Coronavirus, COVID-19 Update

Semcac is taking all of Governor Walz’s directives seriously and following updates and guidance provided by the CDC and MN Dept of Health, about COVID-19. Semcac monitors the situation regularly and is also receiving recommendations from various state funding sources.

Please be patient, kind and forgiving as we do our best to navigate this situation.

We are doing our best to keep our clients/consumers, staff and community safe and healthy. As the southeast Community Action Agency serving a span of counties and thousands of individuals and families, we want to help people however we are able, while keeping our staff safe. Please know our decisions to cancel events or limit congregating is for the health of all.

Internal changes as recommended by CDC for enhanced cleaning schedules and procedures, working from home for staff if possible, less in-person meetings and more electronic communications, physical distancing, and encouraging employees to stay home if feeling ill, is all being practiced.

Semcac is working, internally, on addressing all aspects required for the peacetime emergency, COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, required by Gov. Walz’s executive order, 20-48. Semcac employees can access the agency’s full plan, including program/dept specifics, and health self-screening sheet by logging into the EWS site. Public can access the agency wide portion of the Semcac COVID 19 Preparedness Plan, here.

In an effort to be cognizant of health and recommendations to decrease the spread of illness, we are reducing in-person contact as much as possible. We ask that clients/constituents please call, email or mail communications instead of coming in-person if at all possible. Visit our Contact Us page to find the contact info for your location.

Changes & Updates to Services

Contact County Offices: Please contact and make an appointment before visiting. The offices are limiting entry and some location’s office hours. Communication will be done with clients via phone or email, and physical distancing is being practiced. Signage is posted at the sites.
- Email contacts for each of the county office sites are as follows: Dodge – dodgeoutreach@semcac.org | Fillmore – prestoncc@semcac.org | Freeborn – albertleacc@semcac.org | Mower – austincc@semcac.org | Houston – caledoniacc@semcac.org | Steele – owatonnacc@semcac.org | Winona – winonacc@semcac.org
- Food Shelves: Operating during regularly scheduled times of operation (Tues & Thurs.) However, signs will be posted with instructions. Please be patient and respectful of others and of our staff with these changes. Sites may have doors locked in order to bring pre-packaged food supplies to clients — outside of our doors/to vehicles, etc.
  - Read the Preston Food Shelf Reopening Plan, here– Scheduled for July 2nd for client’s choice.
Head Start Program: Sites are closed when the related school system cancels school. Additionally, at this time per mandate, all Head Start classroom sites are closed as of 3/18/20 per the governor’s directive timeframe. Head Start staff are doing their best to help Head Start families during this period- We provided all families with educational materials of learning activities to do at home, along with food and info on community resources such as available meal services. Staff are maintaining regular contact with every family to listen and provide support.
- Early Head Start/ Home Based visits are also suspended at this time.
- You can still fill out the Head Start enrollment application on our website, directly.
Weatherization & Housing Programs
- Housing – Rehabs, etc: Any home visits will be preceded by a phone call to make sure that households are comfortable with having staff enter their home and that clients are healthy. Read the COVID-19 Policy for Housing.
- Weatherization:
  - Weatherization program staff are following the guidance provided by the MN Dept. of Commerce – MN Weatherization Assistance Program Guidance for COVID-19 Safe Work Practices: View or download the guidance here. The practices within are to equip the workers to help ensure both their own health and safety and the health and safety of the client’s household members.
    - As part of this plan, there will be a Pre-Site Visit Client Contact Screening Checklist that our staff will be required to complete with the client prior to the visit.
  - Notice given to mechanical contractors to complete all jobs in progress by 3/20/20 and hold projects not yet started.
  - Semcac’s Energy Auditors will not be doing new energy audits at this time.
  - The Weatherization crew will continue working on emergency furnace and water heater repairs/replacement jobs as they are able and funds allow. Call 800.944-3281
Senior Dining/Nutrition Services: Home delivered and Meals on Wheels are operating. Congregate (Senior Dining) meals are NOT able to allow clients to congregate/gather, however options are currently available for meal pick-up, packaged meals-to-go. Please contact our Senior Services admin staff in Rushford for more information. 507.864.8231
- Senior Dining will allow for up to 4 take-out/pick-up meals per day, for recipients.
Semcac Clinic: Signage is posted at the site with instructions. Please be sure to call before coming, as appointments are required and there is limited availability. With recommendation from the Clinic’s Medical Director, the Clinic will be mailing prescription refills, if possible, so you will not be coming to pick them up on-site. Contact the Clinic with any questions.
- Clinic will be open, again, starting the week of April 13th, but with limited hours. Please watch social media (@Semcac Clinic) and our website for updates to Clinic hours.
  - Current Hours — Mon: 9a – 3p | Tue: 8a – 5p | Wed: 8a – 5p | Th: 9a – 3p | Friday: CLOSED
- Note: Semcac Clinic does NOT provide COVID-19/ Coronavirus testing. Please contact Public Health for more information about where to go for testing.
- Semcac Clinic also needs to limit the amount of patients and persons in the waiting area. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation – thank you.
Transportation: We will follow any mandates provided by MN Dept of Transportation and the Governor. At this time, cleaning efforts have been increased and we are operating.
Energy Assistance Program: Please limit in-person visits and contact with our staff as instructed above. Please contact the Rushford office at 800-944-3281 or email semcac.org/energy for your energy assistance needs.
- Due to the pandemic, EAP deadline for accepting applications, this year, is extended until July 1st.
- Also, the program is now able to help pay past due bills for qualifying households.
- Due to the COVID outbreak, only proof for 1 month of income will be needed (instead of the usual 3 months).
Semcac’s main administrative office in Rushford, 204 S. Elm Street will have the doors locked with signage and instructions posted with phone and email contacts for visitors to utilize. Limited staff will be there at varied times. We apologize for any inconvenience but, please know, we are doing our best to communicate and to serve – while maintaining physical distance and working from home per the governors directives. Messages will be checked regularly as applicable. The main office can be reached at 507.864.7741

Please visit this page and follow @Semcac on social media for regular updates and changes. We will do our best to communicate them as they occur. Remember, changes are temporary until further notice.

Donations

Donations are crucial and helpful during this time of unusual circumstance and crisis situations. Please visit our DONATE page to learn about ways to give. Please note: our food shelves and nutrition programs would encourage monetary gifts vs. gifts of food at this time due to the evolving changes with information regarding virus transmission. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY as we band together to help southeastern Minnesota! One of our online donation partners, GiveMN is kindly gifting back any usual fees associated with processing card donations during the months of March and April, to the nonprofits.

Volunteering

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us. Know that the capacity we utilize volunteers during this period may be limited and may change regularly. We also would be accepting volunteer help from those who are not ill, not showing symptoms of illness, who have not traveled to the areas listed on the CDC website regarding the COVID 19 spread, and those who have not had contact with someone infected. But, we are very appreciative that you are interested in helping your community!