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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. 

​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. 

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.


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