clinical and administrative teams are monitoring the status and spread of COVID-19 daily and updating protocols regularly.
DAY HABILITATION
Beginning on Thursday, April 15, Springbrook is offering hybrid day service options, either in the home, with limited scheduled use of our Oneonta and Norwich Day Habilitation locations, or in the community. Service options are based on a person’s needs, desires, vaccination status, and ability to adhere to community COVID-19 protocols. Vaccinated program participants and staff can take part in day service options with other fully vaccinated participants and staff.
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
April 15, 2021 Spring Education Program – Hybrid learning for Day Students and 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 continues to operate with Home Unit protocols and procedures. Approved activities for un-vaccinated residents 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
Vaccinated Residents:
- May take part in all community activities they choose including but not limited to, dining, shopping, religious services, trips, and other recreation as long as a resident can follow all establishment, local, and state safety regulations (mask mandates)
- May attend day program, campus, or community activities with other people who are vaccinated May enjoy family-style meals with fully vaccinated staff members, friends, and family.
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
Sept – Current – Fully Re-Opened
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.
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.
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.