Friday, January 7, 2022
Hello All,
As cases of COVID-19 surge in most places, we would like to provide everyone with some updated information about COVID protocols as well as information regarding vaccines for children 5 years and older. We thank you all for keeping us informed when someone in your home tests positive, as we are required to notify licensing whenever a child in care is either directly exposed to Covid or tests positive. The latest variant, Omicron, spreads more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or do not have any symptoms.
Our goal at Angels is to do everything we can to protect our children, families, and staff from unnecessary risk and exposure. At this time, state licensing and the county continue to require weekly (or every other week) in-person visits with families. As an agency, we are respectfully asking that families abide by the following measures to mitigate risk for everyone:
- All of our CCMs will be wearing N95 or KN95 masks during all home visits with families.
- Home visits are to be outside as much as possible and may be brief and followed by a phone call with your CCM for further case discussion and support.
- Please wear a mask during your CCM’s home visit. We understand it may be frustrating for some, but it is requested in an effort to keep you, your family, and our staff healthy. If one of our staff becomes ill, they may easily spread it to other families and staff. If we have multiple staff out due to illness and quarantines, we cannot properly function as an agency.
- For visits at the Angels office, all of the same safety protocol that has been in place shall remain (masks required at all times, temperature checks upon arrival followed by handwashing).
- If anyone in your home has been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID, please let your CCM know, as this would be a reason to switch that week’s visit to virtual instead of in person.
- ***If anyone in the home is showing any signs of illness, please let your CCM know before your scheduled visit and this visit will be made virtual instead of in person. The same rules apply to CCMs who may be experiencing any symptoms. Symptoms include any cold symptoms, such as runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, congestion, etc.)
- One of our favorite parts of the CCM role is getting to hold and directly interact with all of the kiddos; however, right now our CCMs will not be holding children during visits and we're trying to keep physical contact to a minimum. This is very hard for our staff and likely difficult for the young ones to understand! Please know it is only to reduce the risk of transmission and we cannot wait until we can hug those little ones again. 🙂
Update on Vaccines for Placed Children 5 years and older
- We have recently been informed by the California Department of Social Services that Resource Parents may consent to COVID-19 vaccinations for dependent children aged 5 years and older in their care.
- Most birth parents are the primary medical rights holders and have the legal responsibility to make medical decisions for their children unless the court has limited that decision-making ability. However, as vaccinations are considered “ordinary treatment” pursuant to Health and Safety Code (HSC) section 1530.6 and Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) section 16519.57, a licensed or approved foster caregiver or congregate care provider (facility administrator or their designee) may consent to vaccinations for a foster youth without permission from the caseworker or a court order unless a medical provider is not recommending the vaccine or there is a court order restricting the youth from receiving the vaccine.
- Please discuss your decision to have the child in your care vaccinated with the child’s biological parents. If the child’s biological parents would like to have their child over 5 years vaccinated, please contact the child’s pediatrician to schedule the vaccination. If the pediatrician does not recommend the child be vaccinated for any reason, please let your CCM and the county social worker know.
- If there is a disagreement between the resource parent and the biological parent regarding whether the child should be vaccinated, please speak to your county social worker, who will encourage discussions and facilitate conversations with foster youth, parent(s), and caregivers to help everyone come to agreements
- If you would like more information about the specific order allowing resource parents to consent to vaccinations, please click here for the full report.