COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Fraser Clinics and Programs

(updated 01/3/2021)

Fraser wants to keep you, your family and our staff healthy. We've created health and safety protocols to address the risk of COVID-19. These protocols are continually updated based on current guidance and best practice recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Your health and safety is our first priority.

Wellness and Temperature Screenings

Before arriving at a Fraser location or upon check-in, clients and staff must complete a wellness screening form.

• ABA/Day Treatment client form 
  
• Outpatient client form 
  
• Staff form

We will do a forehead temperature screening of children in ABA, Day Treatment and at Fraser School. Children who have a temperature of 100.4°F or higher will be sent home.

• If a client or staff exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, they must stay home. Symptoms include:
1. New onset or worsening cough
2. Difficulty breathing (wheezing, shallow/rapid breaths, chest tightness)
3. Fever 100.4 or higher for people under age 12
4. Fever 100 or higher for people 12 years and older
5. Other new onset of symptoms including chills, muscle pain, fatigue, sore throat, headache, runny nose, loss of sense of taste or smell or gastrointestinal symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting or nausea.
• If a client or staff is exposed to someone with the following criteria, they must stay home:
1. Who has tested positive for COVID-19,
2. In the last 14 days,
3. And the client or staff was within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more

If the client or staff member exhibits the symptoms listed above or meets the exposure criteria, the person won't be at a Fraser location until further evaluation. If symptoms are consistent with COVID-19 or they receive a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, the individual may return to a Fraser location 10 days after symptoms first appeared, AND the individual goes 3 days with no fever AND improvement of respiratory symptoms.

Individuals who are exposed may return 14 days after the last exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Masks

All Fraser staff are expected to wear masks in common spaces. Staff providing outpatient, day treatment and ABA services will wear a mask while serving clients.

Clients attending evaluations are expected to wear a mask. Pre-school Day Treatment and ABA clients have the option to wear a mask during services. 

Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfecting

Fraser is using enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols. These protocols follow the MDH and CDC guidelines. Toys that cannot be easily cleaned and disinfected were removed from therapy rooms.

Group and Therapy Sizes

Day treatment groups will have up to 5 children and 4 adults per room. Intensive ABA services will have 4 children per room. Pediatric Therapy is occurring at Fraser Richfield or via telehealth. Fraser School will have 8-9 children per classroom with 1-2 staff.

Limited Contact in Buildings and Play Areas

We have reconfigured our clinics. Each group has a designated area to use within the building, and travel routes to enter and exit the building.

Outdoor play spaces are used on a rotating basis, and play equipment is cleaned between groups.

Social Distancing

Staff practices disciplined social distancing (at least six feet apart) throughout the building and grounds (meeting spaces, office suites, kitchens, restrooms, the break room and other areas).

To the extent possible, staff in day treatment and intensive services will encourage a safe social distance between children in the room. There will not be social distancing between staff and young children in these programs due to the nature of the service.

Suspended Attendance Policy

Fraser is suspending our attendance policy. If you choose to cancel appointments to practice social distancing, we understand. We can't guarantee your appointment spot will be retained if you cancel a series of appointments, but we will do our best to accommodate your re-entry into our scheduling process.

Confirmed Case

If a positive case is identified at Fraser, the Clinical Health and Safety Team will work with the MDH to identify anyone at risk of exposure. Following MDH instructions, Fraser will communicate with all families and staff at risk of exposure. Thorough cleaning and disinfecting will occur before clients and staff return to the impacted portion of the clinic.

Fraser Safety Protocols by Service

• Career Planning and Employment
• Case Management
• Clinical Programs (Autism, ABA, OT, PT, ST)
• Community Living
• Fraser School

You can also visit the CDC website for more information about coronavirus. You can also visit the Minnesota Department of Health website for more information in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Hmong, Karen, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.