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Clinical and Day Services COVD-19 Updates

by COVID-19

Hi Everyone!  Our Day and Clinical Services Team wanted to send out a quick message say thank you for allowing us to continue to serve you throughout the pandemic.  Although our operational capacity has been limited, we’ve been fortunate to have been able to support many people through both our Day Services (on-site, virtually and in-home) and our Clinical services (both virtually and limited in-person).  As you may have seen, Support, Inc. has updated operating protocols, following the most recent Colorado Public Health and Colorado Medicaid regulatory and licensing guidelines.  In accordance with that, we want to let everyone know that we are thoughtfully opening up our Day Services to greater capacities and options.

First, with increased capacity, we are able to offer additional spots to anyone interested in attending our site-based services at our Aurora location.  We understand that it can be an important decision to make, and encourage you to talk with any of our team members,  or your Residential Program Coordinator to have an IDT to discuss coming back.  If you’re interested, we would love to talk through our safety protocols, infection control measures, and fun things we have planned!

Second, with the warmer weather we will be planning, announcing and offering more outdoor events.  All our events will be announced via email or our website and will have an RSVP contact.  This will allow us to approach each event and each person who would like to attend individually to ensure an optimal experience for all involved.  Group sizes will be kept relatively small and appropriate for the activity and the location to allow for social distancing.  If you’re interested in any events we have to offer, please let us know via RSVP. 

Third, for those who are interested and more comfortable with 1:1 services with a Direct Support Professional, we would love to hear from you!  There are so many options of activities that our DSPs can support to help people get out of the being cooped up inside and experience the community once again. 

Some things that we have been doing won’t change.  You’ll still see our staff wearing masks and we will continue to encourage everyone to wear a mask or face covering, even though many of our staff are fully vaccinated.  We’ll still do symptom screenings prior to in-person contact and we will continue to be mindful of social distancing as we plan out activities. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Gwen Bonilla, your RPC, or one of our staff directly. 

Curt Mower, MS, BCBA

Director of Clinical and Day Services

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COVID-19 Updates

by COVID-19

To all Support, Inc. Staff, Providers and Families:

Over the last 4 months, we’ve been talking a lot about the COVID-19 vaccine. If you are still looking for an appointment or have questions before making the decision to get the vaccine, please reach out to us, we are here to help. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) created the attached  guide illustrating how safe activities are if you have or have not received the COVID-19 vaccine.

As more Coloradoan’s are getting the vaccine and COVID-19 transmission across the state decreases counties are now able to determine their own level of ‘openness’.  Additionally, Colorado has lifted the state wide mask mandate in many settings. We have received updated guidance from HCPF (Health Care Policy and Financing) regarding our service delivery. As we receive new guidance, we continually review our COVID-19 operating protocol to ensure it still aligns with Federal, State, licensing and County guidance. We have updated our COVID-19 Operating Protocol for all employees and contractors. This protocol outlines how we will be operating our offices, day services, and in-person visits. Please take a moment to look over these changes. Please keep in mind that our protocols will be different than what is being communicated to the general public due to restrictions by our licensing agencies and the characteristics of the population that we serve.

In many cases, it’s been a full year of relying on virtual technology for home visits and other in-person services. We are excited to start getting back to in-person visits including in-person monitoring and expanded in-person day program services. Over the next month, your Residential Program Coordinator will be reaching out to schedule a monitoring visit in your home. We’ve created a ‘what to expect during in-person visits’ document which is also attached to this email.  Also, if you and your individual in services is interested in participating more with in-person day program or other services, please discuss this with your Residential Program Coordinator or a member of the Day Services team.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself, your supervisor or your Residential Program Coordinator.

Thank you, Laura Viers
Associate Director of Quality Assurance Laura.Viers@supportinc.com

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Host Home Provider of the Month

by Information & Resources

Please join us in congratulating our recent Host Home Providers of the Month, Rashinda and Mike Barnes!!

The following write-up was produced by the Denver Metro One Team: The Denver Metro One Team (with an assist from Rich and DM3) is nominating Eva (AKA Rashinda) and Mike Barnes for HHP of the Month.

