Greetings,
I hope this message finds you doing well during this unusual time. Stone Belt is continuing to assess the COVID-19 situation by staying up to date on the Governor’s orders, the Indiana State Department of Health requirements, and the CDC guidance.  At this time, we plan to keep facility-based Lifelong Learning programs closed until June 1. When we reopen, it will be done on a gradual basis, so we do not lose ground to the virus. We want to continue to keep everyone well.

Lifelong Learning staff will be in touch with clients, families, and partner providers to determine your needs and desires on returning. They will keep you informed about when people may start to return to the Lifelong Learning classes. We will be particularly careful about those that have underlying health conditions who will probably return later than some others. Those who have been at home with their family will be given higher priority for return wherever possible.

We are still considering transportation options and it is likely that those who return will need their own transportation for a while.

In the meantime, we are planning gradual reopening of other services starting on May 18 including:  

• Milestones services, including the clinic, skills development, and behavior supports will begin offering face to face services where it is safe to do so.
• Employment services will begin to offer face to face services where it is safe to do so.
• Lifelong Learning will begin limited community-based services dependent upon staff availability where it is safe to do so.
• As space allows, Manufacturing Services will re-open for clients residing in their family homes who meet criteria and do not have vulnerable health conditions. Your coordinator will contact you about this possibility.

Our plans could change if the health crisis either improves or worsens over the next two months. 

Thank you for your continued cooperation and patience as we work through the necessary responses to this pandemic. Considering the serious circumstances we are all in, everyone has done remarkably well. We have a ways to go and some uncertainty ahead, but we will get through this as safely and as soon as possible. 

Leslie Green
CEO

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

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