Reopening Plan
Safer at Home through Badger Bounce Back Phase Three
Introduction
 
On March 25th, Wisconsin’s Safer at Home order took effect to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Initially, it was to last until April 24th but was extended to May 26th. Though Neighborhood Connection fit the criteria of an “essential business” and could have remained fully open during this time, we made the decision to modify our programs and services to protect the health and safety of our donors, clients, volunteers, and staff. These modifications have included the following:

  • The office has been closed to donors and clients.
  • Staff members have been primarily working from home, going into the office only to fulfill client needs and/or to complete administrative work that must be done onsite.
  • A limited number of volunteers with access to the building have been going in to fulfill client needs.
  • We have not been accepting any donations of clothing or household goods for our store.
  • We set up cell phone access to staff through a Google Voice number so that clients could reach us at any time.
  • Lisa Humenik, executive director, has been checking and responding to voicemails and the general email account daily.

Wisconsin has introduced the Badger Bounce Back plan to guide the state through a gradual reopening that consists of four phases: Safer at Home, Phase One, Phase Two, and Phase Three. The following plan describes the guidelines and procedures that Neighborhood Connection will implement during each of these phases. We have used recommendations in the Reopening Guidelines published by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and Cushman & Wakefield’s "Workplace Readiness Essentials" to develop this plan. 
General Guidelines
The following procedures will be in place throughout all of the phases:

Staff, volunteers, clients, and donors over age 60 and those who are medically vulnerable should continue to shelter in place through Phases 1 and 2, thus will be encouraged to continue to stay home and not come in.

Procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19
  • Social distancing practices will be used throughout the office and store.
  • Staff members, volunteers, clients, and donors who have been exposed in the past 14 days or are sick should not come to the building.
  • Frequent hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizer is required.
  • We will provide masks and gloves for those who need them.
  • Cleaning supplies and disposable utensils and cups for the kitchenette will be provided.
  • Everyone will be required to wear a face mask when in the building. The only exception is for staff when they are working in their private office and no one else is near them.
  • Frequently touched surfaces including door handles, desks/counters, phones, light switches, faucets, kitchenette, coffee bar, and restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

Instructions on the proper use of face masks, gloves, and cleaning supplies will be provided.

Anyone who enters and leaves the building will sign in and out in case this information is needed for contact tracing. 

If the State of Wisconsin restrictions revert to an earlier phase or change at any time, we will modify our procedures to match the current guidelines.
Safer at Home (Tentatively May 13th-26th)

As the Safer at Home restrictions near their end, we will use the time to prepare the building and store for reopening.

Facility:
  • The facility will be deep cleaned by a professional cleaning company
  • Disinfecting wipes, disinfecting spray, hand sanitizer, and soap will be fully stocked and placed in accessible areas throughout the office and store
  • Signage will be hung throughout the building that explains the procedures
  • Portable acrylic shields will be placed in the welcome desk windows as soon as they are available
  • Social distancing floor stickers will be placed in the lobby

Staff
  • Lisa and Stacey will return to working in the office on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to carry out preparations; they will continue to work at home on Tuesday and Thursday.
  • Any meetings involving more people than can safely social distance in the office will take place online.

Volunteers
  • Welcome desk, sorting room, and department coordinators will be invited to return for the week of May 18-22. All must register online for assigned times to be in the building.
  • We will limit the number of volunteers allowed in the building at any one time to four – one in each of the following areas: welcome desk, sorting room, store, and storage room (downstairs). Note: If family members live together, they can volunteer together in the same area.
  • The coordinator meeting on May 26th will be held via Zoom.

Clients
  • Clients will not be allowed in the building. If they have need for items from the store, staff will provide them for pick-up or delivery.

Donors
  • Donors will not be allowed in the building nor will donations of items be accepted.

Communication
  • We will send a letter to clients explaining the Phase One procedures.
  • Volunteers will receive an email message with Phase One procedures with a link to online registration for volunteer shifts.
  • We will announce to the community via Facebook and our website that we will reopen for donations on May 27th and outline the procedures for donations.
  • We will send an email newsletter or mailed letter to financial donors with our Phase One procedures and a “thank you” for their impact during Safer at Home.