Eva and Mike Barnes are being nominated for the HHP of the month award. Eva and Mike have displayed professionalism, integrity, and they are great team players. The super duo of Eva and Mike are always using person-centered and trauma informed care techniques when working with individuals in their home. Eva and Mike are willing to take on difficult individuals with significant medical and behavioral needs, often at a moment’s notice. They are easy to reach and are always willing to help out with respite needs. Eva and Mike are currently a 3 bed home. SW has made exceptional progress with her mobility after an unexpected hip surgery. Eva has been diligent in facilitating PT as she recovers. KH it is new to the home, but in the short time he has been there Eva and Mike have already started working with him on finding a new day program, helping him figure out his work schedule, money management skills, and they are also encouraging KH to make healthy food choices. Their third individual has a challenging history of finding the right fit of a home for himself. He’s been in the home for over two years now.

There have been some difficulties along the way but also a lot of success and growth. Eva and Mike didn’t give up during the rough times and have put a lot of effort and energy into making things as stable as possible and have given the right amount of support to meet this individual’s needs. At this point in time, this individual and his team report that he has made personal growth and he says he likes living with his Providers and other individuals living in the home.

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COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Hosted by Support, Inc.

by COVID-19

Support, Inc. recently hosted it’s second vaccination clinic, and we’re proud to report on this successful accomplishment! We vaccinated 156 people for their second dose, and about 5 individuals received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine. From the set-up to the tear down, we’re so happy to share some details from the clinic. Everything ran smoothly and went off without a hitch.

First, we started by partnering with CDPHE. We worked together with medical staff on-site including RNs from the state and our very own Registered Nurse, Morgan Struck. Morgan and Laura (Associate Director of Quality Assurance) ensured we had the staff we needed to vaccinate as many people as possible, rapidly and safely. Our first clinic held on March 17th went well with no major hiccups. Thanks to this planning and preparation a month ago, we were well-equipped to lead our second clinic with the guidance of CDPHE staff.

It was a group effort to put on this vaccination clinic-before the first and second vaccination clinics, we held volunteer meetings to go over each person’s individual role in the process. We clarified questions and made sure everyone knew what they were doing. By the time the clinics rolled around, we felt well prepared and confident in leading the people we serve through the process we developed.

In addition, our Day Services staff closed the program the day before to prepare for everyone joining us the following day. Our DSPs and Day Program Supervisors were instrumental in hosting the clinic, alongside CDPHE staff. We thank everyone that volunteered their time to make this work. We mapped out our site to have a nice flow for the clinic. We also had a wait area for people to be monitored 15 minutes after their vaccination.

Our established COVID-19 Pandemic Committee thought about this vaccination process for the people we serve from multiple angles. We developed several accommodations for PRS, to make this as easy as possible for them. If someone would rather be vaccinated outside, we offered drive-up services for these individuals. We offered snack and water and juice to anyone that needed it. Support, Inc. also offered fidget spinners and other hand-held “gadgets”, if you will, to help keep folks entertained while they waited 15 minutes during their observation period.

So why did we host this clinic? We wanted the people we serve to have easy access to the vaccine. We also considered the needs of PRS and their families and providers to have a familiar setting in which to become vaccinated. Furthermore, we wanted our staff to have a place to come to, in case they needed the vaccine, as well. Ultimately, we endorse the vaccine and continue to encourage the people we serve and our entire network to get vaccinated soon!

Check out our photos from the vaccine clinic! And for further questions on the planning and the process, please email Cathy at Cathy.Kellogg@supportinc.com

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    The Wide World of Sports

    by Information & Resources

    Support, Inc. hosted its first ever sports event and boy did we have fun! From socially distanced games to DIY baseball cards and stadium snacks, this full-day event was packed with fun activities.

    To start, Day Services Supervisors asked our Direct Support Professionals to develop this event with the people we serve. We’re more likely to enjoy ourselves when we have a hand in the planning, and so we wanted our DSPs to “own” this event and have fun with it! When our staff is involved in the planning with our clients, the event is more likely to be successful and engaging for everyone involved. We thank our staff for spearheading these efforts and for being so thoughtful and creative in their brainstorming sessions.

    Next, we asked our Day Program attendees what they would like to see for this event.  The Support, Inc. Client Council offers a voice to those that want to express ideas for organizational input and change. The Council came together to plan this as their first major event of the program. The Client Council offers exciting opportunities to be seen and heard and to ultimately get involved with the agency. Once ideas for the Wide World of Sports were developed, a date was set, and the event took off without a hitch.

    The Wide World of Sports ran from 9:45-3:15 and included activities such as mini-golf on site and making wrestler’s masks. People were welcome to participate in person or online at their leisure. When basketball happened in person, DSPs ran a separate group online called Fairytale Factory. The group had fun going over Casey at the Bat and having their own mini party online.

