A Message From Trillium Family Services on COVID-19 Virus

As part of our commitment to open communication, we wanted to share with our community that the Trillium Family Services staff is actively responding to the developments around the COVID-19 pandemic (coronavirus). We remain open to serve children and families as an essential service, as designated by Governor Brown’s directives.

Our organization’s response to the pandemic is based on our trauma-informed Sanctuary commitments to our clients, families and staff as well as established health protocols and procedures. We meet weekly with our partners from OHA and the child services sector to continue to stay updated on the latest developments. As leaders within the Oregon Alliance of Children’s Programs, we have also co-signed a letter to the state requesting additional financial and institutional support during this challenging time.

Even though COVID-19 is a new public health emergency, Trillium Family Services has comprehensive infectious disease protocols that meet Joint Commission and Oregon state regulations. Our focus is on the health and well-being of the children, families and communities we serve, as well as our dedicated staff. Here is an overview of Trillium Family Services policies and practices that are activated to address the current pandemic:

Communication support and health education

Our staff work with young people and their families on an ongoing basis on our campuses, in schools, in homes and communities across the state. While our clients and much of our staff are in some of the lowest risk populations, Trillium staff will share the latest information around limiting the virus’ spread. We also encourage our staff to remain vigilant and open about their own health, sharing their health concerns with their supervisors and making wise decisions about staying home if they are feeling unwell.

We draw on and encourage dissemination of latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Joint Commission. Their recommendations include:

• Wash hands frequently and for 20 seconds. Washing hands often under clean, running water can help prevent the spread of germs. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60-95% alcohol.

• Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

• Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue to cover coughs and sneezes, then dispose of the tissue. When a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your elbow.

• Clean and disinfect surfaces or objects. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill.

Regarding Trillium’s residential and day treatment/partial hospitalization programs

Trillium’s residential campuses and day treatment locations in Portland and Corvallis are actively working to ensure the safety of our clients, visiting parents/,essential caregivers and our staff. Young people who stay on our campuses or attend day treatment programs are being monitored for symptoms, including temperature checks at the beginning of each day. If any youth develops symptoms, quarantine protocols will be activated, and appropriate medical care will be provided.

We are providing family therapy and encouraging visits via video where possible. Parents or essential caregivers who need to visit campus will be pre-screened for signs of COVID-19. We are only allowing two visitors and they need to be the same people (parents or essential caregivers) each time. No visitors under the age of 12 are allowed at this time.

All visitors are required to wear a mask. We are also limiting home visits to those clinically needed to support discharge. We are screening all staff and requiring staff to stay home where appropriate to minimize transmission of illness. Additional training for youth and staff is being conducted around hand washing and universal precautions.

Our residential and day treatment/partial hospitalization staff are cleaning and disinfecting areas that get physical contact during their work with clients, families and colleagues multiple times each day. Our staff are washing hands on entering buildings and multiple times per day, minimizing contact between units, and all staff on our campuses are required to wear masks. Additionally, our custodial staff are increasing the frequency of cleaning in high-traffic areas in all of our buildings.

Looking forward

This year, Trillium Family Services will build brighter futures with approximately 30,000 children and families across Oregon, and we know that COVID-19’s impact and duration are still emerging. We are continually monitoring developments and will adapt our practices to best meet the health needs of our children, families, community partners and staff. We appreciate your continued support of Trillium Family Services. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions or want more information.

Warmly,
Trillium Family Services Leadership and Staff