ACH Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update – Reopen plan

Emily Harper • May 28, 2020

Memo To: Public From: A Child’s Haven

A Child’s Haven Reopen Plan

After weeks of quarantine with teletherapy services, A Child’s Haven (ACH) is reopening our Treatment Center June 1 with heightened safety precautions in place. Please read below for a synopsis of our new safety precautions.

Before entering the building:

Each child, adult, and staff member will fill out a questionnaire and complete a temperature check. If anyone answers yes to any question, or has a fever, they will be denied access to the building. Once the screening is complete, they will sanitize their hands and enter the building.

Children will be walked from their car, to the treatment room by ACH staff. Parents and Caregivers will not enter the building unless absolutely necessary, even if they have been screened.

Inside the building: 

We are implementing extra sanitation precautions in each treatment room. Staff will be encouraged to wear a mask when in close proximity to children or other co-workers. We have masks for children as well but will not require children wear the mask if they are uncomfortable.

We have split our staff into Team A and B to limit the number of people in each treatment room. If one team member needs to leave the room for any reason (i.e. to use the restroom), the another team member will enter and take over their responsibilities in the treatment room until the other team member returns.

All surfaces, toys, materials will be disinfected daily and all cloth items such as stuffed animals, sheets, blankets, and pillows will be washed weekly.

As always, all staff will practice good hand washing techniques, cover sneezes and coughs, and stay home if sick.

If someone shows COVID-19 symptoms:

If a staff member or child exhibits COVID-19 symptoms once in the building, they will be escorted to a designated isolation room where they will wait until they leave the premises or until a caregiver can pick them up. Staff members and other adults will be able stay in the isolation room alone. If a child exhibits symptoms, they will be isolated with a staff member that they have rapport with until they are picked up by their caregiver.

No one will be able to enter the isolation room until it is disinfected 24 hours after a sick person leaves the room.

In order for that staff member or child to return, they must present documentation from a medical professional that states they do not have COVID-19 or are not sick anymore.

If someone is diagnosed with COVID-19:

If someone at ACH is diagnosed with COVID-19, we will shut down our facility for 72 hours to allow enough time for us to disinfect the entire facility. That person or child will not be able to return to ACH for work or treatment services unless they have documentation from a medical professional stating that they are no longer infected.

All safety precautions were developed based on the latest recommendations from the CDC and DHEC. Our leadership team continues to monitor COVID-19 and will make adjustments in our policies when necessary. We thank you for your patience and support throughout this time. Because of you, children and families were still able to receive teletherapy treatment during our temporary shutdown. We look forward to reopening our treatment center on June 1 and providing our full services once again.

Lincoln and Jasmine's Story

By A Child's Haven • 20 Jul, 2022
Twins, Lincoln and Jasmine, were three years old when referred to A Child’s Haven (ACH) by their Early Interventionist (EI) for speech delays and extreme separation anxiety. Lincoln and Jasmine’s mother, Jessica, shared with their EI that she was struggling with her husband’s death and needed help. Her EI had just attended a Lunch and Learn at ACH and knew Jessica and this family could benefit from our multigenerational treatment services. During their ACH intake, Jessica revealed Lincoln and Jasmine’s father passed away shortly after their second birthday. After their father’s death, the twins had very different reactions. Jasmine developed extreme separation anxiety, and Lincoln went from a boy full of personality to not talking at all. The first few weeks of drop offs were extremely tough for the twins. Emotions ran high, and you could feel the children’s despair and insecurity. Our clinical team showered them with patience and support, and Jessica’s Child and Family Therapist walked her through different ways to comfort and help Lincoln and Jasmine with this transition. Once the children became more comfortable with coming to ACH, a transformation began. Our clinical team helped Jasmine identify her anxiety and taught her healthy coping strategies. Lincoln learned other ways to communicate, starting with basic sign language, until he gained the confidence to speak simple words like, “Yes”, “No”, and “Thank you.” After several months, Lincoln was speaking in full sentences again. The twins weren’t the only ones making progress. Jessica had major breakthroughs during Family Therapy sessions with their Child and Family Therapist. She worked through a lot of her grief, learned better routines that would help their family at home, and practiced coping skills with her children. Lincoln and Jasmine are now five years old and getting ready for Kindergarten this fall. The whole family continues making progress each day. An investment in A Child’s Haven is an investment in a child and family’s mental health. Donate today.

