We continue to adjust JFGH operations to adhere to evolving guidance from federal, state and local health jurisdictions. We are also implementing protocols proactively to address the needs of people we support and our staff as we contemplate the next weeks and months. Our current status, in broad terms, is as follows:

  • Our offices remain closed to the public, with only authorized personnel permitted to enter, and most of our administrative staff is largely teleworking. As a result, you may notice increased waiting times for things that need to be physically mailed out-- tribute cards, for example. We encourage you to provide an email address when making an online donation so that we may send out an email. 

  • The Sally and Robert MOST™ Programs in Rockville, Fairfax and Loudoun County remain closed at this time through at least 10 April. An assessment of this status will be made not later than 7 April, and our decision on continued closure will be communicated immediately following. We miss you all so much, and we look forward to welcoming you back as soon as it is safe for us all. In the meantime, be on the lookout for information regarding virtual opportunities to stay connected. More information on that to come!

  • Our Community Living supports, including In-Home Supports and Group Homes, continue to essentially shelter in place. As a practical matter, this means:
  • No visitors will be allowed entry to our Community Living sites. Entry is limited exclusively to our staff and people living in the home/apartment.
  • We are in virtually constant communication with our staff at all locations. We are holding ongoing conference calls to review operational status; the needs of the people we support and our staff; supply inventories and needs; activity planning and resourcing; clinical and habilitation support needs; and the physical and psychological health status of people we support and our staff. 
  • With the backing of our incredible Board of Directors and other allies, we have amassed a room full (literally!) of donated technology and just plain ol’ fun things to do for folks we support and our staff. For example, we have 17 Wii game consoles that have been donated! Today, volunteers will run deliveries of supply boxes, including activity resources, some perishable foodstuffs (e.g., fresh fruits and vegetables), disposable supplies and others, to front porches of our group homes. 

Please note that we continue to monitor and precisely follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS).
We are all settling into our current ‘normal.’ We are staying home. We are practicing social distancing. We are staying away from other people; we are isolating. All these things we do are to protect and preserve our health and the health of the communities of which we are an essential part.

Our JFGH DSPs, our nurses and our program managers are doing essentially the opposite. They would be forgiven for considering their own health, the health and wellbeing of their families and friends. But our JFGH staff--heroes by any definition--come to work, committed to the incredible people to whom JFGH provides support. They are our leaders in this health crisis. We hope you’ll join us in recognizing their extraordinary commitment, their passion, their willingness to sacrifice their parochial needs but for the sake of serving others. To our staff on the front lines of this fight, thank you, from a deeply grateful JFGH leadership.
We also want to embrace opportunities to spread the good . We are under no illusion as to the seriousness of this health crisis. But, we are also seeing acts of kindness, laughter, community coming together and people connecting in new ways. It’s inspiring to witness the good that comes from trying times. We at JFGH are focused on keeping spirits high and celebrating the good. Join us to spread the good!

We encourage everyone to follow us on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/JFGHorg/ ) for updates and to #spreadthegood through photos and videos of the positive things around us. Also, stop by that page Monday, 30 March, at 11:00 a.m. EDT for a special FB Live session with me.

We will be in touch again next Friday, or sooner as circumstances warrant. In the meantime, you may reach out to Donyale Hobson-Garcia, Chief Programs Officer ( dhobsongarcia@jfgh.org ) or me ( dervin@jfgh.org ) with any questions.

David

David Ervin, JFGH CEO