Coronavirus Update: 3/20/20 10:00am

Dear Participant, Participant Family Members, and AFI Employees,

Most recently, our nation has been focused on circumstances that surround COVID-19, commonly referred to as the Coronavirus. As this virus becomes more and more aggressive in Idaho, we want to ensure that we are taking the steps we can to prevent the spread of this very contagious and horrific virus. We are more than ever aware of how precious and important the people we have the honor to serve and work alongside are. AFI is diligently following the recommendations made by the Center for Disease Control, Southwest District Health, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, and our local city officials. Based on current recommendations as of Monday, March 23rd, the following policies will go into effect at AFI. No exceptions will be made in order to provide as safe of a therapy and working environment as possible for the participants we serve and the employees of AFI.

• Both the Nampa & Boise AFI Centers will be closed to therapy as of Monday, March 23rd. The center locations will continue to be cleaned and disinfected extensively in order to maintain a healthy, virus free environment.

• The Nampa office will remain open for Administration, Case Managers, and Office Support Staff, however no more than 10 individuals can be in the office at a time.

• Direct Therapy staff and participants are not permitted in the AFI Center locations due to the limitation on the number of individuals allowed in the office at one time, as well as to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19. If an employee needs paperwork provided to them or to hand in paperwork please call the office ahead of time to request specifically what you need. The receptionist on duty will gather what you need. When you arrive in the AFI parking lot please call the AFI office. The receptionist will bring the paperwork you need to you in your car or come to gather any paperwork that you need to hand in. AFI employees that are delivering or gathering paperwork are required to wear gloves in order to protect themselves and others from potential exposure to COVID-19.

• We ask that people practice social distancing and stay at least 6 feet apart at all times. This includes if you are a therapist providing therapy in the home setting, in a community location, or an employee in the office. The only time that this may not be possible is if a therapist must be closer to their participant for safety reasons. If that is required be diligent to practice good handwashing procedures and wear protective gloves if at all possible.

• Employees & participants will be sent home without exception if they show any symptoms of COVID-19. These symptoms include a fever of 100.4 or higher, coughing, sneezing, running nose, or any other common symptoms of COVID-19. There will be no exceptions to this. The safety of all individuals is of the utmost importance.

• Additionally, if an employee or participant goes home due to having COVID-19 symptoms they cannot resume providing or receiving therapy for 14 days.

• Home therapy is strongly encouraged at this time. Therapy cannot take place in a community location unless prior approval has been given by the parent or legal guardian of the participant.

  1. The therapist and parent/legal guardian can communicate about whether or not therapy can take place in a community location. Not only must the parent/legal guardian approve of community services, the therapist must also feel comfortable going into the community as well. We fully support both employees and families to make decisions regarding the therapy location based on their individual needs and level of comfort.

  2. Community based therapy can only be provided if you are outside and it allows for social distancing of at least 6 feet. If you do provide community therapy outside you cannot touch items such as playground equipment, use public restroom facilities, or touch anything that could be contaminated with COVID-19.

  3. You cannot provide therapy in stores or other community buildings or locations. There are no exceptions.

  4. You can only use toys, games, and therapy items that belong to the participant. Therapists cannot bring their own items to use during therapy. This is to prevent the potential transfer of the COVID-19 virus.

  5. Though the limited therapy locations pose significant challenges, it also provides excellent opportunities to implement goals and objectives in the home setting. For example, you can work on self-help skills and completing non-preferred activities such as cleaning their room, doing the dishes, yard work, etc. Outside therapy could include walks, hikes, scavenger hunts, walking their dog, riding bikes, and other fun physical activities.

• Ideally home based therapy will be done with an adult family member present. We do understand that this may not always be possible. A participant over the age of 12 that can verbally communicate is able to receive therapy at home without a family member present. Any participant under the age of 12 or if a participant is non-verbal must receive prior authorization from a member of the Administrative Team to receive home based therapy without an adult family member present.

• Other minor children, such as a participant’s siblings, are not able to be left at the home unattended by an adult family member while the therapist is providing home based therapy to the participant. The therapist may only provide care and supervision to the participant they are serving.

• For a temporary time AFI therapists will be able to travel to participant’s homes in outer lying areas to provide home based therapy. There are minimum therapy session lengths of time required for out of area therapy depending on the distance of the location. Please contact Cinthya Brown in the Scheduling Office to make specific arrangements.

• Melissa Smith will be available to AFI employees via phone or at the AFI Nampa Center location to help with employee therapy questions and problem solving as needed. She is also available to provide therapy activity ideas and supplies to use for home based therapy.

