June 22, 2020
As a reminder, OWBC has over 20 locations in which we operate. Each site is unique depending on location and partnerships that they share. With that said, there may be variances to our goal to move forward in return to work.
Main Office
The main office is fully staffed and returned to work on June 15th, 2020. To date, no one has been denied access to our facilities due to having symptoms of COVID-19. Every person entering the facilities, including staff, will be checked for a fever using a handheld thermometer. A log as to whether the individual was below 100.4 is kept at the front desk. Should someone have a temperature of 100.4 or greater, they will be asked to leave the premises and denied entry to the facilities. To date, clients have been dropping off applications for assistance using the newly installed mail slot located at the front door.
Meals on Wheels (MOW)
All clients registered to receive homebound and congregate meals will receive a fresh hot meal 5 days a week. At this time, the congregate meal sites will not open until further guidance is provided by the funding source, community health leaders, and partnerships with City and School District leaders. Clients who attended the congregate sites will receive a hot delivered meal or may contact each site manager to make other arrangements to receive their meal. Clients who were on frozen meal routes prior to the pandemic will continue to get frozen meals as before.
MOW staff is currently working with their volunteer base. COVID-19 safety protocols include temperature screening for MOW staff and volunteers. Should someone have a temperature at or above 100.4, they will be asked to leave the premises and denied entry to the facilities.
OWBC staff are working with volunteers to safely pick up meals for their routes in designated pick-up areas at the MOW kitchens to limit face to face contact. Volunteers are trained to deliver meals to designated areas at the client’s home (usually the front door or porch) to limit face to face contact. Volunteers will visually confirm clients receive meals from the designated pick up area prior to leaving the client’s home. Volunteers will return to the MOW site to complete their paperwork and return the delivery containers. Upon return to the MOW site, all delivery containers are sanitized and prepped for the next day.
Community Services (CS)
Community Services staff will continue to accept applications for assistance with utilities, food, rent, clothing, and other household needs via online applications, mail in applications, fax, and email of pdf. OWBC will also be accepting applications at the main office via drop off through the mail slot located at the front door.
Community Services staff will only see clients via appointments. Face to face contact will be limited and all clients will receive temperature screening before proceeding with their appointments. All clients who fail to pass the temperature screenings will be denied access to our facility
Head Start (HS)
Head Start will continue to provide instruction via online learning and staff produced videos until June 27, 2020.
OWBC will continue to feed the children until June 27, 2020 during the lunch hour. OWBC will continue to deliver in some areas and provide pickup meals, as well. COVID-19 safety protocols have been in place for contactless pick-up at many of our sites. In some cases, HS staff will deliver meals to those who do not have access to transportation. HS staff will deliver a meal to designated areas at the client’s home (usually the front porch) to limit face to face contact. HS Staff will visually confirm clients receive meals from the designated pick up area prior to leaving the residence. OWBC staff will continue to implement COVID-19 protocols when delivering meals to the clients.
HS will close for the month of July, with a return to school on August 3, 2020. This will give OWBC staff enough time to get the HS facilities sanitized and staff trained on proper COVID-19 protocols recommended by the US Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control, Child Licensing, and local Health officials for the upcoming school year.
Protocols will continue to be developed as information comes available.