DHS COVID-19 PROVIDER GUIDANCE // OCDEL
PA Family Support Programs Operational Guidance
Aligned with the Governor’s Phased-In Approach to Reopen Pennsylvania
Issued: June 5, 2020
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) recognizes that maintaining the
safety of the Family Support workforce and families is essential during the COVID-19
pandemic. OCDEL is utilizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance,
as well as guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), to help Family Support
programs begin planning to safely re-establish face-to-face Family Support services in their
communities. Links to guidance from the CDC and DOH are included within this guidance.
OCDEL is providing this guidance to help individuals who provide Family Support services and
the families that receive services to be safe during the COVID-19 public health emergency as
counties move from the red through the yellow to the green phases.
Pennsylvania’s Plan for Reopening
The administration has relied on DOH’s metrics and a data tool developed by Carnegie Mellon
University to decide when to move a county to a new phase. The full plan is available here.
Family Support programs should review and plan for the implementation of the CDC and
DOH guidelines before reopening.
RED PHASE // Family Support Program Guidance- Face-to-face Family Support services are suspended and the use of virtual home visits/teleintervention is encouraged.
- This includes both home visiting and group-based Family Support services.
- Groups may be offered through virtual platforms if it is an approved model service
delivery strategy.
- Screenings conducted only virtually.
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YELLOW PHASE // Family Support Program Guidance- Virtual home visits/tele-intervention to deliver Family Support services and screenings
continue.
- In person group-based Family Support services remain suspended.
- Groups may still be offered through virtual platforms if it is an approved model
service delivery strategy.
- Family Support programs housed within or utilizing school buildings for services must also
follow the Pennsylvania Department of Education guidance for reopening school buildings.
- Family Support programs may identify a need to schedule an in-person screening if the
screening cannot be completed remotely. Providers may also need to provide services in a
home if the family does not have access to technology that allows services to be delivered
through virtual home visits/tele-intervention. In these cases, prior to making a home visit,
providers of Family Support services should identify their own risk of transmitting COVID-19
and their risk of complications if they were to be infected. Providers of Family Support services
should also identify family members in the visited home who may be at risk of transmitting
COVID-19 or having complications if infected with COVID-19.
- When there is an identified need for a home visit, providers of Family Support services should
contact the family prior to the home visit to ask the following health screening questions.
Providers should document the responses.
1. Has anyone in the home tested positive for or is suspected of having COVID-19? 2. Does anyone in the home have signs or symptoms of a fever, new or worsening
cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or
body aches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea, vomiting,
or respiratory illness? 3. Has anyone in the home had contact within the last 14 days with someone with or
awaiting test results for COVID-19? 4. Will a person with a weakened immune system, a person who is over the age of
65 years, or a person that has chronic health conditions (e.g., heart disease, lung
disease, diabetes), or other factors that pose a risk if the person becomes infected
with COVID-19 be present during the visit?
If providers of Family Support services believe they are at risk of transmitting COVID-19 or
the response is yes to any of the questions above, it is recommended that providers of Family
Support services communicate with the family the need to postpone the visit and to schedule a
time to plan for a future visit. - If the provider of Family Support services is not able to contact the family before the home
visit and decides to proceed with the visit, the provider should ask the four health screening
questions included above before entering the home to make sure the provider is doing
everything the provider can to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The provider should stand
approximately 6 feet from the doorway when asking the four health screening questions.
- If the answer is no to all of the health screening questions included above, and the
provider decides that going to the home is in the best interest of the child and family,
then the provider of Family Support services should take the precautions listed below
to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- If the answer is yes to any of the questions above the provider should reschedule the
in-person home visit for another date and time or reschedule the visit as a virtual home
visit.
- Precautions during a home visit include:
o Following the CDC and DOH guidelines.
o Whenever possible, maintaining a minimum 6-foot distance between the provider of
Family Support services and family members during a visit.
- Conducting the visit outside of the home if appropriate and within model-fidelity
requirements.
- Wearing a mask or cloth face covering to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Minimizing physical contact with frequently touched surfaces in the home.
- Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before entering/going to
the home and after exiting. If soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitizer that
contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth.
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GREEN PHASE // Family Support Program Guidance- Virtual home visits/tele-intervention to deliver Family Support services and conduct
screenings should continue unless there is minimal concern for the spread of COVID-19 in
the Family Support programs service area.
- Family Support programs housed within or utilizing school buildings for services must also
continue to follow the Pennsylvania Department of Education guidance for reopening
school buildings.
- Face-to-face services may resume.
- Including all in-person group-based Family Support services.
- All Family Support programs must follow CDC and DOH guidelines.
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Related Resources
The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation. It is important for Family Support
programs to continually check the resources listed below for any new guidance or additional
information.
- Get the latest information from DOH here.
- CDC guidance for Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel is available here.
- CDC guidance on infection prevention and control recommendations for patients with
suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in healthcare settings is available here.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Health
CDC Resources
Communities and Healthcare Providers
Pregnant Women, Infants and Families
General Prevention and Frequently Asked Questions
Families and Young Children
Social Service Providers