April 2020
Family Member or Guardian,
I am writing to provide an update for you regarding the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Open Sky Community Services. For the past three weeks, we have had a team of senior leaders meeting three times a week to develop plans and scenarios and protocols to help ensure that the individuals entrusted to our care and our employees are safe and healthy.
We want to assure you that we are following all evidence-based protocols and continuously staying in touch with local Department of Public Health and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services regarding up to date guidelines and notifications of individuals or employees who test positive.
Like many others in the health and human services sector, we have been challenged by the inability to readily access supplies such as PPE (personal protective equipment)-- gloves, face masks, gowns etc. We have placed orders totaling 45,000 masks and thus far have received about 25% of those. Each group home and outreach staff now have a supply of face masks and gloves for the next two weeks. We are hopeful that the larger orders we have placed will arrive in time to replenish this supply. We are asking the community to help supply cloth masks as well.
As of April 10, there were a total of 7 people within our Open Sky Community who have tested positive for COVID-19. This number includes both staff and individuals we serve. Of this number, two have fully recovered, two are hospitalized and three are self-isolating.
We are working hard not only to keep the individuals we serve safe, but also engaged and active to the degree possible. We understand that like all of us, they may feel uncomfortable with the disruption to their routines. Being isolated from families can also be hard. We are grateful for your efforts to keep in touch with them, and we encourage you to reach out to us, if we can help facilitate that process.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the program coordinator or the director of the program. I am also always available to take your call or your email. If you would like to sign up to receive updates like this via email, please complete the form on page 2 and email it to info@openskycs.org.
We are grateful for the trust you have placed in us, and we extend our best wishes to you and your family to continue to stay safe and be well.
Warm regards,
Ken Bates
President and CEO
Open Sky Community Services, dba for Alternatives Unlimited and The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, 4 Mann Street, Worcester, MA 01602
Open Sky Family/ Guardian Newsletter Sign Up Form
Your Name:
Email Address:
Program or Home where the individual is served:
Name of the individual we serve:
Please email to info@openskycs.org or mail to: Open Sky Family Newsletter, 4 Mann St, Worcester, MA 01602