Phase One (May 27th – TBA)
 
Facility/Store
  • Purple collection bins will be placed in the lobby daily for donations. Upon being filled, we will place a sign in the acrylic holder on the bin indicating the day it was filled and move the bin to the “Corner Store” room where it will sit for at least 72 hours before being moved to the sorting room for processing.
  • Corner Store items (toiletries, paper products, cleaning supplies) will continue to be stocked in the lobby area so that the Corner Store can be used for donation holding.
  • Signage explaining procedures will be updated, as needed.
  • We will be open Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM.
  • During open hours, the inside foyer door will be set to the “open” position to minimize contact with the door handle.

Staff
  • Lisa and Stacey will work in the office on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; they can continue to work at home on Tuesday and Thursday.
  • Any meetings with groups larger than 10 people, or fewer if there is no space that will allow for social distancing, will be held online.

Volunteers
  • All volunteers must register for shifts online.
  • We will limit the number of volunteers allowed in the building at any one time to five – one in each of the following areas: welcome desk, sorting room, store, back office (data entry), and storage room (downstairs). Note: If family members live together, they can volunteer together in the same area.
  • Only three volunteers will be scheduled to work during shopping times: one for registration, one for the Corner Store, and one for checkout.

Clients
  • Clients who are older than 60, medically vulnerable, ill, or who have been exposed in the last 14 days can continue to request items for pick-up or delivery rather than coming in for services or to shop.
  • Any client who is not feeling well or is unable to come in for any reason should remain at home and can request items be delivered to them.
  • Communication with Stacey for questions or case management can be done over the phone, via video conference, or in-person at our office with proper social distancing.
  • Shopping hours will be extended by one hour to better allow for social distancing. Daytime shopping will be from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM, evening from 4:00-7:00 PM.
  • Client families will be asked to send only one family member for shopping, if possible. We realize there may be times when more than one family member needs to look for clothing or other items that only they can select, but we will encourage the families to keep the number low.
  • Only five clients will be allowed in the store at one time and only one person should be in each shopping room at one time. Those waiting outside can remain in their cars or stand in a line on the front walk staying at least six feet apart.
  • To facilitate social distancing, clients will be asked to come to shopping based on the first letter of their last name: A-E 10:00 AM/4:00 PM; F-J 10:30 AM/4:30 PM; K-N 11:00 AM/5:00 PM; O-R 11:30 AM/5:30 PM; S-V 12:00 PM/6:00 PM; W-Z 12:30 PM/6:30 PM. If these times don’t work for a client, s/he can request a different time from Stacey.
  • Any client who cannot make it during a designated shopping time may contact Stacey to make an appointment for a day/time that works for their schedule.
  • Clients will be required to use hand sanitizer upon registration, before starting shopping.
  • If a client touches an item for an extended period or tries on a piece of clothing or an accessory, it should be placed in a designated bin and will not be placed back out on the floor for 72 hours.
  • Clients will not be given a clipboard and shopping sheet; rather, they will check out at the end of shopping with a volunteer or staff member in the lobby who will complete the shopping sheet.

Donors
  • Donors should place their items in the purple bins in the lobby. Ideally, only one donor should be in the area at a time. Others will be asked to wait outside for their turn.
  • The welcome desk volunteer will place a donation receipt on the counter for the donor to pick up.
  • Donors can still sign up to receive the newsletter; the sign-up sheet will be on the counter.

 
Phases Two and Phase Three (TBA)

During Phases Two and Three, we anticipate using the same procedures as during Phase One, with the following possible changes based on recommendations at the time from the CDC and state/county health departments:

  • Increase number of volunteers per shift
  • Increase number of clients allowed during shopping
  • Allow meetings with larger numbers of people in the building

 
If Someone Who Has Been in the Building Becomes Sick

If a staff member, volunteer, client, or donor who has been in the building is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, the following procedures will be followed:

  • The impacted individual will have to remain at home until they meet the requirements to discontinue home isolation per CDC recommendations and/or the guidance of their health care provider.
  • We will close off any areas that were used by for a prolonged period of time by the individual. After 24 hours, the area will be cleaned and disinfected. Surfaces will be cleaned with soap and water prior to disinfecting. The individual(s) cleaning the area will wear gloves and a face mask.
  • We will notify others who may have come in contact with the person of their possible exposure, but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • Those who may have had contact with the person who do not have symptoms should remain at home and practice social distancing for 14 days.
  • We will provide all necessary information to the county public health department for contact tracing, as required.
  • We will evaluate staffing and open hours should an illness or exposure leave us too short-handed to remain open.

* * *

All of these procedures will be monitored, evaluated, and updated as guidelines and recommendations from the CDC and state/county public health departments are modified. 
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Humenik, Executive Director,
at lhumenik@waunakeenc.com or (608)849-5740.