Health Advisory: Positive COVID-19 case in La Crosse - non-service staff
August 17th 2020
Please be advised that Aptiv was notified that there is an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19 in our La Crosse, WI location. They are now following health department guidelines to isolate at home. This staff had no contact with any participants and all individuals who had potential direct exposure risk have been notified and are following health department guidelines.
Thank you for being diligent in following the specific health and safety procedures Aptiv implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We ask that you continue to make good choices outside of work. Practicing effective hand washing, physical distancing, and staying home if you are experiencing any symptom of COVID-19 serves to protect participants and your co-workers.
Aptiv continues to communicate with and take guidance from national, regional, and local health resources, including the Centers for Disease Control and county health departments. We regularly review our current safety protocols to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. Our priority is the safety and health of our participants and staff and will continue to take every precaution necessary.
Please remember that should you have serious health concerns, please consider staying safe at home. We cannot guarantee that COVID-19 will not spread in our community. We do commit to safe health practices and attempt to reduce the risk of spreading this illness.
Health Advisory: Positive COVID-19 case in La Crosse Youth Program
August 14th 2020
Please be advised that Aptiv was notified that there is an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the Youth program in our La Crosse, WI location. They are now following health department guidelines to isolate at home.
All individuals who had potential direct exposure risk have been notified and are following health department guidelines.
To prevent the spread of illness, Aptiv employees follow thorough cleaning and disinfecting protocols daily. Every day Aptiv staff sanitizes toys for youth with a bleach and water solution and uses disinfectant to wipe down tables, chairs, light switches, door handles, bookshelves, window sills, and our piano. Also, disinfectant spray is used daily on cardboard building blocks, large soft blocks, bean bags, books, and bins. Vehicles are wiped down thoroughly with sanitizing wipes before each contact. Aptiv's entryway is also cleaned and sanitized twice a day. These protocols have been in place since our phased-in re-opening of services and will continue.
Emails to participants' families, guardians, and funders outlining the information are being sent out. Also, Aptiv Outcome Specialists will be contacting families to discuss this today.
Thank you for being diligent in following the specific health and safety procedures Aptiv implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consistently wearing appropriate PPE, practicing social distancing, and performing daily cleaning and disinfecting protocols for our office buildings, adult family homes, and vehicles serves to protect participants and employees.
Aptiv continues to communicate with and take guidance from national, regional, and local health resources, including the Centers for Disease Control and county health departments. We regularly review our current safety protocols to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. Our priority is the safety and health of our participants and staff and will continue to take every precaution necessary. If you have any questions or concerns on this information, contact your Aptiv Outcomes Specialist. Please remember that should you have serious health concerns, please consider staying safe at home. We cannot guarantee that COVID-19 will not spread in our community. We do commit to safe health practices and attempt to reduce the risk of spreading this illness.
Health Advisory: Positive COVID-19 Case in Janesville CSL Program
August 3rd 2020
Please be advised that Aptiv was notified that there is a positive COVID-19 test within the Community Supported Living (CSL) program in our Janesville, WI location. On July 27, a test was administered, and the individual received a positive diagnosis on Tuesday, July 28. They are now following health department guidelines to isolate at home for ten days and until they are symptom-free.
All individuals who had potential direct exposure risk have been notified and are following health department guidelines. Participants receiving CSL services, who have had direct exposure, will continue to receive support as needed. However, Aptiv staff will implement extra safety procedures while providing their services.
Thank you for being diligent in following the specific health and safety procedures Aptiv implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consistently wearing appropriate PPE, practicing social distancing, and performing daily cleaning and disinfecting protocols for our office buildings, adult family homes, and vehicles serves to protect participants and employees.
Aptiv continues to communicate with and take guidance from national, regional, and local health resources, including the Centers for Disease Control and county health departments. We regularly review our current safety protocols to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. Our priority is the safety and health of our participants and staff and will continue to take every precaution necessary. If you have any questions or concerns on this information, contact your Aptiv Outcomes Specialist. Please remember that should you have serious health concerns, please consider staying safe at home. We cannot guarantee that COVID-19 will not spread in our community. We do commit to safe health practices and attempt to reduce the risk of spreading this illness.
Health Advisory: Aptiv La Crosse Youth Participant Tests Positive for COVID-19
July 21st, 2020
The La Crosse County Health Department notified Aptiv that a participant of our youth program tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, July 17. The participant attended Aptiv services for a single day on Thursday, July 16, and they are now isolating at home. The updated safety and sanitizing procedures Aptiv implemented for our phased-in re-opening of services served to provide a solid foundation to minimize risk and help prevent any further spread of the virus.
