• Stone Belt Lifelong Learning and Manufacturing services in Bloomington, Bedford, and Columbus will continue to be closed through May 1, 2020.

• Milestones & Community Employment programs continue to provide services.

• Stone Belt's Residential Programs continue to operate as usual.

Please check back here frequently for updates on Stone Belt's operational status.

I wanted to keep you aprised of what Stone Belt is doing to keep those we support and our staff healthy and safe amid the Coronavirus outbreak in our communities.

As the numbers of cases of the Coronavirus continue to climb in Indiana daily, we feel the risk of trying to reopen facility-based programs are too great in the near future.  Therefore, in order to protect the health and safety of our clients and staff, Stone Belt Lifelong Learning and Manufacturing Services in Bloomington, Bedford, and Columbus will continue to be closed through May 1, 2020.

Stone Belt’s residential programs will continue to support clients in their homes. We commend all direct support and management staff, including our regular residential staff, and the day services staff that have moved over to help staff the homes.  After almost three weeks of social distancing, they have kept these individuals healthy and safe. This is to be celebrated.

To families and community partners, we regret that we cannot provide all of our usual services during this time.  While this is beyond our control, please know that we’ll do all we can to return to normal as soon as it is safe to do so. 

While we have day services closed, we are trying to offer other services where it is feasible or essential. 

• We are offering a full schedule of Facebook Live events throughout the week. Clients at home can participate by joining the Lifelong Learning page. Lifelong Learning staff will also reach out as much as possible to those clients staying at home and not in contact with others.
• Milestones and Community Employment programs will continue to offer services. Many of these services have been moved to teleconferencing. Staff in these programs will remain in contact with clients and families as needed regarding necessary schedule changes to limit social contact or to account for other community closures. Check out our Project SEARCH and Pre-ETS Facebook pages for information about staying engaged.

I would like to thank our staff, our clients, our families, and our friends for their dedication and support as we continue to weather the Coronavirus to the best of our abilities. We continue to seek and follow the guidance of local, national, and global health authorities. Please feel free to share any concerns or questions with me via the comment section below.

Thank You,

Leslie Green
CEO 

An IU Health app is offering free COVID-19 screenings through a virtual clinic. The app, IU Health Virtual Visit, is staffed 24/7 with IU Health physicians, advance practice providers, and registered nurses. 

Patients can use the app to be screened for the coronavirus from home, which can potentially eliminate the need to visit a physical doctor’s office, urgent care or emergency room. The app's team can recommend and facilitate appropriate steps for care and provide direct access to local hospitals and medical care. 

The app encourages users to answer questions about their medical history and any underlying conditions they have before being connected to a medical professional through video chat. 

How can you access the hub?

1. Download the free IU Health Virtual Visits app (Google Play or iTunes) or enroll on your computer.
2. Enroll by creating a free login and completing your personal profile.
3. Connect with the virtual hub, select “Coronavirus Screen” and find the appropriate pathway for care.
   Click here to see visual, step-by-step instructions.

Be sure to allow access to your camera and microphone if you are using the app. If you are connecting via desktop, be sure to test your computer settings.

Stone Belt’s leadership is closely following the latest news and guidance provided by our community partners including:

• The Arc of Indiana's COVID-19 Resources
• Administration for Community Living (ACL)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH)
• IU Health
• Bartholomew County Health Department
• Lawrence County Health Department
• Monroe County Health Department

Recovery Rebates
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) authorized stimulus payments (called Recovery Rebates) to be given to many people across the United States.

Who is eligible for Recovery Rebates?
The payments are available to many people, even people who do not make enough money to file taxes.

How much is the payment?
$1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for married couples who filed jointly. People whose adjusted gross income was less than $75,000 for a single individual or $150,000 for married filling jointly are eligible for the full payment.

Do asset and income limits apply to these payments?
No. These payments are like tax rebates, they "shall not be taken into account as resources for a period of 12 months from receipt, for purposes of determining the eligibility of such individual (or any other individual) for benefits or assistance (or the amount or extent of benefits or assistance) under any Federal program or under any State or local program financed in whole or in part with Federal funds" (26 U.S. Code 6409). This means that people with disabilities can accept these payments without putting Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other benefits at risk.

Do I need to fill out a form to get payment?
The payments will be issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), like a tax refund, and if a person filed taxes in 2018 or in 2019, the payment will be made automatically to the bank account or address the IRS has on file.

Can people on SSI or Social Security get payments?
Yes, but many people may need to file tax returns. The Arc of the United States is working with the Administration and Congress to make the process as automatic as possible for everyone.

Information about Coronavirus

• Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
• How COVID-19 Spreads
• Older People & People with Chronic Diseases at Higher Risk
• What others can do to support Older Adults
• Symptoms
• FAQs

The CDC offers these videos to better understand COVID-19.

• COVID-19: What Older Adults Need to Know 
• What is Coronavirus Disease?
• What's my risk?
• How to protect myself?
• COVID-19 Stop the Spread of Germs