Memo from OhioMHAS for Families

by Katie Dillon | Mar 23, 2020 | Uncategorized

COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus, presents a major challenge to the behavior health system to be able to provide optimal services to adults, children and families in the State of Ohio.  The purpose of this memorandum is to make sure you know some of the directions that many of the behavioral health providers are instituting because of this virus.

First they are committed to the primary mission of providing service during this time but they must also must be committed to make sure their workforce and the persons served are protected at all times.  So, some of the changes you may experience are:

• Home visits – may be limited, unless major crisis
  • Should ask these questions to help determine if they can come to the home:

1. Do you currently have symptoms of corona virus (cough, fever of 100.4®F or higher or shortness of breath )?
2. Have you had direct personal contact with someone who is positive for the corona virus?
3. Have you been tested for the coronavirus?

• Office visits – a number of offices are not accepting walk in for appointments and many are trying to reschedule appointments or conducting telehealth appointments
• Telehealth – will have your meeting with worker via electronically such as face time, skype, etc.
• Trainings, conferences, and larger meetings are being cancelled, you should contact the provider agency via telephone to make sure of all cancellations

If the you or your family members have symptoms please stay home and contact the Ohio Department of Health at (614) 466-3543 or 833-427-5634) for further guidance, which may include a recommendation for a self-imposed isolation of 14 days.

COVID-19 Resources to parents during this time:

• The Crisis Kit: 5 tools for helping clients through turbulent times
  • A PDF fillable 41-page document. There is also an audio file and a YouTube version.
  • https://positivepsychology.com/the-crisis-kit/

• Corona Virus Social Story:
  • https://www.flipsnack.com/KeshetChicago/coronavirus-social-story/full-view.html?fbclid=IwAR3L_99CcdyaJ1dLeDmDv3HfJV-jePrD3zpR91dOrHJqh3xvZdxVBURZcok

• Virtual Fieldtrips
  • http://howtohomeschoolforfree.com/huge-list-of-virtual-field-trips/?fbclid=IwAR1GjYNNPwkrhYuyHzItIIJad9yMc1ljSS8wT7Y_wikzlc4pobACsWMrrSA
  • https://adventuresinfamilyhood.com/20-virtual-field-trips-to-take-with-your-kids.html?fbclid=IwAR1JUM1el4GDpz70qVTEcRUqpR2iuXEGkSgP419hlo72DQtMpduYGDUtoMU

• Free Musicals to Watch
  • https://www.playbill.com/article/15-broadway-plays-and-musicals-you-can-watch-on-stage-from-home?fbclid=IwAR0CsA51DegUhYhhYq8ZeiYgOKEnW-pKmgjpHJW03ANFRlyxIpN4xt45Odk

• Scholastic is offering free online courses so your kids can keep learning while schools are out
  • https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/15/us/scholastic-coronavirus-students-trnd/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2gD2RjpS13pygErGx7rFrSGPBZuw38XEW1rSlcvBxAB2xzG4SiRzzHX1s

• Headspace is FREE for Mental Health Professionals
  • https://www.headspace.com/health-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR18lIVFa6CyvOYIWyn43eRBoQc0PNjH0safOvpEgtuiSFXVtlYNpUrVSDU

• State of Ohio:
  •  https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/
• CDC Guidance:
  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/workplace-school-and-home-guidance.pdf
• CDC Webpage:
  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

• CDC Steps to Prevent COVID 19:
  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fprevention-treatment.html
• CDC: Mental Health and Coping:
  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/coping.html

• CDC: Talking to Kids about COVID-19:
  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html
  • Spanish version: https://childmind.org/article/como-hablar-con-los-ninos-sobre-el-coronavirus/

• HIPAA and Telehealth Guidance:
  • https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html

• State of Ohio (Cleaning-Disinfecting Alternatives):
  • https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home/covid-19-checklists/005-covid-19-checklist-for-cleaning-disinfecting-alternatives

Template Essential Employee Letter

by Katie Dillon | Mar 23, 2020 | Uncategorized

Below is a downloadable template Essential Employee Letter in accordance with today’s Stay at Home Order by the Director of Health that you can customize for your employee’s needs. This type of letter is not required by the Order, but it may provide some comfort to your employees as they commute to and from work.  In addition to the template attached, you will also want to consider a few, but important, employment considerations.  These range from ensuring that employees know of the employer’s expectation that they continue showing up for work to taking steps to comply with the specific, employment-related considerations in the “stay at home” order.  Providers should consult employment counsel for guidance on these issues.

Template Draft – OPRA Essential Employee