ECHO Update on COVID-19
May 22, 2020 update:
Participants seem to enjoy being back at ECHO and we expect several more to join the LIFE group next week and hopefully several more to join the Group Supported Employment group at ECHO.
May 8, 2020 update:
ECHO will reopen to participants on Monday 5/11. This will be a phased process and we have a very detailed plan that outlines our approach as well as guidelines for participants and staff.
April 17, 2020 update:
At this time ECHO is continuing with the partial closure and we do not anticipate having any participants in LIFE or additional job sites open for the next two weeks. We will keep the relevant parties posted if that should change.
We are heading in the right direction and look forward to when we can all get back to work while maintaining the safety and health of the staff and participants.
April 1, 2020 update:
With the continuing health crisis and ongoing State’s directive of limiting the number of people allowed to congregate in one area, ECHO has decided to continue the partial closure for the next 2.5 weeks through Friday April 17, 2020. ECHO will re-evaluate this decision and announce any changes by 5:00 PM on Friday, April 17, 2020.
ECHO will continue to operate Group Supported Employment for the sites that are open. Limited Individual Supported Employment services will also be provided where job sites are open with working participants.
March 25, 2020 update:
After careful consideration ECHO will continue the partial closure through Wednesday April 1, 2020. ECHO will re-evaluate this decision and announce any changes by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.
ECHO will continue to operate Group Supported Employment for the sites that are open. No onsite support will be offered for closed sites. Individual Supported Employment services will also be provided as directed by DARS.
We appreciate your support, understanding and cooperation in this is rapidly changing environment as ECHO strives to provide services to our participants, maintain health and safety for our participants, staff, and community, all while navigating the financial pressures this crisis is creating.
March 18:
With attendance levels at 23%, ECHO has made the decision to close all day support programs (LIFE & Medically Fragile) effective 03/18/2020 at 4:30pm due to cautiousness surrounding the Covid-19 situation. We will continue to monitor the situation and we will reevaluate our plans on 03/25/2020. Currently we plan on reopening on Thursday 03/26/2020 at 8:30am.
At this time, ECHO’s Group Supported Employment (GSE) and Individual Supported Employment (ISE) programs will stay open. Group Supported Employment will be open on a limited basis. This is based on continuing to provide services and supports at the community worksites that are still open. If an individual currently attends the ECHO GSE program and wants to continue to work, they can continue to come in and we will support them at one of our community worksites. If you have already informed us of your absence in this program and provided a return date, we will follow that date. If you decide to come back before the scheduled return date, you need to contact the program director to make arrangements. The ISE program will continue to operate as usual.
ECHO will continue to provide transportation services to the individuals in the GSE program that are coming in to work. The busses will run on a modified schedule as we are combining some bus routes. Please check with your driver for specifics on pick-up and drop-off times. If a family/group home/caregiver already decided to keep an individual home and you communicated a return date to us, we will not send the bus to your house before the return date. If you choose to return before the already scheduled return date, you need to contact your program director as well as the director of transportation.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Medically Fragile: Contact Susan Pride – [email protected]
LIFE: Valerie Burton – [email protected]
GSE: Jenifer Liberi – [email protected]
ISE: LaTrish Thomas – [email protected]
Transportation: Kinta Carter – [email protected]
Operations: Zanelle Nichols – [email protected]
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this challenging time.
Sincerely,
ECHO Leader Team
