At California Autism Center we provide medically necessary services, therefore we are considered an essential business and will continue to remain open for our clients. We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and are seeking information from both national and local health departments including the Center for Disease Control and the Fresno County Department of Public Health.
The safety of our staff and families has and always will be a top priority. Here’s a look at what we’re doing :
Daily Health Screening
- Dedicated staff are scheduled to screen all individuals prior to entering each building. This includes a “no-touch” thermal temperature reading and a short questionnaire to ensure no symptoms are present and to ensure the individual has not been exposed to a suspected or confirmed case.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Staff and essential vendors are required to wear masks or approved face coverings in all spaces with the exception of individuals who work in private offices.
Routine Cleaning
- We have increased the frequency of internal routine cleaning such as disinfecting high-touch surfaces like door handles, staff tablets, workstations, and sanitizing toys after every use. Daily documentation has been implemented for accountability.
- A third party janitorial company services our offices three days per week. This vendor disinfects all surfaces and high touch areas with medical grade products.
Limited Visitors & Social Distancing
- Children, staff, and essential vendors are the only individuals currently allowed to enter our offices. Parent tours have been reinstated but we are no longer allowing children to accompany their parents.
- We have limited the number of clients/staff allowed in designated areas throughout the centers and signage is visible to remind staff to socially distance.
- In-person meetings have transitioned to videoconferencing to limit inter-office travel.
Hand-Washing & Hygiene
- Our management team continues to emphasize the importance of hand washing that is aligned with the CDC-recommended 20-second hand washing techniques, and we are reinforcing this action with staff and children multiple times throughout the day, including upon entering the center and during client transitions to new therapists.
- We have increased the quantity and accessibility of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for staff at our centers and will continue to use products designed to effectively kill coronavirus.
Staying Home if Sick
- Staff and clients are required to stay home if they have been exposed to a potential case or if they are exhibiting any COVID-like symptoms. Individuals may only return to the center 10 days after exposure and at least 72 hours after symptoms subside per CDC guidelines.
- Our employee sick leave policy has been modified to be more flexible.
Additional Training
- Supervisors and managers have been trained on enhanced precautions and preventative measures to keep everyone safe and healthy.
For questions or concerns, please contact our Administrative Office at (559) 492-7900 or email covid19@calautismcenter.org.
We wish everyone the best during these challenging times and we thank our staff for their ongoing dedication to our clients. We are #CACstrong!