So much has changed since we last sent out this newsletter, and we felt it was time to share some updates on how we’ve been adapting to the new world we live in.
News from Residential
What a change a few months can bring! The last time this newsletter went out we had just wrapped up another wonderful holiday season and we were moving forward with all the changes the drug medical system of delivery required of our program. Then Covid-19 took precedence over all of this.
We’ve been fortunate in our ability to protect our staff and clients. We have been adhering strictly to Governor Newsom’s guidelines for social isolation/social distancing in order to keep everyone safe. Staff who are at risk have been working from home, and thankfully, our essential workers have continued to deliver excellent services to our clients.
Treatment has changed for our clients in major ways. We have been unable to allow any clients to leave property unescorted or to allow any visitors on property. Because our clients are not allowed cell phones or computers for their first few months of treatment, we have had to develop methods to bring the new norm to residential, such as Zoom 12 Step meetings. Instead of clients being able to attend “outside” meetings to find sponsors, staff members are reaching out to community members to establish sponsorship relationships.
We are now starting to look towards the “new normal” where we keep our distance and we wear our masks. We have hand sanitizer posted throughout our facilities and cans of Lysol at the ready to attack any wayward sneeze or cough. All residents and staff coming onto the property have their temperature taken daily. As we grow more tech savvy, we are implementing online therapy and online 12 Step Support groups. We will be resuming 1st Things 1st by appointment only on Tuesday mornings.
Our fundraising event the Recovery Ride transitioned from a cycling event to a virtual event. I would personally like to thank the efforts of the organizers for doing this and to thank everyone for their generous contributions!
Our ability at Stepping Stone and in our community to respond to this crisis impresses me and adds to my daily gratitude. Thank you all for your ongoing support and interest in our community.
News from Outpatient
Wow, what an interesting couple of months it has been at Stepping Out. As the cases of COVID-19 climbed in the U.S. and the WHO announced it as a pandemic on March 11th, staff at Stepping Out were already considering our options. Stepping Stone has been working with addiction a long time and we knew that our clients would continue to need support, perhaps now more than ever.
By the time Governor Newsom put a “Shelter-In-Place” order throughout the state on March 20, Stepping Out was already providing support groups on-line. We spent Tuesday, the 17th of March doing some incredible teamwork to create policy, agreements, scripts, accounts, and rolled out our first online group the following day.
Doing online groups has forced some changes. Where we used to have several groups a day, the new normal is one per day. We have also increased our individual appointments and are attempting to check in at least once a week with clients to help them get through this time.
We have kept our doors open for those who really struggle with online services, but it has been very limited. As the world opens, so will we with our new normal in place. We have bright yellow tape to mark off 6 feet of distance and will resume limited on-sight groups on May 27th.
Here is hoping that you all stay safe.
Employee Corner
We want to give a shout out to all of our employees who have walked through this pandemic with us. Staff at both Residential and Outpatient have shown up to work daily, at times with limited PPE and worked consistently to keep clients calm.
Residential staff have supported clients who have been restricted to the Central Ave. location, not allowed to have any visitors, and who have had no outside support meetings until recently. All staff members have had to make adjustments to living in a world that changed overnight.
Outpatient staff was able to accomplish online and social distancing support for clients prior to it becoming required. They continue to keep their doors open, supporting members of our community on their path to recovery.
We couldn’t ask for a better team of employees to manage the many faces of COVID-19.
Thank you one and all.