Recently Speaking Up For Us Board Memebers and Self-Advocates were able to provide important feedback and input on a new Risk/Benefit Discussion Guide. Today we received a letter from Elizabeth Hopkins, Associate Director, thanking the Board Members and Self-Advocates for their input on this along with a copy of the Risk/Benefit Guide. We wanted to share this letter along with the Risk/Benefit Guide:
When and if a person should return to their program is a personal decision and should be made by comparing the risks and benefits of returning. The Risk/Benefit Discussion Guide was developed to help individuals, their families, case managers, and other service team members make the decision that is best for each individual. This tool is an optional way for teams to work together and think about some of the health and safety risks during COVID-19 related to attending a center based service.
If an individual does not want to go back to services in a group setting, other ways to get their services including telehealth should be talked about. A person can decide not to go back to an in-person group Community or Employment Support Service at this time but can decide to weigh the Risk/Benefits at a later time. We want to thank you and the SUFU board for your assistance by providing helpful input and feedback on this document. We are posting it on our website but wanted you to have a copy to share with SUFU members as well.
The Risk/Benefit Guide is below and can also be found at https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads/Coronavirus-COVID-19.shtml along with more resources.
