Aloha Full Life ‘Ohana-

Yesterday, Governor Ige proclaimed it mandatory for residents to “stay in place” except for work in essential businesses or operations. Per the attached Governor’s Proclamation:

“all persons within the State of Hawaiʻi are ordered to stay at home or in their place of residence except as necessary to maintain continuity of operations of the  federal critical infrastructure sectors, as identified at https://www.cisa.gov/identifyingcritical-infrastructure-during-covid-19 and as further designated below or by the Director of the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA).”

“This order shall take effect on March 25, 2020 at 12:01 am and remain in place until 11:59 pm on April 30, 2020.”

According to the attached Governor’s Proclamation, “Healthcare services and facilities. Hospitals, clinics, physician offices, assisted living facilities, and other healthcare facilities and services” are considered essential businesses. Full Life and the Direct Support Professionals who provide support for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, are considered essential workers. Furthermore, “Organizations that provide charitable and social services . . . . for people with disabilities.” Additionally, Home-based care and services for … people with developmental disabilities” is deemed as essential.

What does that mean for Full Life administrative staff, Direct Support Professionals and the participants we provide supports for?

• Weekly video/teleconference meetings for all employees, participants, and family members. ***more details to come***
• Email address to send questions related to the COVID-19 Pandemic and impact on Full Life services/operations. Covid19@fulllifehawaii.org **More details to come on where the questions and answers will be posted***
• Full Life Offices– As of today, Full Life offices are open, however, you must call before visiting to ensure the appropriate staff person is available. Please contact our office if you need access, as we are limiting access whenever not essential.
• Full Life Administrative Staff– Our Program Coordinators will be working remotely from home, maintaining regular contact with DSWs and participants, hosting video meetings for monthly site visits, Individual Service Plan meetings, Individual Plan trainings, etc. to maintain supports for our Direct Support Professionals and participants.
• Direct Support Professionals– As a healthcare essential worker and provider of social services to people with disabilities, the health and safety supports of our participants requires us to maintain services. To maintain participant’s health and safety, and minimize unnecessary public exposure, Developmental Disability Division has authorized Full Life to convert CLS-I to PAB hours. This allows our participants to work on any of their goals that can be done at home, including assisting participant in processing and maintaining calm during this pandemic. Please contact your immediate supervisor if the participant you support would like your support services at their home. There may be some activities you can participate in with the Governors Stay in Place order such as: shopping for groceries and other necessities and outdoor exercise activities, including ocean activities…so long as social distancing requirements are maintained. Places of public gathering will be closed to the public.
• Participants – We are here to support you in staying safe, keeping active, and keeping engaged with your life goals. We are able to temporarily shift from providing community integration supports to providing you temporary supports at your home. What would that look like to you? Please talk to you Direct Support Professional and family members about how your services are affected by having to “stay in place”. If you decide you want services at home, your Direct Support Professional can assist you to have this discussion with your Program Coordinator.

These are ever-changing times and the COVID-19 pandemic is creating so many opportunities for us to consider emergency preparedness, and how we provide supports. We are here to listen and support you to the best of our abilities. Please know that all Full Life administrative staff have an “open door” policy and welcome you to call, email, or schedule a meeting for any reason. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices in Kona at (808) 322-9333 or Hilo at (808) 935-7699.  Mahalo nui loa for your flexibility, patience and kokua!

Aloha,

Jim Kilgore and Mar Ortaleza