A Message about Covid

To our B.E.S.T. Family:

The safety and wellbeing of our clients and staff is a top priority. As such, we have developed an action plan in order to respond to the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Please know that we will continue to adjust our policies and protocols based on recommendations we receive from federal, state, and local officials. 

Applied Behavior Analysis has been considered an “essential” service due to the potential impact that a disruption in service may have on an individual’s progress and wellbeing. However, protocols have been adjusted in order to maintain the highest level of safety while simultaneously limiting exposure. Additionally, services are only provided if both clients and staff members feel safe and comfortable receiving/providing those services. 

Please review the information below and feel free to reach out to us if you have any additional questions or concerns. Your opinion matters to us. 

Center-Based Operations:

At this time, center-based services will continue to be provided. However, sanitation protocols at the center have been increased dramatically as indicated below:

• All individuals entering the facility are provided with hand sanitizer upon entry.
• Visitors to the center are not currently permitted as staffing has been restricted to only essential personnel. Additionally, the number of people allowed in the lobby has also been restricted in order to maintain social distancing standards.
• All toys and surfaces are sanitized immediately following use.
• The frequency at which toys and stimuli are sanitized has been increased and toys/stimuli will be rotated to ensure the sanitation schedule can be maintained.
• Access to toys and/or stimuli that may be shared has been severely limited. 
• Hand sanitizer is provided to all employees upon arriving to work and a strong emphasis is placed on regular hand washing throughout the day.
• Social distancing has been implemented whenever possible and large group activities have been temporarily suspended.
  

Home-Based Operations:

Home-based sessions continue to be provided as well. However, sanitation protocols have been adjusted as indicated below:

• The size of teams has been temporarily limited in order to restrict the number of people entering the household.
• Behavior technicians are only permitted to bring two toys with them into home-based sessions and only if those toys have been sanitized immediately before the session.
• Supervision of home-based sessions has moved to a telehealth format (video or phone supervision) depending on funder approval. Additionally, some funding sources have also approved the use of telehealth for direct services provided by a behavior technician. Each situation is treated on a case-by-case basis in order to maximize social distancing efforts while ensuring the highest level of safety and effectiveness. 
  

School-Based Operations:

At this time, all schools in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties have been temporarily closed and all associated services have been suspended. However, we remain in contact with local school districts to ensure we remain in compliance with IEP’s and provide services in whatever context we are permitted. 

We are committed to providing the highest quality care to our clients while maintaining a safe and productive working environment for our staff. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We know that there is a high degree of uncertainty at the moment and your feedback is invaluable in helping us navigate this crisis. Thank you and stay healthy!