Caring for Clients Remotely

COVID-19 special update from Family & Children’s Agency President & CEO Robert F. Cashel

I hope this message finds you and your family well during this difficult and challenging time in our community and country. I want to take a moment to update you on how we are handling this unprecedented crisis.

First and foremost, our highest priority is the health and well-being of our clients, staff, and community as we all ban together to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Per the recommendation of the CDC, WHO, and the mandate of our state and local government officials, FCA is delivering our services to clients and conducting all other agency operations remotely until further notice.

Although we are not currently present physically in our offices, we are still at work, as always, providing the highest quality human services to those in our community who need them most. Here are highlights from our programs’ workplans.

• Our social workers, clinicians, and therapists are utilizing telehealth visits to continue parent education, addiction recovery programs, homelessness prevention, and mental health sessions. Our Foster Care department is utilizing this technology under the leadership of the Department of Children and Families to ensure children in care are safe and well, and all clients are being assessed to ensure their basic needs are being met, including access to food and medication.

• Our ASPIRE after-school program staff are working with Norwalk Public Schools to monitor distance learning through the public school parent portal. They are staying connected to students and parents, assisting with assignments, and helping to manage stress.

• Our Home Care staff have communicated individually with all families of our elderly clients to ensure they have the food, water, and medications they need. We continue to provide 24-hour live-in care, and we have customized the services for each client based on their needs and the requests of their families.

In addition, we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel, postpone, or reschedule some upcoming key events. While we will miss seeing you at these events, we know this was the right decision in order to protect our donors, volunteers, and staff. These changes include:

• Charlotte’s Tea, originally scheduled for April 30 at Nordstrom, has been canceled.
• Minks to Sinks, scheduled for May 2-4, has been canceled. We hope to see you at the fall sale October 3-5.
• Our IMAGINE event on May 29 has been rescheduled for Friday, October 16, and will be held at The Longshore Pavilion as originally planned.

Even as our fundraising events have been canceled, we continue to be fully staffed and serving our neighbors in need with the high-quality, professional services we have offered for more than 75 years. Thank you for your support and understanding as we all work together to mitigate and prevent the spread of this life-threatening virus. Stay safe and be well.

-Robert F. Cashel, FCA President & CEO

Your ongoing commitment during this time is more vital than ever. To help, please click here to donate today.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.