A MESSAGE FROM GINA KOS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

(update July 19, 2021)

Sunshine Village has begun moving forward – and achieving many successes through our REBUILDING PLAN.

In an effort to bring back as many clients as possible, we have increased capacity at all our sites – and are working to increase our transportation services for CBDS clients.

Below is a summary of some progress we have achieved as well as challenges we are still grappling with:

• Since the beginning of the pandemic, in March of 2020, Sunshine Village had 15 positive cases – but through Contact Tracing, we were able to determine that no one was infected while at a SSV program.

• Given the nature of the pandemic and our commitment to ensuring the highest levels of safety for all our clients and employees, not all our clients will be able to return at this time.  We have developed and revised our REQUIREMENTS FOR A SAFE RETURN TO SERVICES – which is accessible on our COVID-19 POLICY page.   (Click here to see the REQUIREMENTS.)

• As indicated in the July 8, 2021 update of our COVID-19 CONTROL PLAN – we are now welcoming visitors into our sites – being fully masked and maintaining social distancing – so tours for new clients/families have resumed and family members can visit – albeit on a limited basis.  Service Coordinators from DDS are also able to visit our sites as can our community partners.

• As we begin rebuilding our TRANSPORTATION SERVICES so that more clients can access our CBDS services, we have incorporated a change – clients will attend the CBDS program that is closest to where they live.  There are many reasons for this change, as it will:

  • Reduce the length of time clients are on vans.

  • Allow SSV to use our transportation funds most efficiently.

  • Allow us to support people in volunteer and recreational / social activities that are close to their home – so they are becoming an engaged community member.  This will also allow caregivers to replicate efforts to support natural relationships and this strategy will aid in job development efforts – allowing clients to work close to home.

  • If a client wants to attend a CBDS program that is farther from their home, they will be welcomed into that CBDS program, but they will need to secure their own transportation – through PVTA, ride sharing such as UBER or other private means, including being transported by a family or friend.

• We are also now planning for our CBDS clients to begin accessing our community in early August – on a limited basis – and then will increase COMMUNITY INTEGRATION activities as our environments become safer.  We are also now contacting our past partners to begin “Bringing the Community to Us” activities back into our sited programs.

• We are working to transition our part time clients to FULL TIME STATUS, if they have sufficient funding, and have begun only accepting full time clients and clients who will transition to full time status.

• Sunshine Village has prided itself on being an Employer of Choice for many years – and is continuing to work to recruit and retain competent, caring employees.  Unfortunately, there is a workforce crisis within the Human Services industry and the agency is anticipating that in the near future – we too will experience the negative impact of this crisis on our own workforce.

• We may need to begin using WAITING LISTS for each site.  Waiting lists will result from lack of transportation and/or inability to recruit staff – not space issues.  We do not have waiting lists at this time.

We appreciate the understanding and support of all our stakeholders – from clients and their families and caregivers to the representatives of our funding sources as well as our employees and supporters throughout our communities.

Brighter and better days are ahead – and Sunshine Village is looking forward to achieving even greater levels of success – in the weeks and months to come.