While the risk of Covid-19 to Saskatchewan residents remains relatively low, this could change quickly. In order to be proactive, the Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbours (SIGN) took several major initiatives today that affect their services.
Staff remain at work and SIGN facilities remain open, but major changes in how programs and facilities operate were viewed to be necessary and prudent.
Effective immediately, all non-essential group sessions and meetings will be postponed indefinitely. SIGN is exploring web-based platforms for programs to utilize to hold groups and one-on-one sessions with clients and families. Once these have been reviewed and a platform chosen and approved by provincial government ministries who fund the program, further information will be provided.
Effective immediately, the Kamsack Family Resource Centre will be closed to the public. Staff at the Kamsack Family Resource Centre will commence developing programming that can be shared with families utilizing various technologies.
Due to the schools closing, all Before and After School programs will be suspended indefinitely, effective Friday March 20.
Effective Friday March 20, the Yorkton Early Years Family Resource Centre will be closed to the public. Staff at the Yorkton Early Years Family Resource Centre will commence developing programming that can be shared with families utilizing various technologies.
Effective Monday March 23, the Walk-In Counselling Clinic will be moving to a telephone-based service for an indefinite period of time. Clients will be asked to call 306-783-9424 and a counsellor will contact them.
Effective Monday March 23, the process for Financial Trustee clients that normally attend SIGN to pick up weekly or daily cheques will be changed until further notice. Clients are asked to contact their worker or the Trustee office for details about how this applies to them.
Within the organization, the frequency of cleaning has been increased both for the buildings and for individual staff offices and work stations.
All staff are washing their hands and/or using hand sanitizers as soon as they enter the office. Hand sanitizing stations have been set up at entrances to our facilities for use by staff and visitors. Reception staff will ask everyone coming into SIGN facilities to use the hand sanitizer.
Staff will contact all clients the morning of scheduled appointment to ensure that there are no risks to staff and clients. Clients will be asked about previous travel, place of residence and symptoms. If any of the answers provided by clients indicate a concern, the appointment will be postponed to a future date.
Signs will remain posted on facility entrance doors asking people not to come into the building if they have travelled internationally in the past 14 days or have any symptoms.
SIGN Executive Director Andrew Sedley noted, "These changes will ensure that as an organization, we are doing our part to 'flatten the curve'. Each and every day, our staff go above and beyond to support and assist those in need. By working together, we can ensure that we are able to provide much needed support in a healthy and safe way during this time."