As you are aware, when Aptiv re-opened our phased-in services beginning in June 2020, we implemented several procedures to protect the safety and health of participants and staff. These procedures include an initial wellness check, social distancing, wearing of face masks, frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitizer, and daily cleaning and sanitizing of areas in the building by Aptiv employees.
Upon arrival on Thursday, July 16, the participant was brought through the wellness check and did not display any symptoms. During their time at Aptiv from 8 am to 5 pm, they worked one on one with staff and wore a mask while inside the building. Although the participant spent the majority of their time outside, they were in the building for activities with staff.
Because the participant worked with Aptiv staff one on one, practiced social distancing, and wore a mask, the La Crosse County Health Department deemed that there is no direct exposure risk for other Aptiv youth participants at this time. Additionally, there is no direct exposure risk to adult participants served as they use a separate entrance, programming space, and restroom. Aptiv employees serving adult and youth participants do not cross departments, further reducing any risk.
All Aptiv employees who had potential exposure risk with the participant have been notified. They will be isolating at home for 14 days. They will return to Aptiv once their isolation period is complete, and they are symptom-free.
To prevent the spread of illness, Aptiv employees follow thorough cleaning and disinfecting protocols daily. Every day Aptiv staff sanitizes toys for youth with a bleach and water solution and uses disinfectant to wipe down tables, chairs, light switches, door handles, bookshelves, window sills, and our piano. Also, disinfectant spray is used daily on cardboard building blocks, large soft blocks, bean bags, books, and bins. Vehicles are wiped down thoroughly with sanitizing wipes before each contact. Aptiv's entryway is also cleaned and sanitized twice a day. These protocols have been in place since our phased-in re-opening of services and will continue.
Emails to participants' families, guardians, and funders outlining the information are being sent out. Also, Aptiv Outcome Specialists will be contacting families to discuss this today.
Aptiv's current safety protocols for participants and staff continue to remain in place to minimize risk. We remain committed to the safety and health of our participants and staff and will continue to take every precaution necessary. If you have any questions or concerns about this information, contact your supervisor.
Please remember that should you have serious health concerns, please consider staying safe at home. We cannot guarantee that COVID-19 will not spread in our community. We do commit to safe health practices and attempt to reduce the risk of spreading this illness.
Potential impact of COVID-19 community spread on Aptiv services in La Crosse
June 18th, 2020
There have been many positive cases of COVID-19 recently and community spread happening within several La Crosse establishments and public locations, due to these recent circumstances, we are operating on an abundance of caution.
Some Aptiv employees have confirmed that they had visited these locations within the specified time frame, however, at this time, no staff or participant has a positive test for COVID-19. Aptiv's current safety protocols for participants and staff continue to remain in place to minimize risk from the community spread of COVID-19 in our area. We are taking guidance from the La Crosse County Health Department for any additional steps. As community spread impacts our staff, we may have to reschedule or postpone services for participants to protect the health and safety of all. We anticipate that any changes will be temporary and your Aptiv Outcome Specialist will contact you as necessary.
Aptiv will continue to be proactive and be flexible to the cautions that must be put in place during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We remain committed to the safety and health of our participants and staff and will continue to take every precaution necessary.
Please remember that should you or your participant have serious health concerns, please consider staying safe at home. We cannot guarantee that COVID-19 will not spread in our community. We do commit to safe health practices and attempt to reduce the risk of spreading this illness.
La Crosse County COVID-19 Exposure Reporting Form
Coronavirus information, updates, and guidance for staff, participants, and families
March 26th, 2020
Aptiv cares about our participants’ health and safety during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to encourage individuals to be safe and make the best and safest decisions for themselves and their loved ones.
Aptiv continues to provide life-sustaining support for people with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities and frail and elderly. We are open. Although we have limited group activities, we are continuing to provide needed supports for our participants. Our Outcome Specialists are checking in weekly with participants, families, guardians and the care teams of the people we serve.
We want you to know that Aptiv can provide support to individuals whose ability to be mobile or other supports may have been impacted by COVID-19. We want to make sure that care needs are being met and that, with support from funding partners, we can provide safe support that may be crucially needed at this time.
