8-4-2020

Dear Families,

The health, safety, and wellbeing of our families and staff continues to be our top priority as we monitor COVID-19 updates in our community and nationwide. We want to thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding of our policies and procedures throughout the past few months.  Daily health screenings, temperature checks and employee mask mandate will remain in place and are vital to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Listed below are some reminders regarding therapy and the exclusion of sick children.   
Center Guidelines 

  • The center will be locked during business hours. We are going to continue to ask that no one except RCC employees, clients, and maintenance staff* come inside the building. If you need to drop off supplies, paperwork, etc. throughout the day for your child, please call the front desk and someone will meet you outside.   

*All maintenance staff will be required to wear a mask, conduct a health screening, and have their temperature taken. 

  • Upon arrival, please remain in your vehicle with your child and check-in via cell phone by calling the front desk letting them know you have arrived. Staff will go through a series of universal health questions over the phone and then come outside to take your child’s temperature. Once both are complete, a therapist will come out to the vehicle and bring your child into the center to wash their hands before going to their designated therapy space.  
  • During your child’s session, they will have limited contact with other staff and other children.  Our goal would be to keep a small team of therapists working with your child throughout the week. Your child may see two therapists at a time on a given day if training occurs. Supervisory staff will be available to assist if needed.  
  • Your child will have their own designated therapy area for their entire session to ensure proper social distancing.  Each zone including desks, toys, computers, etc. will be thoroughly disinfected after each therapy session. The park and gross motor room will be scheduled for each child throughout the day if they are interested in those activities. There will be no more than 2 children in the gross motor room or park at the same time.
  • At departure, we ask that you call the front desk when you have arrived.  A staff member will notify the therapist that you are here.  The therapist will help assist with hand washing before departure and bring your child out to the vehicle. It is important that you arrive on time for pick-ups to allow staff time for cleaning/ disinfecting as well as time for them to take their schedule lunch and breaks. 
  • Staff will practice good hygiene, social distancing protocol and have PPE and other supplies readily available.
    Exclusion of Sick Children 

IF any COVID-19 symptoms are present in your child or any household member, therapy will not resume until ALL the following conditions have been met: 

  • The symptoms have been gone for at least 3 days without the use of fever reducing or cough reducing medications
  • The client or household member has been asymptomatic for at least 3 consecutive days. Symptoms of COVID-19 include new onset cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, loss of smell or taste and gastrointestinal symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting or nausea. 
  • If your child, or any household members, develops a new symptom with no other diagnosis to explain it, therapy may be put on hold until advice from a health care provider is received.  
  • If your child, or any household members, is diagnosed with something other than COVID-19 (ex. Strep throat), therapy will not resume until there is written approval from a health care provider AND your child or household member has been asymptomatic for at least 3 consecutive days. 
  • If your child, or any household members, test positive for COVID-19, therapy will not resume until there is written approval from a health care provider AND at least 14 days have passed since the individual tested positive.
  • If your child, or any household members, have come in contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, therapy will not resume until there is written approval from a health care provider AND at least 14 days have passed since contact was made. 

For the safety of everyone, we will be very strict regarding our routines and protocols. We will do our best to ensure that any action taken will be both reasonable and appropriate. If you have any questions, feel free to contact your child’s supervisor.   

Thanks again for your continued support, 

Rochester Center for Children

5-18-2020

We have reopened! Additional protocols and precautions have been implemented to ensure the health and safety of staff, clients, and their families. Thank you for understanding as we adapt to updated safety measures recommended by experts. If you require any additional information regarding services or changes in protocol, please contact your child's supervisor or the front desk.

5-1-2020

Dear Families,  

Thanks for your patience as we waited for Governor Walz to give an update on the stay at home order on April 30, 2020.  We will continue to follow the recommendations and remain closed until May 18th, 2020.  We are hopeful we will be able to begin providing services in the near future in some capacity.  In the meantime, we will be working on updating and preparing policies to ensure for the safest return possible for our staff, families, and kids.  Please continue to reach out to your child’s supervisor with any questions or concerns.    

Thank You,

The Rochester Center for Children              

3-27-2020

Dear Families and Staff,  

The Rochester Center for Children has decided to remain closed through May 1, 2020 based on the recommendations from Governor Waltz, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Department of Education due to the continued concerns regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  We are planning to continue to provide Family Skills Training via Telemedicine for families who are currently accessing that service.  If you are not currently receiving FST but would like more information, please contact your child’s supervisor to discuss options and availability.  If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to your child’s supervisor and they will do their best to answer any questions you may have.  Thank you for your support and patience as we navigate this process during these uncertain times. 

Thank You,

The Rochester Center for Children          

 3-16-2020

Dear Families,
The Rochester Center for Children has decided to close on March 18th-March 27th, 2020 based upon recommendations from Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Education regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our goal is to continue to provide services for clients enrolled at the Center during this closure through Family Skills Training (FST) via Telemedicine (Telemedicine is a means for delivery of health care services through video conferencing). In order to be eligible for FST, you will need to access to the internet and an electronic device that supports video conferencing- this may include a tablet, cell phone or laptop. The number of FST services the Center can provide will be dependent upon available staff but will not exceed 3 sessions per week. If you are interested in this service, please contact your child’s supervisor by March 17th, 2020.

Thank you,

The Rochester Center for Children

*3-13-2020*

RCC Families,

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is now making daily headlines. We are making every effort to keep the Center clean and disinfected to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. You can help prevent the spread of respiratory illness with these everyday preventive actions: 

  1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  3. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  4. Stay home when you are sick.
  5. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The Rochester Center for Children is requiring that YOUR CHILD DOES NOT ATTEND FOR 14 DAYS following the last potential exposure, if any member of your household has (or has been in close contact with anyone else who has):

  • A suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, or
  • Recently returned from a *Level 2 or *Level 3 area, as designated by the Center for Disease Control

If, at the end of this 14-day period, no household member has experienced any symptoms, your child may resume their regular scheduled therapy sessions. If any household member does experience symptoms during that 14-day period, you will need to obtain medical clearance before your child will be allowed to return to the center. Individuals in the same household, including individuals who may not live in the household but may be staying there or are otherwise present in the household on a regular basis (e.g. nannies, caregivers, home health workers, contractors, etc.) are considered to be in close contact.

Below is a link to the Minnesota Dept. of Health where you can access the most current information. 

MDH Coronavirus (COVID-19): https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html 

We appreciate your attention to these important guidelines. Please contact the Rochester Center for Children if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Rochester Center for Children