    In addition, our PRS had fun making their own baseball cards from scratch!! These cards were dressed up as MVPs and each person described their own positive characteristics. These cards proved to be fun and personable, unique to each individual in services. Each card offered insight into how each person sees themselves. In the days leading up to the event, PRS designed their own jerseys too. It was nice seeing everyone decked out in their best sport’s attire, whether it was home-made or Colorado sports teams. I noticed a Bronco’s jersey and Rockie’s swag, too!

    Stadium snacks proved to be a fan favorite. We had a nacho bar, popcorn, and hot dogs to boot. Who says you can’t enjoy the food we’ve come to miss just because the stands are closed? Day Program attendees loved dressing up their food and getting creative with the nacho toppings. 

    DSPs had a video on YouTube to share called Great Moments in Sports. What I loved about our sports event was, not everything required physical activity. You can talk about sports, watch sports on TV, make wrestlers masks and still be engaged in the topic. This versatile line-up of activities allows for everyone to participate whether you are physically capable of playing sports or not. Our Day Program has a Wii on site, so many folks were able to play Wii sports such as bowling, golf and tennis. Others chose to run the relay race in which you balance an egg on a spoon. I have to say, I don’t even like sports, and I had a great time. This day-long event led me to realize how open-ended the world of sports can truly be.

    In closing, I’d say we had a great time hosting this event. From the activities hosted on site to the fun we had online, there’s something for everyone that joins our Day Program. If you’d like to learn more, please email Cathy at Cathy.Kellogg@supportinc.com We would love for you to join our in-house us in the future!!

    Teri Leiker (Photo courtesy of Lexi Knutson)

    Reflecting on the Legacy of Teri Leiker

    by Information & Resources

    As we continue to mourn the lives lost in the tragic Boulder shooting, we reflect on the impact that Teri Leiker had on her community.

    Teri Leiker worked at the King Sooper’s in Boulder for over 30 years. When she wasn’t busy at work, serving the community, her family reports that

    Teri was the most joyful person to be around. Everyone loved her and she loved them back. Teri was a very empathetic individual that cared deeply for those around her and cared about those affected by past floods and wildfires. Teri, like so many of us, was a multifaceted person with her own individual needs and wants and hopes and dreams. With help from Imagine, Boulder County CCB, Teri was able to live on her own at age 21. She maintained her independence and lived a full of dignity and pride. From starting her first and only job at King Sooper’s in 1989 to becoming a homeowner, Teri found her place in the world, becoming a steadfast staple of her local community.

    To say that this loss has been significant and absolutely heartbreaking for the IDD community and those that knew her would be an understatement. As the last few weeks have passed, we’ve heard stories in the field relaying what a tremendous individual Teri was. We send our most heartfelt thoughts and well-wishes to Teri’s family and the IDD community in Boulder, including those that knew her at Imagine. We pray that the memories of her life provide comfort and solace to those that loved her.

    These photos posted below were from a recent memorial service. As you can see, Teri’s impact on the community remains unmatched and she will be sorely missed.

    For more information, you can read about Teri here: https://www.9news.com/…/73-012b4313-ecd7-46d8-a988…

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    COVID-19 Updates

    by COVID-19

    April 2, 2021

    To all Support, Inc. Staff, Providers and Families:

    In this communication we will cover the following:

    1. Colorado COVID-19 vaccine update and where to get a COVID-19 vaccine
    2. Support, Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic
    3. Looking ahead
    1. Colorado Vaccine Update

    Beginning today, Friday April 2nd, 2021 Phase 2 of Colorado’s distribution plan opens. In this Phase, anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  Colorado expects anyone who wants the vaccine should be able to get the vaccine within the next 2 months, this may change however based on vaccine supply and the increased demand.

    There are many options to schedule a vaccine appointment across the state. Click on any of the locations listed below to be directed to the sites appointment registration system.

      • Vaccine Spotter is a tool to help you find COVID-19 vaccine appointment openings at Colorado Pharmacies. The website is updated every minute. 

    We are here to help you access the vaccine! Please reach out to your supervisor or Residential Program Coordinator for assistance finding a vaccine appointment.

    2. Support, Inc.’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

    On Wednesday March 17th we hosted a first dose COVID-19 vaccine clinic at our Aurora office. With the support of CDPHE’s (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) Vaccine Support Team we were able to administer 165 doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine to our individual’s receiving services, employee and contractors.

