March 12, 2020 Letters to Families (English and Español)

Posted March 12, 2020: People Inc. mailed a letter ( in English and en Español ) to the families we support through OPWDD services. For updates regarding cancellations, please see Upcoming Events on the People Inc. website. We have established a dedicated phone line and email address for concerns regarding this situation:    716.817.7445   or email   COVIDconcern@people-inc.org .

March 13, 2020 Including Letter to Families

We have recently mailed a letter ( in English  and  en Español ) to the families we support through OP WDD services. Posted March 13, 2020: Although there are no reported cases of COVID-19 Coronavirus at People Inc., we are taking numerous precautions. We know that this is a stressful time, and people want to know what they can do right now to protect themselves and their loved ones. The health and safety of the people we support, their families and our employees remain our highest priority. Six years ago, People Inc. proactively established an Emergency Preparedness Program and has been training staff, running drills and hosting tabletop exercises since that time. Our staff is routinely trained on Universal Precautions, which have been identified as one of the most effective precautionary measures that can be taken. To stay on top of the current situation, we are actively monitoring the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, which is the premier source of fact-based and current information. You can also consult the website directly at cdc.gov . We are in contact with and monitoring websites of the NYS and County Health Departments and NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, among others. Our Emergency Preparedness Team is meeting daily to ensure our actions are informed by the most current CDC and Department of Health guidance, and proactive plans are in place and adjusted as needed. Additionally, People Inc. has protocols in place and has been taking steps cleaning and disinfecting throughout our residences, programs, apartments and administrative offices to minimize the spread of viruses and other illnesses. We will continue to work with local and state health agencies and key partners in both planning and taking appropriate actions. We have changed our Visitor Policy based on emerging info from the NYS Department of Health, which is now in effect at all of our agency locations. We are preparing for a range of potential scenarios, including some potential cancellations of events out of an abundance of caution. For updates regarding cancellations, please see Upcoming Events on the People Inc. website. We have established a dedicated phone line and email address for concerns regarding this situation:  716.817.7445 or email COVIDconcern@people-inc.org . How you can help: Consider these best practices from the American Red Cross to help prevent the spread of any respiratory virus: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water, if hands are visibly dirty.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food. Disinfect doorknobs, switches, handles, computers, telephones, bedside tables, bathroom sinks, toilets, counters, toys and other surfaces that are commonly touched around the home or workplace.   If you or your loved one are exhibiting signs of illness, please consult with your physician. Please note that this is a rapidly changing situation and we may need to make quick decisions and implement new policies without advanced notice to conform with health department guidance. Check often for latest updates, which can be found under the “Coronavirus Update” section on the people-inc.org homepage. Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in managing an effective response to the potential threat of this illness. 

March 15, 2020 Phone Numbers for Program Closings

Posted March 15, 2020: As we continue to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 Coronavirus, People Inc. encourages the people we support, their families and employees to stay up-to-date with program closings. Call 716.817.5700 (Western New York) or 585.441.9393 (Greater Rochester Region) for the latest closings.

March 23, 2020 Updated Visitor Policy

Updated March 23, 2020: People Inc. has once again updated our  Visitor Policy  based on emerging info from the NYS Department of Health, which is now in effect at our agency locations*. This includes updated processes for families who utilize our Residential Services. Call 716.817.5700 (Western New York) or 585.441.9393 (Greater Rochester Region) for the latest program closings. *Some exceptions

