At UCP of Georgia, our administrative work is continuing on an entirely remote basis. While those of us who work in the Chamblee office are missing the positive team spirit we typically experience from being together, those who continue to work in homes have worked hard to adapt and protect the health and safety of the people we support and all employees throughout the pandemic. It has been an enormous adjustment, for sure!
Here are this week’s notable updates:
- Our administrative office and day programs will remain closed at least through June 12 in accordance with Governor Kemp’s order for people who are medically fragile to continue sheltering. Team leadership meetings happen several times weekly, and we will continue to monitor the situation and update as we move closer to mid June.
- We’re delighted to share that UCP of Georgia’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loan application was approved and funded this week. This is a federal COVID-19 package used to fund payroll costs, and thanks to the approval, we are able to fund a temporary pay increase (8 weeks) for all employees. The time limit is imposed by the terms of the loan, but we’re very pleased we are able to award this additional money to all employees who are working in extraordinarily difficult circumstances right now.
- This week, we took our very first steps toward developing a comprehensive reopening plan for Day Programs. While we do not yet have a set date or know what reopening will look like, we are researching best practice guidance from CDC, DPH, and from I/DD providers across the country. We will update on this process as we move through it.
- As the pandemic lingers, UCP of Georgia continues to incur extra expenses for things like Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), additional cleaning supplies, and additional staffing costs. By donating today, you are making an immediate difference by defraying some of these unbudgeted expenses. Please reach out to Anne Rhodes for more details. It’s going to take a collective effort to maintain our strong level of quality supports in these uncertain times.
We know these times are extremely difficult for you, too. Please know we at UCP of Georgia are always available to answer questions and talk through any concerns you may have, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
