NBRC Guidance on Day Program Closures

Dear Service Providers:

If you are also a GGRC Service Provider this communication will be familiar.

The Sonoma County Health Officer has issued a Health Order directing residents to shelter in place effective midnight (12:00 a.m.) on Wednesday March 18,2020. Due to this “shelter in place” directive, all Sonoma County day program sites should remain closed through April 7, 2020.  Please keep in mind, site closure does not prevent day services from supporting program participants in other ways. (see below)

All Residential Services are essential and must remain open.

Day Programs in Sonoma County be sure to:

• Contact all program participants/their residential services or families
• Contact transportation about your site closure.
• We recommend having staff at your program on the first day of closure just in case people are still getting your closure information

Day programs will be able to bill for average attendance in line with the DDS directive issued on March 12, 2020 (https://nbrc.net/directives-from-dds-regarding-covid-19/).  This funding will allow day programs to continue to pay staff and cover operating costs while the day program site is closed.

NBRC supports efforts to keep the individuals we serve healthy and safe during these unprecedented times.  We also recognize the closure results in a significant hardship for individuals who will be without their typical day or employment services.  Additionally, it creates a staffing challenge for residential providers, supported living providers, and families who may be supporting individuals in their family homes.

County DPH directives defines “Essential Businesses” as “businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals.”  Additionally, directives include essential travel as “travel to care for the elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons.”

NBRC asks day service providers to work with their staff to identify day program staff that may be able to support individuals in their home setting with the following:

• Providing in-home day program services within the individual’s home if possible or needed
• Identifying ways for staff to assist individuals with securing items such as groceries or other needed supplies
• Checking on health and wellness

As you identify ways your program may be able to support individuals in their homes, we urge you to contact residential services and families to discuss how you can provide additional support.  If your agency has the capacity to be of support to our NBRC community in other ways, please email Services@nbrc.net

NBRC asks day service providers to consider ways they may be able to work collaboratively with program participants, residential services, and families to support individuals through these challenging times.

Additionally, NBRC asks all day program services to please email your program name and the contact information of a supervisor or director who may be reachable outside of typical business hours to Services@nbrc.net

Please be sure to contact all program participants and their residential services or families, and R&D transportation about your site closure.

We thank you for your commitment to supporting individuals served within your programs as we all work together to get through these unprecedented times.

Courtney Singleton, MPA

Director of Community Services

North Bay Regional Center

Phone: 707-256-1227