    Hosting this clinic was important to our organization. This is a big step in supporting all our employees, contractors and individuals receiving services to get access to this critical vaccine. Navigating community-based vaccine clinics can be frustrating and time consuming. Hosting this clinic allowed us a simple avenue for our constituents to access the vaccine. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have often been overlooked in both National and State pandemic response. This population also faces challenges in accessing quality medical care in the community. By hosting this clinic, we were able to offer our constituents access to the COVID-19 vaccine at a familiar location, with support staff around they recognize and know by name and most of all we were able to administer the vaccine in a flexible and safe environment that allowed us to support each person and family’s unique needs.

    If you attended the clinic, your Residential Program Coordinator or Supervisor will assist you to schedule your second dose appointment.

    3. Looking Ahead

    We continue to work under our current COVID-19 operating protocol including limiting in-person visits to homes, limited office use by appointment only and limited on-site day services. Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should continue to follow all infection control practices including social distancing, washing your hands frequently and wearing a mask when in public or having contact with people who don’t live with you.  

    There continues to be on-going research into the COVID-19 vaccine. We know the vaccine is highly effective at protecting the recipient from getting COVID-19 and will also protect you from getting seriously ill if you do contract the virus. We do not know yet how well the vaccine prevents you from spreading the virus to others. We are also still learning how effective the vaccines are against new variants that cause COVID-19.

    As vaccination rates increase, research data is released, and we get additional guidance from the CDC (Center’s for Disease Control) and CDPHE’s (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) we will update our operating protocol and communicate any changes to you.

    If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself, your supervisor or Residential Program Coordinator.  

    Be sure to never miss our correspondences, follow us on Facebook, be sure you are on email and newsletter distribution lists and check out website for on-going updates about COVID-19 and other happenings around the organization.

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    Host Home Provider of the Month

    by Information & Resources

    Please join us in congratulating our recent Host Home Providers of the Month, Berthy Pondaag!

    The following write-up was produced by the Denver Metro Three Team: 

    Denver Metro 3 (Team Hypernova) would like to nominate Berthy Pondaag and co-provider Jacqueline Lompolium for the HHP of the month award!  They have continued to provide consistent and exemplary care to two of our most vulnerable individuals.  Their patience while the team worked on methods to ensure the health and safety of one of their individuals to provide them with the least restrictive, most inclusive environment is admirable.

    Time and time again, they’ve shown their ability to go above and beyond to ensure documentation is completed accurately and in a timely manner, come up with solutions to ensure goals are being worked on and that the services being provided are carried out in the proper setting.  Berthy and Jacqueline have worked hard to make sure their individuals live their best lives while still following all protocols and doctor’s orders. The last few months have not been easy but one thing is for certain, their quality of care for their individuals has never wavered. We want to thank you both for the work you do and let you know we appreciate you!  

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    Support, Inc. to Host a Vaccine Clinic

    by COVID-19

    Support, Inc. is preparing to host it’s first vaccination clinic on March 17th from 10:00a.m.-4:00 p.m. The clinic is hosted in partnership with CDPHE and is offered to clients, staff, providers, and family caregivers who meet the criteria based on the phase we are in. For more information, please see the flyer below, or contact your RPC or supervisor to get signed up as quickly as possible.

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    COVID-19 Communication

    by COVID-19

    The following information has been produced by our Associate Director of Quality Assurance, Laura Viers, on March 4th, 2021. For additional questions and information, please email Laura at Laura.Viers@supportinc.com

    To all Support, Inc. Staff, Providers and Families:

    In this communication we will cover the following:

    1. National COVID-19 vaccine update.
    2. Comparison of the three COVID-19 vaccines
    3. Colorado’s updated COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan and what this means for persons receiving services.

    1. National updates:

    On Saturday February 27th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Emergency Use Authorization to Johnson & Johnson to use their Janssen Bio tec. COVID-19 vaccine. Comparison of the three COVID-19 vaccines:

    2. Comparison of the three COVID-19 vaccines:

    When getting your vaccine, you will likely not have a choice in which vaccine you get. Manufacturer availability depends on the vaccine each clinic gets on a weekly basis.  For vaccine’s requiring a second dose, you must get the same brand for your first and second dose. There are now 3 COVID-19 vaccine’s below is a comparison of the three vaccines.


