What you need to know?
We at GRAIN OF SAND ACADEMY and CREATIVE BEHAVIOR CONSULTING are taking the risks of the COVID-19 very seriously and wanted to let you know what we are doing (in addition to our after-hours professional cleanings of the building) and what you, as our patients and family members, can do to help combat spread of this virus.
We often treat children who are medically fragile, who have a variety of immune system issues, and who are sometimes unaware of hygiene and sanitary precautions, and therefore we constantly take necessary precautions during every therapy session to ensure all children are in a safe, clean environment.
While information regarding COVID-19 continues to be revealed from moment to moment, and responses to this virus continue to evolve, our team will continue to follow CDC guidelineshttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/cleaning-disinfection.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fcommunity%2Fhome%2Fcleaning-disinfection.html and implement the following for precautionary measures:
We will wash your child’s hands before and after therapy.
We will make frequent use of hand sanitizer that is at least 70% alcohol, especially with nose running, blowing, coughing or sneezing.
We will use Clorox type wipes and Lysol type sprays to disinfect seating, furnishings, and equipment during and after sessions.
We will use gloves on hands as needed but always during any oral-motor work or feeding related activities.
We reserve the right to use a disposable thermometer to test anyone with whom we are in contact during a therapy session – until further notice. ALL OF THOSE ENTERING OUR OFFICE WILL HAVE THEIR TEMPERATURE TAKEN BEFORE ANY SESSION. Therapists in the field will be provided with disposable thermometers and disposable gloves shortly.
We ask that you implement the following procedures for the sake of the entire community:
Do NOT bring your child to a therapy session if they appear sick, unless you are 100% sure that it is an allergy related condition and NO fever is present.
We understand that many – even the Director who has always suffered from cough variant asthma - might exhibit their chronic allergy related symptoms and do not have COVID-19 infections. This might be especially true as allergy season is also upon us. However, please exercise the utmost of caution, limiting self-diagnosis if ANY changes occur and monitor temperature regularly.
If you have travelled to Europe or Asia in the last 14 days, please let us know before meeting with us for therapy.
If you have been in contact with any children or family member or anyone else, who were exhibiting signs of fever, flu like symptoms or unusual coughing, we will need you to cancel your session.
All children must be illness-free and fever-free for a full 24 hours prior to returning to therapy regardless of the diagnosis or the time of year.
If your family has decided to self-quarantine and limit public exposure, we certainly understand, but request that you let your therapists know as soon as possible. We will do our very best to return to “therapy as usual” with the same schedule and therapist assigned, when this crisis has resolved.
With much soul-searching, I have considered what must be cancelled for all of our safety and unfortunately, I will be cancelling our BALLET program until further notice. I pray that this will only be for a couple of weeks.
I will also be cancelling any sessions which will bring a therapist into a community setting where anymore than 10 people are gathered. THIS WILL BE ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN.
I am giving all therapists permission to use their own judgement in cancelling sessions if they feel uncomfortable with the risk factors. Thus, please understand if your therapist decides that he/she cannot go to an event with you and uses their own discretion to cancel sessions and without extended warnings. I pray that these risks will be diminished very quickly and that we can all go back to serving regularly and consistently.
In the meantime, we are all equipped with the ability to provide sessions through our ZOOM HIPAA compliant telehealth platform and no additional costs will be incurred for patients other than the usual patient responsibility for any authorized or the usual codes. We will be able to create insurance claims for these sessions as usual.
We believe it would be especially therapeutic to engage with us – with our Clinical Team dashboard monitoring – in therapies that will help EVERYONE grow the skills needed to adjust to our changing circumstances. With time off from school and so many activities cancelled, our children can surely benefit from additional therapeutic approaches that will train PSYCHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY.
The therapeutic modalities recommended which can be used in a MOBILE manner and through TELEHEALTH include those which will enhance:
Coping skills
Mindful self-regulation
Executive functioning
Grow Attention to Task and Peak Performance
PLEASE EXPLORE OUR WEBSITE
Here I will announce additional programming from time to time as well.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT LINKS FOR MOBILE THERAPY TOOLS WITH WHICH OUR STAFF CAN CONNECT YOU:
MIGHTIER
MYNDLIFT
In addition, it continues to be useful to help children grow mindfulness skills. Thus, we HIGHLY recommend the following apps for HEALTHY screen time and training.
PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ANY OF US HERE AT GRAIN OF SAND ACADEMY and CREATIVE BEHAVIOR CONSULTING. Your concerns are our concerns and we will be here for you and your families to the best of our abilities throughout these changing circumstances – with compassion and gratitude for being able to still serve – even if through remote and mobile platforms.
With my profound commitment to continue to be of service,
Lisa