A new year offers time for reflection, resolutions, and new beginnings! In late 2023, we welcomed Myra to the In Home and Community Leadership Team as our new Community Support Facilitator for southeastern PA. In this role, Myra works in partnership with people using services and their families so they are leading lives of their choosing. This includes helping people to:
- discover their aspirations
- plan their services
- identify staffing needs and select their staff
- support and mentor staff to expectations
Myra comes to Values with personal and professional experiences. Her deep connection to the work drives Myra’s creativity and enthusiasm. We are very excited to have Myra on the team and look forward to her contributions in 2024 and beyond!
2024 brings some familiar experiences, too.
We are now in year 4 of the pandemic. From day one, we have moved through the health emergency as a community. We continue to work in partnership to adapt to conditions as they present. Winter is a time of increased illness. People gather indoors, germs circulate. It’s all a part of normal, everyday life. That said, there’s so much we have learned through COVID that we can apply to promote health and safety, ongoing.
Here’s a recap of our continued efforts to promote health and safety for our community:
Following the lead of many public health systems, we resumed mask wearing during in-person support. This was done in response to data showing a clear uptick in respiratory illness. It was also done with recognition that many members of our community are especially vulnerable to illness. Our Support Partners continue to discuss the benefits of masking with the person they support. We continue to watch public health conditions. We will adapt our practices as new information presents.
We encourage other ways to reduce the risk of illness when providing and receiving support. Some examples include:
- When it’s not too cold, and it is possible to ventilate spaces, opening windows for increased airflow. (In the homes and in the car)
- Physical distancing when possible.
- Wash hands with soap and water or hand sanitize if soap and water are not available.
- Clean and disinfected surfaces, especially those that are touched often. (IE; remote controls, light switches, refrigerator door handles, doorknobs, and phones/tablets)
- Check in with yourself about how you are feeling. Use good judgement when deciding if you should share physical space with others. Contact your Community Support Facilitator or other trusted support to discuss your circumstances.
For more information about COVID-19, the Flu, and RSV; click the link below: