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Hopebridge Autism Centers

Our Commitment to Your Health & Safety

In an effort to maintain an environment centered around wellness, Hopebridge centers have implemented a number of safety policies and procedures as we continue to provide essential therapy services for your child.

View COVID-Related Changes

An important message to you regarding the safety of your children at Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers.

Our top priority remains to be the safety and well-being of our patients, families and team members. Hopebridge has enhanced operational and policy procedures in place to better ensure the protection of any person entering our facilities.

As an essential behavioral healthcare provider, we recognize the importance of keeping our doors and services open to help the children impacted by autism spectrum disorder. There is a finite window of time to approach early intervention during these children’s greatest developmental years, and this time does not slow or pause, even under these conditions.

We know families and staff are anxious about the COVID-19 situation, as well as concerned about sustaining the necessary care for their children. Hopebridge remains committed to providing these crucial autism therapy services to children while ensuring the safest environment possible for them and our Hopebridge Heroes.

 

COVID-19-Related Policies and Procedures
Hopebridge implemented the following measures in line with local, state and federal guidelines. Please take a moment to review them.

View Policies and Procedures

 

Standard Health and Safety Practices
Safety is always a priority. Please read about the efforts we have in place on a daily basis.

View Ongoing Safety Efforts

 

Frequently Asked Questions
Want to know more? We compiled a number of frequently asked questions as it relates to the health and safety of everyone in our centers.

View FAQs

COVID-19-Related Policies and Procedures

 
Temperature Screening Protocol

  • Each person  is required to have their temperature taken prior to entering the center. This includes team members and children.
  • Anyone with a temperature above  100 degrees will not be permitted entry. Temperatures will be taken by a no-touch, thermal thermometer.
  • Those with a fever will  not be allowed to return to the center until they are fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
  • If a patient develops a temperature during the day, the parents/guardians will be notified of the need for pick-up from the center. The patient will be able to return once they are fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

Limited Contact Pick-Up and Drop-Off

  • Centers will utilize modified pick-up and drop-off procedures to limit the number of people and personal interactions in any given space.
  • Each center designed its own process to meet the needs of the location’s unique logistical specifications. The process will be communicated to you by your center leadership.

Hand-Washing Practices

  • Upon immediate entry into the therapy space, all individuals are required to wash their hands with water and soap for a minimum of 20 seconds.
  • This hand-washing procedure must also take place before each session.
  • If soap and water and not available and hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol may be used.
  • All employees are trained on proper hand-washing techniques, as well as how to ensure thorough hand-washing for the children we serve.

Social Distancing

  • The medical services that we provide require 1:1 therapy. As such, it will not be possible to maintain a 6-foot distance between patient and therapist to conduct in-person therapy.
  • Our centers are implementing measures to reduce the possibility of close contact. Whenever possible, therapists and patients are being spread throughout the center to increase distance learning between people, such as switching to any vacant or underused rooms.
  • All centers utilize modified pick-up and drop-off procedures to limit the number of interactions. This process was created specifically for each center to incorporate each location’s unique logistical needs.
  • We also incorporated a new policy to allow a maximum of five children and their therapists within the gym at any given time. After each usage, the gym will be cleaned by staff.

Face Coverings

  • For the well-being of our children and staff, face coverings are required for team members when within the center.
  • Children may wear face coverings but are not required to do so.
  • Face covering accommodations can be provided for anyone who has a medical condition that prevents them from wearing one.

Center Deep Cleaning  &  Disinfecting

  • Every center undergoes an extensive deep cleaning and a disinfection process; including utilizing external experts to provide the highest level of sanitization possible.
  • Hopebridge increased the regular cleaning routines in each center. Center teams received additional education around these new health procedures, which include washing hands more regularly, using hand sanitizer, and disinfecting furniture, tables and chairs multiple times per day.
  • Cleaning supplies are readily available throughout the clinics, but are maintained in locked cabinets and out of reach from children.

Safe and Secure Facilities

The basic structure of Hopebridge inherently leads to a safer environment within each clinic. Our one-to-one therapy ensures someone is with each child at all times in order to give them full attention and facilitate safe interactions. Our therapists teach these children skills that are designed to decrease maladaptive behaviors from happening in the first place. From hand-holding to walking on a sidewalk, the kids we serve learn how to keep themselves safe, rather than solely relying on others.

All center doors are locked at all times, which not only ensures security from outsiders but also protects our children who have a tendency to elope or wander. We practice fire drills and bring in local first responders in order to give kids exposure to the sights and sounds of the police and fire department and their vehicles.

Preventative Care and Behavior Management

We strive for preventative care, but when situations do arise, our teams are trained to use the least intrusive manner possible to handle them. Our centers have safety care trainers on staff and there are a number of measures we take in order to protect the kiddos and staff members all the time. Each of our therapists is also required to have certifications in first aid and CPR so they are equipped to handle most health-related solutions, such as bandaging a small scrape or administering medication. They also go through de-escalation training to address behavior management issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do to protect myself outside the center in regards to COVID-19?
We recommend everyone stay informed about how COVID-19 is transmitted and take steps they need in order to protect themselves and others. Please refer to the following available resources to learn more:

What happens if my child is exposed to a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19 outside the center?
If your child or another member of the household has been in contact with someone who has a confirmed case of coronavirus, we ask you please inform your Hopebridge center’s leadership about your exposure. Hopebridge will immediately partner with the local and state health departments to determine next steps. These steps could be but are not limited to closing the center for a period of time to disinfect, asking the individual to self-quarantine for a period of time (determined by health department), and/or following normal cleaning and hygiene protocols.

What happens if a Hopebridge center staff member is exposed to a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
If you are a member of the Hopebridge staff and you or another member of the household has been in contact with someone who has a confirmed case of coronavirus, please inform your center leadership. Hopebridge will immediately partner with the local and state health departments to determine next steps. These steps could be but are not limited to closing the center for a period of time to disinfect, asking the individual to self-quarantine for a period of time (determined by health department), and/or following normal cleaning and hygiene protocols.

What happens if a Hopebridge center staff member contracts coronavirus, COVID-19, as a confirmed case?
If you are a member of the Hopebridge staff who tested positive for COVID-19, please contact your center leadership to determine next steps. Per the CDC, individuals  who are confirmed cases of COVID-19, experience symptoms, and are directed to care for themselves at home can discontinue home isolation after at least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery which is defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath); AND after at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Individuals with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who have not had any symptoms may discontinue home isolation when at least 7 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test and have had no subsequent illness.

 

If you have more general questions regarding Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers, please visit our FAQs page. You can also contact your local center if you have more specific questions and would like someone to reach out to you.