    Pfizer     		Janssen Moderna
    Side effects:
    Pain at the injection site
    Injection site redness
    Injection site swelling
    Tiredness
    Headache
    Muscle pain Fever
    Chills
    Joint pain
    Swollen lymph nodes       		Side effects:
    Pain at the injection site
    Injection site redness
    Injection site swelling
    Tiredness
    Headache
    Muscle aches
    Fever
    Nausea     		Side effects:
    Pain at the injection site
    Injection site redness
    Injection site swelling
    Fatigue
    Headache
    Muscle pain
    Fever                                 
    Chills
    Joint pain
    Swollen lymph nodes
    Nausea
    Vomiting  
    Who can get the Pfizer vaccine? The FDA granted emergency use authorization for individuals 16 years and older Who can get the Janssen vaccine? The FDA granted emergency use authorization for individuals 18 years and older Who can get the Moderna vaccine? The FDA granted emergency use authorization for individuals 18 years and older
    Administration of the Pfizer vaccine: The Pfizer vaccine vaccination series if 2 doses given 21 days apart. * You must get both doses of the vaccine * Administration of the Janssen vaccine: The Janssen vaccine is given as a single dose. Administration of the Moderna vaccine: The Moderna vaccine vaccination series is 2 doses given 28 days apart. * You must get both doses of the vaccine *
    Storage of the vaccine: The Pfizer vaccine must be stored at ultra-cold temperatures of -76° F and -112° F Storage of the vaccine: The Janssen vaccine must be stored between 36° F and 46° F. Storage of the vaccine: The Moderna vaccine may be stored in a fridge or freezer. The vaccine may be stored in a freezer between -5°F and -13°F or under refrigeration at 46°F to 36°F for up to 30 days. 
    How effective is the Pfizer vaccine? During the clinical study, Pfizer’s vaccine was found to be 95% effective at preventing COVID-19 disease. How effective is the Janssen vaccine? During the clinical study, Janssen’s vaccine was found to be 77% effective at preventing severe/critical COVID-19 disease at least 14 days after vaccination and was 85% effective at preventing severe/critical COVID-19 at least 28 days after vaccination. How effective is the Moderna vaccine? During the clinical study, Moderna’s vaccine was found to be 94.1% effective at preventing COVID-19 disease

    3. Colorado’s updated COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan and what this means for persons receiving services:

    In the coming weeks, Phase 1B.3 and Phase 1B.4 of Colorado’s distribution plan will open. Phase 1B.3 will open additional eligibility for some individual’s in services. Phase 1B.4 will open eligibility for all individual’s receiving services through Support, Inc.

    Eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine
    now     		Coloradoan’s age 65 or older
    Eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine Friday March 5th Coloradoan’s age 60 or older
    Coloradoan’s age 16 and older with 2 or more of the following high-risk conditions:
    Down Syndrome
    COPD
    Diabetic mellitus (type 1 and type 2)
    Individuals with disabilities who require direct care in their home.
    People with disabilities that prevent them from wearing a mask
    Cancer (those currently receiving treatment or have received treatment in the last month)
    Chronic kidney disease
    Specific heart conditions (heart failure, cardiomyopathies, coronary heart disease, severe valvular/congenital heart disease)
    Obesity (BMI equal to or greater than 30kg/m^2)
    Pregnancy
    Sickle cell disease
    Solid organ transplant  
    Eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine Around March 21st (official date TBD)                   Coloradoan’s age 50 and older
    Coloradoan’s age 16 and older with 1 of the following high-risk conditions:
    Down Syndrome
    COPD
    Diabetic mellitus (type 1 and type 2)
    Individuals with disabilities who require direct care in their home.
    People with disabilities that prevent them from wearing a mask
    Cancer (those currently receiving treatment or have received treatment in the last month)
    Chronic kidney disease
    Specific heart conditions (heart failure, cardiomyopathies, coronary heart disease, severe valvular/congenital heart disease)
    Obesity (BMI equal to or greater than 30kg/m^2)
    Pregnancy
    Sickle cell disease
    Solid organ transplant  

    Do you follow us on Facebook? We are running a social media campaign to #SupportTheShot and have joined Alliance Colorado’s (our trade association) campaign to #RollUpYourSleve and help Colorado conquer COVID. If you would like to be featured on our social media page email cathy.kellogg@supportinc.com with a picture and why getting the COVID-19 vaccine is important to you.

    Be sure to never miss our correspondences, follow us on Facebook, be sure you are on email and newsletter distribution lists and check out website for on-going updates about COVID-19 and other happenings around the organization.