Dear Parents/Advocates,

As the COVID-19 restrictions are loosening, vaccination rates are increasing and things are slowly getting back to normal, we at Daybreak want to get your input on what your son/daughter's vaccination status is, and any recommendations or comments you have for us to make Daybreak's environment healthy & safe.

Your invaluable input will be extremely helpful to better serve your loved ones.
‍

Find the Covid-19 Vaccine Survey here

‍
Thank you

‍

Is the Covid-19 Vaccine safe? That's the question that we all are answering in our first round of the vaccine. We have a variety of staff and even the people we support taking the vaccine and encouraging other to do so too. We at Daybreak Independent Services would like to encourage our community to take the Covid-19 Vaccine. Do your research and decide for yourself.

Video source - NADSP Youtube

Direct support professionals have been on the frontlines of supporting people with disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The COVID-19 vaccines are now here and becoming widely available. As this is good news, we also know there is some confusion and worry among people about the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. In this webinar, NADSP in partnership with the American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry (AADMD) will address vaccine concerns. Please join Rick Rader, MD as he shares up to date and research-based information on the COVID-19 vaccines.

Please find below our site plans and attestations required by OPWDD. We are providing these for easy access and transparency as to what we are doing to keep our staff and the people we serve safe.

‍

Our response to Covid-19 and statewide reopening measures. Our aim is to let our staff, parents and the people we support know we want to keep them safe as we reopen.

Reopening FAQ:

How often are Daybreak's vans sanitized ?

The vans are sanitized after each run they make and then again in the morning before they start the run to pick up individuals each day .

Does my child have an assigned seat or do they have a different seat each day ?  

Your child will have an assigned seat on the van they ride in. This is so no one else will be sitting in the same seat as them . This is done to minimize the chance of cross contamination .

Can my child bring food to be heated up for lunch ?

Yes your child is allowed to bring food to be re heated or cold food to be eaten at program . If you would like your child to purchase food while in the program please let the coordinator know and they will have a consent form sent to you to be signed and returned . 

What happens if my young adult does not have their mask on a particular day ?

Daybreak will provide a mask for your young adult any time they forgot to bring one , lost theirs and/or it becomes unusable .

What happens if they are in the community and they need to use a restroom?

A staff member will check the restroom before your young adult enters the restroom and clean and sanitize whatever is needed to keep your young adult safe . If multiple adults need to use the restroom they will be allowed to use it one at a time and the restroom will be sanitized between uses by staff .

Effective Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 8:00 pm, Governor Cuomo has issued an Executive Order that sets forth work restrictions until further notice. Specifically, NYS residents are not allowed to travel unless they are considered Essential Health Care Workers, which include OPWDD Group Home staff, staff that work in families homes and administrative staff to support the essential functions to operate at Daybreak. Failure to comply with this mandate may subject you to a civil fine.

Additional information regarding your work status will be communicated prior to Monday. All group home staff currently working should continue to work.

All working staff will receive an email with an attachment that indicates you are an Essential Health Care Worker, indicating that you are able to travel to/from work. Only staff who continue working should furnish this upon request. In addition, all staff must carry their DBIS IDs.

To all group home families, effective immediately, as directed by the NYS Office of People With Developmental Disabilities, all visits to group homes are suspended until further notice. We highly discourage having your son/daughter visit you at your home.

Effective Monday, March 16, 2020 all DBIS Day Habilitation programs will be closed until further notice. We are currently providing remote Day Habilitation Program services for those individuals living at home. If you are a parent or advocate and you have yet to be contacted about these services please email our coordinators, Jasmine Cortes at j.cortes@daybreakis.org or Antoinette Miller at a.miller@daybreakis.org.

As we all know, due to COVID-19/Coronavirus, New York State and NYC guidelines are changing almost hourly.