COVID-19 Procedures

Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation are taking the necessary precautions to protect the health and safety of our staff, adoptive families, birth families, and contracted professionals by implementing procedures that align with guidance issued by the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) along with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Until further notice, Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation staff are taking the following measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• In the company of others, gloves and masks will be worn
• Maintaining social distancing guidelines
• Both Building Arizona Families’ and the Donna K. Evans Foundation’s offices are cleaned and sanitized daily

Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation management will ensure that all staff meeting in-person with clients, families, or constituents have access to appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), in accordance with CDC guidelines. Staff may obtain these materials directly from Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation. After completing any in-person visit, Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation staff utilizing PPE are responsible to remove, per CDC guidelines, and dispose of PPE (if used) appropriately and use hand sanitizer to sanitize their hands. If a staff person is using a cloth mask, the mask must be laundered before being used for another in-person visit.

Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation staff that experience symptoms associated with COVID-19 will stay home until they are symptom free for 48 hours. Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation staff that have contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is suspected to have COVID-19 will request to be tested for COVID-19 and will remain home until they have confirmed that they do not have COVID-19 and have completed any necessary quarantine requirements. If a staff person tests positive for COVID-19, they will immediately report this information to Kelly Rourke-Scarry. Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation will coordinate with public health officials to ensure that any individuals that have come into contact with a staff person during the period in which they were infectious will be immediately notified so that they can seek guidance from a medical professional regarding testing and self-quarantine procedures.

Meetings / Office Visits at Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation Offices

All public entrances to Building Arizona Families’ and the Donna K. Evans Foundation’s offices will have a posted notice asking visitors to read through the following three questions. If anyone answers “yes” to any of the questions listed below, we ask that they not enter the office at this time and contact us to reschedule their visit.

• Do you or anyone in your home have symptoms associated with COVID-19 including a fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or recent or new loss of smell or taste?
• Have you or anyone in your home had contact with any Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19 within the last 14 days, OR with anyone with known COVID-19?; and
• Have you or anyone in your home recently spent time in an area that is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases?

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Therefore, individuals entering a Building Arizona Families or Donna K. Evans Foundation office will be asked to wear a mask or cloth face covering during their visit.

Six feet of separation will be maintained by visitors, Building Arizona Families’ staff, and the Donna K. Evans Foundation’s staff at all times. All participants will wash their hands per CDC guidelines before and after interactions. Hard surfaces such as doorknobs, counters and desks will be disinfected on a daily basis by Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation staff receiving visitors.

In-Home Family Visits / Post Placement Visits

Prior to Building Arizona Families or Donna K. Evans Foundation staff making a home visit, they will contact the individual/family to share home visiting protocol.

The individual/family will be asked the following questions:

• Do you or anyone in your home have symptoms associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19) including a fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or recent or new loss of smell or taste?
• Have you or anyone in your home had contact with any Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19 within the last 14 days, OR with anyone with known COVID-19?

If the answer is “yes” to either of the questions listed above, the individual/family must request that the visit be rescheduled.

If the answers to the above questions are “no” staff will ask the individual/family three additional questions:

• Have you or anyone in your home recently spent time in an area that is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases?
• Is any member of your household at higher risk for illness, as defined by the CDC?
• Are there any specific precautions you would like us to use during this visit in addition to following social distancing guidelines?

Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation staff and individuals/families are mandated to wear masks during visits, as it may be challenging to maintain six feet of separation at all times. Responses to the questions listed above will be used to help Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation staff to determine whether additional precautions (in addition to those already outlined) should be taken during the visit.

Home Visit Procedure for Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation

It is important that everyone provide truthful and accurate responses to the questions asked by Building Arizona Families/Donna K. Evans Foundation staff in preparation of your home visit to ensure everyone’s health and safety. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have had contact with anyone with a suspected or know case of COVID-19, we will reschedule your visit for a future date.

We ask that all household members wash their hands per CDC guidelines immediately prior to the visit. We highly encourage Building Arizona Families/Donna K. Evans Foundation staff and all household members to wear masks during the visit. Building Arizona Families/Donna K. Evans Foundation staff may utilize other personal protective equipment during the visit, such as gloves. We will check with you before the visit to determine if there are other precautions that need to be taken during the meeting.

Identify an area inside or outside of your home to conduct the visit that allows for six feet of separation between household members and Building Arizona Families/ Donna K. Evans Foundation staff. Weather permitting, outdoors is an ideal location to meet, if the setting also allows for appropriate privacy. Depending on the nature of the visit, Building Arizona Families/Donna K. Evans Foundation staff/personnel may be required to tour your home to ensure it meets safety standards for Arizona. Should a home tour be required, please observe social distancing between participants during the tour.
In-person visits with Building Arizona Families/Donna K. Evans Foundation staff will vary in duration and may include extended interviews in addition to a home tour. Gathering all the information needed to complete our assessments including in-person interactions is critical to ensuring a successful experience for both children and families.
Please do not hesitate to share any concerns you may have with your Building Arizona Families/Donna K. Evans Foundation staff, and we will explore options as we move forward together. We welcome your feedback about ways we can change or improve the in-person visit process to better meet the needs of the children and families with whom we work.

Community Appointments

Prior to departing for a community appointment, whether in a doctor’s office, hospital, hotel, or in a family home, Building Arizona Families and the Donna K. Evans Foundation staff will wash their hands per CDC guidelines. Upon arrival to the destination, staff will wash hands again or use hand sanitizer prior to interacting with any individuals. Masks are mandatory until further notice.

Hospital Visits

Should Building Arizona Families or Donna K. Evans Foundation staff be required by their job responsibilities to visit hospitals or other medical offices, the staff member will follow guidelines and procedures as indicated by the facility at all times, including the use of PPE if required.

Thank you for your cooperation as we strive to safeguard the health and safety of everyone in our community.