• Melissa Smith and/or direct therapy staff will do "well family checks", meaning they will call the family prior to therapy at least weekly, but as frequently as needed, during this time to make sure that all members of the household are healthy, have not been exposed to COVID-19, or are not showing any symptoms. If any member of the participant’s household have shown symptoms or has been exposed to COVID-19 then we will not provide therapy. Likewise, employees will also do “family well checks” regarding their family. We do not want AFI employees to expose the families we serve or other AFI employees as well. If an AFI employee, participant, or a participant’s family member shows any symptoms during a therapy session, therapy will immediately be suspended to ensure the safety of the AFI employee and/or participant. Services will not be able to resume for 14 days to ensure that the participant, their family member, and the employee are COVID-19 free.

• Cinthya Brown will continue to do her current job of assisting with scheduling and staffing for both employees and participants families. She can be reached at (208) 467-7524 or via email at cbrown@idahoafi.com.

• Case Managers will continue to be available to answer questions and provide participants and employees information during this time. Updates will be posted to the website frequently. We encourage families and employees to frequently check the website for updates. Due to the large number of participants and employees that AFI has we will not be able to call each person in a timely manner regarding changes. Not only will changes to therapy delivery be placed on the website, we also will have educational information and links to resources that may be helpful to you and your family. Those documents will be available by the end of the day on March 20th and more documents will be added as they become available. Information from the CDC, Southwest District Health, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, and other state and federal entities will be available. The website will also inform employees and participants of any government mandated isolation procedures that potentially may affect service delivery.

• Without exception all participants and employees should frequently wash their hands before, during, and at the end of therapy. All employees have been provided materials instructing them on effective handwashing procedures.

• All employees should disinfect any area that they use, whether it be their work space in the office or an area they provide therapy in, such as the participants home.

• Please practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet from others if at all possible. Please do not hug or shake hands at this time.

• Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s AFI Case Manager or a member of the Administrative Team if you have any questions or concerns. Below is their contact information. Due to the limit on the number of employees allowed in the office at one time we encourage you to email if possible and they will respond to you as soon as possible.

  • Laura Sandidge, Administrator, 208-467-7524 x 100, lsandidge@idahoafi.com

  • Carlyann McLaren, Program Manager, 208-467-7524 x 101, cmclaren@idahoafi.com

  • Kevin McLaren, Financial Manager, 208-467-7524 x 103, kmclaren@idahoafi.com

  • Jason Sandidge, HR Manager, 208-467-7524 x 107, jsandidge@idahoafi.com

  • Melinda Silva, Case Manager, 208-467-7524 x 133, msilva@idahoafi.com

  • Starlyn Munson, Case Manager, 208-467-7524 x 106, smunson@idahoafi.com

  • Maria Juarez, Case Manager, 208-467-7524 x 113, mjuarez@idahoafi.com

  • Cinthya Brown, Scheduling Specialist, 208-467-7524 x 123, cbrown@idahoafi.com

  • Melissa Smith, Therapist Support, 208-467-7524 x 134, msmith@idahoafi.com

  • Corinna Keithley, Intake Specialist/Case Manager Support, (208) 467-7524 x 126, ckeithley@idahoafi.com

  • Vicki Mason, Office Manager, 208-47-7524 x 111, vmason@idahoafi.com

Thank you for doing your part to slow down the spread of COVID-19. We do know that these precautions pose many challenges but we hope that by diligently following them we can together slow down the spread of this deadly virus and protect ourselves and the ones we love. We feel strongly that the only way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to be aware of what our healthcare professionals and the CDC is recommending and to strictly follow those recommendations. Thank you for all you are doing to keep each other safe and other members of our community safe. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Case Manager or a member of the Administrative Team if you have any questions or concerns.

Best wishes,

Your AFI Administrative Team


Coronavirus Response

Over that past several weeks we've all heard and read about the Coronavirus (COVID-19). We know that people are concerned for several reasons. Our administration wants to make sure you know what AFI is doing to protect clients and staff from potential exposure. We’re closely following the recommendations from health officials to address concerns. Therefore, AFI is performing extra disinfecting of surfaces daily. We’re also encouraging everyone to continue to wash their hands extensively and OFTEN. We feel at this point those are the most effective actions to keep all of us healthy.

  • Here’s what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

  • Stay home when you are sick

  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

  • If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

As you know coronavirus symptoms have included fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath and those are seen in many illnesses. Therefore, if you have any of these symptoms please stay home for the sake of all concerned. We will support that decision. AFI is a family business so we understand and care about your family as well. We want to work together to stay healthy!