March 2020
Open Sky’s 1,200 dedicated employees are stepping up to the extraordinary challenge presented by the COVID-19 outbreak. Some are using non-traditional ways to support the individuals and families who depend on us – such as telephone outreach and telehealth counseling sessions – in an effort to reduce opportunities for virus transmission. But, Open Sky has hundreds of employees who cannot do their work from home. These direct care staff are checking on people in their homes, bringing medications, delivering needed supplies, or traveling to their jobs in residential programs every day with their Essential Employee Letter and Open Sky ID Badge at the ready – wondering what they will face during the shift ahead.
Their role is to care for some of our community’s most vulnerable citizens and for many, it’s not simply a job. It’s a personal and professional mission to serve. They are working hard each and every day to make sure that the people we serve are happy and safe. I encourage you to take a moment and visit our Open Sky Facebook page to see just a few examples of how staff are working to keep spirits high and share their expertise. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.
I want you to know that we are doing everything within our power to ensure the health and safety of all of our staff, of all of the families and individuals we serve. Leadership is working round the clock to make sure we have the most up to date and accurate protocols and procedures. We, like hospitals and healthcare organizations across the country, are scrambling to provide needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s) such as facemasks. We are searching for resources to help feed the homeless and increase our capacity for telehealth services for those who are struggling.
These are challenging times for all, but at Open Sky we feel positive we can weather this storm. Because, we’ve always done whatever it takes. Because our employees are on a mission.
Thank you,
Ken