Case: Reopening Day Programs for Adults with Disabilities

Andy is the Executive Director of Prepare, Inc., a nonprofit organization that runs a sheltered workshop and supported employment programs for adults with disabilities in Center City. As you are reading the paper this morning, the following catches your eye:

Murphy: Administration will review request to loosen disabled adult day program reopening guidelines

"Gov. Phil Murphy said his administration is reviewing Republican requests to loosen reopening guidelines for day programs for adults with developmental disabilities, but its not clear any immediate changes are forthcoming.

The mental health stress on everybody has been overwhelming, and then when you go to communities which have a particular challenge, which their letter alluded to, its even more acute, Murphy said, referring to a March 29 letter sent by State Sen. Tony Bucco (R-Boonton). So its something our team is obviously going to take very seriously and look at.

Under guidelines released by the Division of Developmental Disabilities, a part of the Department of Human Services, earlier this month, the day programs must close in regions with high levels of virus activity.

Bucco and State Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Totowa) called for the administration to loosen those guidelines Wednesday, cautioning the restrictions could harm adults with developmental disabilities whove been unable to access the day programs for months.

The most recent COVID-19 activity level index report (CALI), released this week for the week ending March 27, saw high activity levels in all six of the states regions.

That means no day programs can open, and the states moderate virus forecast modelling estimates cases wont peak until April 18, though compliance with social distancing and masking guidelines can push that date in either direction.

I hope, over time, were able to open the whole darn place up, Murphy said. The question is the pace and how much and how soon.

The state then received these guidlines for reopening:

covid19-congregate-day-program-reopening-requirements.pdf (nj.gov)

You immediately call Frank, the director of your workforce development program, alert her to the development, and ask her to assemble the staff for an emergency meeting to discuss possible modes of action. While hanging up the phone, you worry about how you are going to manage the new rules, staff issues, and concerns from the families of those served by your program. Families have been urging the state to reopen these facilities:

Day programs for adults with disabilities should open, say NJ families (northjersey.com)

You spend the next hour preparing notes for your staff meeting to be held later that morning. What are the next steps for Andy and for her organization? What should be her plan of action to reopen safely for all program participants and staff.