Inaugural 4K Graduation

By A Child's Haven • 07 Jun, 2022
A Child’s Haven (ACH) hosted its inaugural 4K graduation Friday, June 3, 2022 in collaboration with South Carolina First Steps (SCFS). Family members, ACH staff, community members, and Miss South Carolina USA, Meera Bhonsle, were all present for the celebration. ACH was the fourth SCFS 4K program in Greenville County and launched in August 2021. ACH also provides Therapeutic Child Care to young children suffering from trauma or abuse. The SCFS 4K program adds a traditional academic component and further ensures a child’s success when they enter a public-school classroom. ACH Program Director, Coraretta Smalls, leads the initiative with support from other clinical staff. The SCFS 4K Program enhances the ACH program as a model for Therapeutic Child Care in South Carolina. ACH Executive Director, Tanya Camunas, commented that, “We are thrilled to be graduating our first 4K class this year. Our children will enter public school having overcome their trauma and prepared to be great learners.” South Carolina First Steps is the state’s only dedicated, comprehensive early childhood initiative focused on getting children ready for school and life success. Martha M. Strickland, South Carolina First Steps 4K State Director said, “We are grateful to A Child’s Haven for partnering with First Steps 4K so that all students are fully prepared for kindergarten. SC First Steps 4K gives families the opportunity to enroll their eligible child in a free, high-quality 4K program of their choice as part of South Carolina’s Child Early Reading Development and Education Program (CERDEP).” About A Childs Haven: Founded in 1992 by Eva P. Hunt, ACH is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that provides healing therapy for Greater Greenville’s developmentally challenged at-risk preschoolers, while fortifying vulnerable families and strengthening our community. It is one of only two Therapeutic Child Care service providers in the state. https://achildshaven.org/ About South Carolina First Steps: South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness (SCFS) is both a nonprofit and state agency and is the only dedicated comprehensive early childhood agency in South Carolina focused on getting children ready for school and life success. We serve more than 30,000 children in 81 school districts across 46 counties. https://scfirststeps.org/

ACH Receives CARF Re-Accreditation for the Fourth Consecutive Time

By A Child's Haven • 07 Jun, 2022
A Child’s Haven (ACH) recently earned our fourth consecutive Three-Year Accreditation from the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF). ACH is accredited until March 31, 2025 for Intense Family Based Services: Family Services (Children and Adolescent); with Board Governance Standards applied. CARF’s decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization and demonstrates ACH’s conformance to CARF standards. The process involved a rigorous peer review by a team of surveyors during an on-site visit, and the outcome affirmed ACH’s commitment to offer programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality. “CARF commends A Child’s Haven’s commitment and consistent efforts to improve the quality of tis programs and services and looks forward to working with the organization in its ongoing pursuit of excellence,” said President and CEO of CARF, Brian J. Boon, Ph.D. This achievement came as ACH celebrates their 30 th anniversary of providing healing therapy to children and families who have suffered from trauma. Executive Director, Tanya Camunas, said this about their recent accomplishment, “We are extremely proud of achieving the highest level of accreditation that CARF offers. This further distinguishes A Child’s Haven as an organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of lives of children and families in our community.” Learn more about ACH’s services and how you can get involved at www.achildshaven.org About A Child’s Haven: Founded in 1992 by Eva P. Hunt, ACH is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that provides healing therapy for Greater Greenville’s developmentally challenged at-risk preschoolers, while fortifying vulnerable families and strengthening our community. It is one of only two Therapeutic Child Care service providers in South Carolina. https://achildshaven.org/ About CARF: CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org .
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