March 24, 2020: A Message from Rhonda Frederick, People Inc. President and CEO

A Message to our Community    During these very challenging times, we so appreciate the tireless work of our partners – elected officials, our peers in health and human services, vendors and supporters. Above all, I’m incredibly thankful for and proud of the 4,000 staff members of People Inc. Their dedication and talent are evident on a “typical” day, and in times like this, are even more vivid and extraordinary. We wanted to share some of the proactive measures we have taken within People Inc. to prepare and deal with this crisis.   At People Inc., the safety and well-being of people we support and our employees remain our highest priority, as the potential for community spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus continues. We are actively in contact with and monitoring websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NYS Department of Health (DOH), County Health Departments and the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), among others.   During this crisis, we are thankful for our Emergency Response model that has been in place for the past six years. Our long-standing People Inc. Emergency Preparedness Team is meeting twice daily to ensure that we remain proactive and address access to resources, while keeping communication flowing to our staff, people we support and their families.   People Inc. has a number of measures in place, including:     Suspending community outings and operation of our Day Programs, and reassigning those staff members to augment our teams at residential sites. Our staff has been extremely flexible and have demonstrated exemplary commitment to our mission in light of unprecedented circumstances. Implementing a conservative  Visitors Policy  and working with families on arrangements while taking precautions to protect the well-being of those we support and our staff. Utilizing our existing Telemedicine Program in our residential sites, which continues to quickly assess medical concerns without automatically transporting people to crowded healthcare centers. Increasing training on cleaning protocols and product use, and practicing beyond Universal Precautions.  Enhancing supports for our staff with 24/7 access to our Employee Service Line and Employee Assistance Program and a dedicated resource and information section of our Employee Intranet, as well as daily updates.  Expediting and centralizing sourcing of critical supplies and establishing a secure staging area and process to get those where they are most needed.  Continuing to plan ahead to be prepared as best we can for the future.  Developed a  Coronavirus Update section on our website.   A dedicated phone line and email address have been established for people supported and their families to contact us with specific concerns related to COVID-19 Coronavirus: Phone: 716.817.7445, Email:  COVIDconcern@people-inc.org .   As a resource for people we support, a special phone line for non-emergency help has been established, which is 716.322.7070.   Our longstanding People Inc. Emergency Closing Line is updated regularly as decisions are made to suspend any agency program. You can call the two available phone lines for closure updates:   Western New York:  716.817.5700 and                            Greater Rochester region:  585.441.9393.   Thank you for your support as we work to ensure the safety of the people we support and our staff. Sincerely, Rhonda Frederick President and CEO People Inc.

March 31, 2020 Letter to Families (English and Español)

March 31, 2020: Another letter to families is available (in English  and Español ). As always, People Inc. encourages you to stay in contact. Our dedicated email address and phone line is operational to help make it easier to share any concerns at COVIDconcern@people-inc.org or 716.817.7445. Families can also contact the senior residential supervisor at your loved one’s home.

May 11, 2020 Parent and Caregiver Group Virtual Meeting on May 15

Parent Network of Western New York is hosting virtual meetings for parents and caregivers of people with developmental disabilities. These meetings will take place on Fridays, May 15, 22 and 29 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. This online event provides a welcoming environment for parents, family members and other caregivers to meet, share experiences, ask questions and receive support.  More information can be found on the  Parent Network website .  Please share with anyone who may be interested.

May 14, 2020 People Inc. Offering Informational Sessions for Families in June

People Inc. agency management will host a series of conference calls to provide operational updates, projected plans and answer questions for families of the people we support. These calls are being made available only to families that we currently serve. Please join us: ·         Residential Services: Tuesday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m. ·         Day and Employment Services: Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. ·         Community and Respite Programs: Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. Families can send questions in advance to Kaitlyn Coles at  kcoles@people-inc.org . Phone lines are limited. To RSVP, email  kcoles@people-inc.org  or call 716.817.7400. Upon registering, you will be provided with a confirmation and information about joining the conference call.

May 18, 2020 Parent and Caregiver Group Virtual Meeting on May 22

Parent Network of Western New York is hosting virtual meetings for parents and caregivers of people with developmental disabilities. These meetings will take place on Fridays, May 22 and 29, and June 5, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. This online event provides a welcoming environment for parents, family members and other caregivers to meet, share experiences, ask questions and receive support.  More information can be found on the  Parent Network website .  Please share with anyone who may be interested.