BASICS Safety Protocols

BASICS, LLC wants to ensure that families and staff are safe. We continue to adapt policies as the CDC, OSSE, and DC change their recommendations and mandates. This memo will lay out our general level policies for the new stage.

We will continue to base our safety levels on the Red/Yellow/Green model that the CDC and DC use. DC uses metrics to measure COVID rates in DC. We will determine what “level” we are based on those metrics.

BASICS, LLC wants to ensure that families and staff are safe. We continue to adapt policies as the CDC, OSSE, and DC change their recommendations and mandates. This memo will lay out our general level policies for the new stage.

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What the colors mean:

The color designation is based on DC’s color levels as defined here :

https://coronavirus.dc.gov/page/reopening-metrics

Notification:

When we are at a specific level we will notify families via email and post it on the website as a banner. It is the expectation that families and therapists follow the policies outlined in the level we are currently in or transition to. In the event that there is a major change, we may send out a document to sign.

Consistent Policies:

We cannot share staff or client vaccine status. 

All staff and clients must cancel sessions if they exhibit symptoms on the health screening- regardless of vaccine status. 

All staff must continue to wear masks, follow the updated cleaning processes, and complete a daily health screening.

Everyone commits to:

• Provide accurate information on the health status of yourself or someone in your household with COVID-19, exposed to COVID-19, or with symptoms of COVID-19.

• Wash hands frequently  after sneezing, coughing, blowing nose, touching face, or consuming food or drink.

• Adults will engage in social distancing measures of at least 6 feet distance to the best of their ability (clients do not need to social distance).

• Eat outdoors or in a well ventilated place when possible.

• Keep each of their belongings separated from others and in individual, labeled containers, bookbags or areas.

• Follow the Mayor's orders regarding masks, testing, and quarantines.

• Adults (families and staff) will wear masks at all times during sessions.

Families agree that:

• ABA clients must be working towards full mask wearing if they are not able to wear a mask for a full session.

• Clients who are capable of wearing a mask must wear a mask for every session.

• In order to be in the office, camp, or in a group setting clients must wear a mask at all times.

• There must be running water and soap at all times on the premises where sessions occur.

• There must be cleaning supplies for the therapist to sanitize the space before and after the session (if this is a hardship BASICS will provide this).

BASICS ABA Therapy commits to:

• Provide masks to all employees.

• Provide one mask to clients if needed.

• Provide hand sanitizer to employees.

• Continue to educate and train our employees and clients on COVID-19 and hygiene best practices.

• Continue our ongoing compliance with CDC recommendations and use as a foundation all DC and OSSE guidelines.

• Conduct staff meetings virtually.

• Supervision of employees during sessions will be conducted via telehealth, unless clinically necessary.

• Continue to provide telehealth for clients that meet the medical necessity criteria.

• Ensure all employees are vaccinated unless medically or religiously exempt. Staff who are exempt will be tested every two weeks.

Staff and clients MUST notify us of Failed Health Screening, COVID exposures, and Positive COVID tests by texting the scheduling line at (202) 495-0639.

Strong Recommendations:

• Avoid large indoor in-person gatherings, engage in social distancing, and wear.

• Get tested regularly (i.e. every two weeks) if you are not vaccinated.

• Wash hands frequently.

• Commute safely: social distance, wear masks, disinfect, ventilate.

We strongly encourage families to follow the Mayor’s orders, the CDC recommendations, and OSSE regulations. Violations of these recommendations can lead to your illness and the illness of others.

Health Screenings

• Staff will conduct health screenings using appropriate physical distancing measures of six feet and wearing a mask.

• If health screening is failed, the session is canceled.

• If “yes” to any questions in health screening, that means a failed health screening.

• Are you or anyone that will be present exhibiting any COVID symptoms not related to a known diagnosis such as:

• Fever  

• Cough

• Nasal congestion

• Sore throat

• Shortness of breath

• Diarrhea

• Nausea or vomiting

• Fatigue

• Headache

• Muscle pain

• Loss of taste or smell

• Pass or Fail: I have had exposure to someone with COVID-19 in the last 10 day if yes - fail (if I have a vaccination on file or no exposure - pass).

If you choose a Doctor’s note or negative COVID test, please submit your doctor’s note or COVID results to HR through fax or email. HR fax number 202-836-9810 or through email at hr@basicsaba.com.

Please also text the Scheduling Line that you are cleared to return to work. You do not need to indicate what method you used to Scheduling.

Failed Health Screenings Return Criteria

• 72 hrs have passed without symptoms (without use of fever reducing medication)

OR

• A medical evaluation and a doctor's note stating symptoms are the result of a preexisting condition or non contagious illness and are in good health

OR

• Receive a negative COVID test.

   

Client or Staff Exposures Return Criteria

• If an exposed person is vaccinated, shifts will not be canceled on levels green and yellow; a test still needed at day 5).

OR

• Get tested for COVID and receive a negative result (five days after exposure)

OR

• Self-quarantine for 10 days with no symptoms.

Staff or Client Positive Test Return Criteria: If the person has recovered from COVID in the last 90 days, they do not have to quarantine.

• Return is granted after at least 24 hours after any fever has resolved without the use of fever-reducing medication (i.e., Motrin, Tylenol) and any respiratory symptoms have improved 

AND

• At least 10 days after your positive test, whichever is later (if symptoms persist after 10 days need a doctors note)

OR

• Asymptomatic from positive test until day 5 plus a negative rapid test on day 5.

Cleaning Process

• Staff will perform cleaning or sanitize duties by wiping commonly touched surfaces once daily.

  • High touch surfaces include, but are not limited to pens, counters, tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, stair rails, elevator buttons, desks, keyboards, phones, faucets, and sinks.

• Staff and students will wash their hands upon arrival, at dismissal, before preparing food, after using the restroom and touching their face.

• When running water and sinks are not available, staff and clients will use sanitizer.

• Staff will clean high touch playground surfaces made of plastic or metal, such as grab bars and railings before use.

In-Home Sanitizing Process:

Cleaning & Sanitizing Plan

• The hosting family is required to provide all cleaning supplies and running water.

• Staff will perform some sanitizing duties by wiping tables, countertops, chairs, doorknobs, and commonly touched surfaces are cleaned, and sanitized before/after use by the staff person using the cleaning supplies provided by the family. 

• The all bathroom toilet, sink and faucet will be cleaned and disinfected daily by the parents before and after the staff arrives

• Staff will wash their hands upon arrival, at dismissal, every hour, before preparing food, after using the restroom and touching face

• Staff will prompt students to wash their hands upon arrival, at dismissal, before consuming meals, after touching their face, using the restroom and as often as possible