STRiVE COVID 19 Updates + Statement

It has been a little while since our last update! We sincerely hope you are all doing well and staying healthy during the ongoing pandemic. We have been staying active and extremely busy over the past year, honing our infection control skills, and doing our absolute best to keep some of our vocational programs open while we remain under strict guidance to maintain reduced capacity. Wearing masks and practicing social distancing seems like second nature and really not much of a bother anymore. It has become just part of life and we are rolling with it!

Our staff across the agency continue to take the ongoing situation extremely seriously and we are incredibly proud of their efforts to keep everyone including themselves as safe and healthy as possible. We have certainly had our share of ups and downs, highs and lows over the past year. We have had numerous staff out sick, individuals in service out sick and we unfortunately experienced a full-scale outbreak in one of our group homes.

This experience was heartbreaking for all involved. One thing that this showed us though was that we have many people ready to jump in and do whatever is absolutely necessary to care for the amazing people we support. We had staff from across the agency volunteering to help cover shifts, bring food and supplies to our homes or to just give words of encouragement. We also saw an outpouring of support and kindness from community partners. Local Hospitals donated much needed PPE, at no cost. Numerous agencies offered their staff’s time to be able to cover shifts in homes as well. We also received support in the form of vaccines for staff and individuals who reside in our group homes.

Everyone seemed to pull out all the stops when we called on them for help and guidance. While we know that we do an incredible job at what we do, we also know that it takes a community to truly make it happen. We are so thankful for our community, it is hard to express our gratitude in words.

Now, we are looking toward the future. We know we will still be wearing masks for some time to come and will likely need to continue operating at a reduced capacity as well. But we are hopeful that with our community continuing to be vaccinated we will be able to return to some sense of normalcy soon. Until then, we will be ever vigilant with our infection control procedures with the health and safety of the incredible people we support as our number one priority, as always!

Respectfully,
Grant Jackson
President & CEO