A Letter from Beth Kahiga – Re-opening Plan

August 3, 2021 [En Español]

Dear People Supported by Napa Valley Support Services, Families and Caregivers:

Napa Valley Support Services (NVSS) recently received our signed Mitigation Plan Report from Community Care Licensing, which is required by North Bay Regional Center before we can open facilities.

Unfortunately, due to lack of staff and because the COVID-19 Delta Variant is on the rise, we have determined that it is best to keep everyone safe and postpone reopening the days services program facilities. We know this is disappointing and we are disappointed too! But we want to make sure everyone is safe.

NVSS has completed surveying the majority of the people we support to determine who is most in need of returning to the facility. If you have not answered, returned calls or reached out to NVSS staff we are unable to consider your choice to either come back or continue with the services you are currently receiving when we are able to reopen. Please call 707.253.0400 to respond to the survey.

NVSS staff is currently responsible for 1 to 1 transportation to and from job sites for the people that work at job sites. We are also providing alternative services for everyone who wants them. Alternative services include the safe delivery of supplies and materials to homes, group Zoom classes, 1 to 1 phone calls, Zoom and Face Time support. NVSS has recently added 1 to 1 walks for people that have requested them. The 1 to 1 and group services that are being provided take the majority of staff time.

Community Care Licensing recommends that services provided at facilities be provided by grouping people in pods. When NVSS reopens our facilities, we will need to ensure we have enough staff so people stay in these pods to limit any potential transmission of the COVID or COVID Variant virus.

During the Pandemic NVSS has lost over 30% of our staff. We currently do not have the staff to continue providing alternative services and also provide regular services that are safe.

NVSS is working diligently to recruit staff but the process is slow. Until we are able to hire more staff we will be unable to provide services at the facility. We will continue to provide 1 to 1 walks to everyone that requests them. We are also in the process of evaluating other services we can provide outside of the facility. If there are other services you would like please call 707-253-0400 and let us know what you would like to do. NVSS staff will do our best to provide the services you ask for.

We need everyone’s help to hire more staff. If you know someone that wants to work with NVSS please have them contact Anita Pomeroy by sending their resume to .

We are looking forward to seeing some of you soon and hope that we will be able to open the NVSS facilities for everyone in the near future.

Sincerely,
Beth Kahiga
Executive Director


Estimadas personas familias y los cuidadores de Napa Valley Support Services:

Napa Valley Support Services (NVSS) recibio recientemente nuestro Informe del Plan de Mitigación firmado de Community Care Licensing, que es requerido por el Centro Regional de North Bay antes de que podamos abrir el programa.

Desafortunadamente, debido a la falta de personal y debido a que el variante delta COVID-19 está aumentando, hemos determinado que es mejor mantener a todos seguros y posponer la reapertura del programa. ¡Sabemos que esto es decepcionante y nosotros también estamos decepcionados! Pero queremos asegurarnos el bien estar de todos.

NVSS ha completado la encuesta a la mayoría de las personas a las que apoyamos para determinar quién tiene más necesidad de regresar al programa. Si no respondió, devolvió llamadas o se comunicó con el personal de NVSS, no podemos considerar su elección de regresar o continuar con los servicios que está recibiendo actualmente cuando podamos reabrir. Llame al 707.253.0400 para responder a la encuesta.

El personal de NVSS es actualmente responsable del transporte 1 a 1 desde y hacia los lugares de trabajo para las personas que trabajan. También brindamos servicios alternativos para todos los que los deseen. Los servicios alternativos incluyen la entrega segura de suministros y materiales a los hogares, clases de Zoom, llamadas telefónicas 1 a 1, soporte Zoom y Face Time. NVSS ha agregado recientemente yendo a caminar 1 a 1 para las personas que las han solicitado. Los servicios individuales y grupales que se brindan toman la mayor parte del tiempo del personal.

Community Care Licensing recomienda que los servicios prestados en los programas se brinden agrupando a las personas en grupos. Cuando NVSS vuelva a abrir los programas, tendremos que asegurarnos de tener suficiente personal para que las personas permanezcan en estos módulos para limitar cualquier transmisión potencial del virus COVID o COVID Variant. Durante la pandemia, NVSS ha perdido más del 30% de nuestro personal. Actualmente no tenemos el personal para continuar brindando servicios alternativos y también brindamos servicios regulares que sean seguros. NVSS está trabajando diligentemente para contratar personal, pero el proceso es lento. Hasta que podamos contratar más personal, no podremos brindar servicios en las instalaciones. Continuaremos brindando caminatas 1 a 1 a todos los que las soliciten. También estamos en el proceso de evaluar otros servicios que podemos brindar fuera de las instalaciones. Si hay otros servicios que le gustaría, llame al 707-253-0400 y díganos qué le gustaría hacer. El personal de NVSS hará todo lo posible para brindarle los servicios que solicita. Necesitamos la ayuda de todos para contratar más personal. Si conoce a alguien que quiera trabajar con NVSS, pídale que se comunique con Anita Pomeroy enviando su currículum a .

Esperamos verlos pronto y esperamos poder abrir las instalaciones de NVSS para todos en un futuro próximo.

Atentamente,
Beth Kahiga
Directora ejecutiva