All staff will work remotely at home through June 1. Beginning June 1, we will start transitioning back into the building with safety measures in place.  There are some exceptions for certain staff members allowed in the building for specific purposes which is outlined below.  When working remotely, we ask staff to lessen their exposure to the transmission of the virus by not working in public places but rather work from home.  We also ask staff to follow guidelines issued by the CDC and to practice social distancing by limiting/eliminating frequenting public places (restaurants, events, stores, social gatherings, etc.) and to immediately avoid travel outside of the area.  We will be in communication with staff via phone, Zoom, Teams, social media and other digital formats.

Please note the following:

Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC)

The CAC will be officially closed until April 13.  Volunteer shifts will be suspended.

Forensic Interviews:  All forensic interviews currently scheduled will be cancelled unless emergency/P1. Only emergency/P1 interviews will be conducted over the next two weeks by on-call staff who will come into the building.  Work with Program Director on scheduling the on-call rotation. All CAC staff will participate in the on-call rotations for emergencies.

Therapy:  Therapists will contact teenage clients to see if they are comfortable with phone, Facetime or Skype sessions.  All other therapy session will be cancelled.  Therapists may also have phone consultations with parents if appropriate during the scheduled time.

Family Meetings with Prosecutors:  Staff have been instructed not participate in these meetings for the next two weeks.

Case Review Team (CRT) Meetings:  Both Fort Bend and Austin Waller County CRTs are cancelled for the balance of March.

State Intakes:  These will be conducted from home.  Referrals to the CAC will be either be scheduled out two weeks if appropriate or if emergency, then follow above emergency protocols.

CASA

Child Visits:  No in-person visits are to be conducted.  Advocates are asked to make contact with every child every 30 days by phone, Facetime or Skype.  There should be no in-person contact with children.

CFE:  Team meetings should be conducted by phone, Zoom, Facetime or Skype.  No in-person CFE family meetings.

Courtesy CASA:  Suspend all courtesy CASA visits to children.

Mediations:  We have been informed that these are continuing to be scheduled at the Dispute Resolution Center or CPS Office.  Staff who are required to attend, have been instructed to practice social distancing, hand washing, and no handshaking or personal contact.

Permanency Conferences:  None are scheduled through the end of March.

Circle of Support Meetings:  We have been informed that these are continuing to be scheduled.  Follow practices as detailed above for Mediations.

Infant and Toddler Court:  We have been informed that these are continuing to be scheduled.  Follow practices as detailed above.

Cluster Court:  Statutory hearings, only, have been reset to the District Court for Judges Armatys, Perwin and Mullinex.  Please follow best practices as detailed above.

Training and Outreach

Speakers Bureau Trainings scheduled for 3/18, 3/25, and 4/3 will be conducted at a rescheduled date or be conducted via Zoom.

TBRI Training scheduled for 3/16 was cancelled.

CAC Volunteer Training scheduled for 3/30 – 4/1 will be rescheduled or be conducted via Zoom.

CAC Volunteer Recruitment:  Initial interviews will be conducted by phone.  Second interviews will be conducted by Zoom with limited staff participating.

Continuing Education:  All CE trainings will be conducted on mobile phones via the Engage By Cell app which will be rolled out to volunteers this week.

Volunteer Appreciation:  Social originally scheduled for 4/14 will be cancelled.

School Presentations:  All presentations currently scheduled will be cancelled through the end of March, and likely for the balance of the school year.  Staff will update materials to prepare for next school year.

Community Presentations:  Light of Hope/Pinwheel has been cancelled.  Checking with FB Chamber Leadership on March 25 and April 1 presentation at Meals on Wheels.

Prevention:  Tips and coping strategies for stress, etc. will be developed and regularly posted on social media.

Development

Voices For Children Tours:  All VFC tours currently scheduled will be cancelled.

Voices For Children Team Meetings will be conducted by phone or Zoom.

Voices For Children Breakfast:  Rescheduled date pending.

Gala:  Rescheduled to September 11 at the Sugar Land Marriott.

Grants:  All Foundations will be notified of our office closure.  Grant staff will continue to meet grant submittal and report deadlines.

Communications:  Ongoing social media, newsletters and website updates will increase and be updated regularly as new information becomes available.

Donors:  All donor visits will take place via phone or Zoom.  No in person meetings are recommended.

Accounting and Administration

Select accounting and admin staff will enter the building at least weekly to pick up mail, record checks and deposit to bank account.

Check or letter signing will be handled either at the building or remotely with the CEO and Board President.

Other job functions will be handled remotely.

Partners

We will work with our partners in the DAs, CAs, CPS and FBCSO to manage the remaining work to be completed prior to their move in.