NORFOLK, Va. (November 25, 2020) — Message from CEO Wayne Jones
Members of the St. Mary’s Home Community,
Thank you for your ongoing support during this unprecedented worldwide health crises. While this has been one of the most challenging years in St. Mary’s history, your encouragement has helped our team rally, time and time again, to see the children and young adults through this pandemic healthy and well.
As we move forward, St. Mary’s Home is dedicated to implementing new processes in a stepwise approach that will allow for appropriate identification and remediation of any infection control issues. As demonstrated by recent significant outbreaks continuing in long-term care facilities in our local area, we must remain steadfast in our efforts while balancing high quality support. We continually monitor our region’s percent positivity rate of COVID-19 cases and follow updated guidelines from our various governing agencies.
In following these guidelines, we slowly welcomed families back to St. Mary’s Home with outdoor visitation beginning in July. With extensive health screenings, the use of masks, and limiting exposure with designated visitors, this has been hugely successful. Next, we implemented virtual learning in September through the Southeastern Cooperative Educational Program. This has been no small feat and we owe a debt of gratitude to Principal Susan Albert, the incredible teachers, assistants, and our team at the Home for going above and beyond. Thank you.
With these successes, we looked to enhance these services further. In October, we had some significant changes take place at the Home as they marked our continued progress forward. This included moving into the next phase of our response plan with indoor visitation for families. We’re continuing to take every precaution to ensure that this step is in line with our goal to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Finally, I would like to personally thank each and every team member who works a St. Mary’s Home. I have witnessed such tenacity and courage this year that I am beyond proud to lead this team of superheroes. You make a difference every day and I appreciate you.
Through these trying times for everyone, we remain steadfast in our mission to support people with disabilities. We look forward to a day when we will all come together again and celebrate a good life.
Sincerely,
Shannon Edsall
Chief Executive Officer