While we provide support, you can be assured that we are taking precautions as recommended by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. DHS recommends that all healthcare providers, including inpatient, outpatient, and residential care facilities, actively monitor staff for symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
In order to comply with this recommendation and keep everyone safe and healthy, the following procedures have been implemented:
- All staff are required to monitor themselves for signs of infection including fever and respiratory changes such as runny nose, sore throat, coughing, difficulty breathing. If these symptoms exist, staff must call their supervisors to report. ● Additional hand and surface sanitizers have been made available and staff have been trained on infection prevention, hand hygiene, and sanitation practices and are required to follow all protocols.
- At this time, staff who have been exposed to COVID-19 but do not have symptoms of infection will not be excluded from work but must continue to monitor symptoms and report any concerns to their supervisor.
- Check participants for symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, coughing, difficulty breathing). Should symptoms be observed, staff will assist participants to follow up with their primary doctor and follow the direction given.
- Help participants to keep themselves and their households sanitary. We will assist with handwashing and surface disinfecting. Staff will wash or sanitize their own hands between interactions with each participant.
- Limit exposure to public spaces for individuals we support living independently by offering to handle errands for participants instead of taking them along. This is outside our normal practice, however, we feel this decision is in the best interest of many of our more vulnerable individuals.
- All CSL staff are equipped with sanitizing products and personal protective equipment in order to keep themselves and vehicles as clean as possible should transportation of participants be necessary
- If a staff member or participant is diagnosed with COVID-19, we will follow the direction of the local health department and their physician.
Aptiv will continue to review the situation and this plan on a daily basis and adapt our plans as needed. If you have a support need, please contact your Aptiv Outcome Specialist, email outcomes-specialists@aptiv.org or call 608-785-3536.
March 20th, 2020
Starting Monday, March 23rd, 2020, Black River Falls Day Services will be on temporary hold due to a reduction in service needs. This reduction is due to participants and families choosing to self isolate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are an Aptiv participant, your Outcomes Specialist will be contacting you weekly about your unique support needs.
We will resume Day Services as participant needs arise and staffing allows. Please contact your Outcomes Specialist for more information.
March 16th, 2020
As we review updates regarding COVID-19, we have made the decision to restrict visitors to all of our facilities starting today. This includes interns and volunteers. Signs will be posted on doors to direct individuals to which door to deliver.
A current exception at this time is for Rep Payee participants.
These measures are being put in place today through April 3 when we will reassess. Our goal is to maintain and protect the health of our participants and staff and prevent the spread of illness at this time.
Aptiv continues to monitor updates and guidelines from our local, state and national health officials. We will provide updates as they become available, including our current status and practices as it relates to COVID-19. We are committed to the health and well-being of everyone who participates in our services.
As of today, Aptiv is open to provide services to our participants.
Day Services - will remain open however outings and group sizes will be limited
Youth Services - after school group will remain open and 1:1 contacts will continue
Community Supported Living - providing services as needed by participants
Supportive Home Care - providing essential supports
Adult Family Homes - will continue to support all residents
Pre-vocational Employment - work opportunities will continue
Community Employment Services - services will continue
Behavior Services - services will continue
Rep Payee - services will continue
We have taken many necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of participants and staff including:
- Increased sanitary measures in all of our facilities and among our staff and participants
- Encouraging meetings via telephone or technology
- Limiting the size of our groups
- Restricting unnecessary travel between offices
- Restricting visitors to our facilities
- Urging employees and participants to take individual precautions they believe necessary to stay safe, including social distancing and/or staying home
We know that the impact of COVID-19 evolves daily. Aptiv’s management team is meeting daily to review the impact and our response. Decisions will be based on the needs of our participants and can change at any time.
We will provide updates to this information on Aptiv’s website, and Facebook page. If you are a participant in Aptiv’s services, contact your Outcome, Employment, or Behavior Specialist with any additional questions.
Resources:
Proper handwashing steps: COVID-19 Defense Proper Handwashing USA Today
What do older adults and people with disabilities need to know? https://acl.gov/COVID-19
State of Wisconsin Coronavirus updates: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/covid-19.htm.
National Coronavirus updates and travel guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
World Health Organization (Helping children cope with stress during the COVID-19 outbreak): https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/helping-children-cope-with-stress-print.pdf?sfvrsn=f3a063ff_2
Preparation tips for work, home, and community Coronavirus (COVID-19) Let's P.R.E.P.
Center House participating in the Happy Heart campaign, to spread love and solidarity during COVID-19.