Update on the “Green” Phase

Jun 26, 2020

Good Afternoon Team,

 

As I’m certain you all know, the City of Philadelphia will be moving into the “green” phase of operations on 7/3/2020.  This will result in an opening up of many businesses and services that have been closed during the pandemic.  This change brings a number of questions and concerns for staff and members.

 

Despite the “reopening” of the City, there is still a need for continued vigilance to limit the possibility for spread of the virus.  We see it spiking in other states, and there are still positive cases in Philadelphia every day.  We must all be prepared for a sudden increase in cases, and a return to lockdown – I would not be surprised if this occurs sometime in the Fall.

 

At Wedge, our approach will continue to be conservative, with a primary focus on the safety of staff and members, and a renewed focus on identifying the needs of members who have not responded to or benefited from telehealth.  Our leadership team is in the process of finalizing a detailed plan to gradually re-introduce select, limited site-based services, primarily focused on those members who need the most intensive, in-person support, whenever it is safe to do so.  The majority of our services will remain via telehealth for the foreseeable future, as long as it is permitted by our licensing and regulatory bodies. 

 

I want to emphasize that any changes will be gradual, organized, and safety-focused.  Any services provided onsite will be spread out in order to minimize the number of people present at any given time.  All staff and members will be temperature-screened upon entry, and site modifications will be made to ensure there are physical distance markers and barriers to protect everyone.  An enhanced sanitization procedure will be put in place, and staff will be provided with adequate supplies of masks and disinfectant to limit the potential for contagion.  Lastly, a detailed procedure will be developed for managing the response to any occurrence of positive or suspected COVID cases in staff or members.

 

We expect to provide all staff with a final draft of the plan within the next two weeks.  Further announcements will be made, as this is still in process.  No changes to our services will be made in the interim – please continue your work schedule and tasks as you have been doing so, until further notice.

 

Thank you for your hard work, flexibility, and patience during what has perhaps been one of the most trying times in the history of our organization, and I imagine, for many of us personally and professionally.  With our dedication to our mission and our support of one another, we will get through this phase, and whatever comes next.

 

Have a good weekend, and stay safe.

 

Jason

 

 

Juneteenth Observation

Jun 18, 2020

All Wedge Staff and Members

We will be closed this Friday, June 19th in order to observe Juneteenth, the celebration of the end of slavery in the United States

Representative Stephen Kinsey, Chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, said it best: “On Juneteenth, we commemorate the day when millions of African Americans were freed from the horrors of slavery. We also celebrate the continued education and achievement of African Americans, in the face of overwhelming discrimination and hardship. Today should be a reminder to us – as individuals, as institutions – to recommit to liberty, justice and equality, so we can move our nation forward, providing opportunities and promoting success for all.”

Mayor Kenney added an important note, in describing his decision to designate Juneteenth an official City holiday : “The only way to dismantle the institutional racism and inequalities that continue to disenfranchise Black Philadelphians is to look critically at how we got here, and make much-needed changes to the governmental systems that allow inequality to persist.”

Let us all take this day to celebrate freedom, to reflect on continued injustice, and to recommit to being agents of change.

Jason, for the management team

CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY RESOURCE GUIDE

Jun 17, 2020

Shout out to Kirsten K at South for sharing this guide. Link to guide is at the very bottom of this post.

HI everyone. A social worker friend of mine sent me this and thought it may be of interest for you/members. The Work Ready program is for youth but I know we do have some 18-24yo members so might be good for some of them.

K

Hi all,

I hope you’re all well. Attached is the Emergency Resource Guide with the most recent set of updates. All the new updates are highlighted. As always, if there are any resources that I missed that might be helpful, please let me know.

With the city shifting to a new phase of reopening, there are a lot of updates this time, but I wanted to point out one new addition to the guide for any participants with kids between 12 and 24 years old. WorkReady (on page 17 of the guide) provides paid summer jobs and work experience for Philadelphia youth 12-24 years old. This year’s program will be virtual and will consist of digital experiences in one of three subject areas: digital career exposure, financial literacy, and digital literacy and brand identity. The program matches kids with participating organizations. The application deadline is June 30th and the website is www.workready.org.

Emergency Resources_2020_06_16_community-2