Online class for parents of kids with trauma

July 7, 2020

North Idaho Community Mental Health Clients,

We are committed to helping you stay healthy and we are here for you. During this critical period, it is important to take care of each other for the health and safety of our clients, our staff and our community. We are committed to flattening the curve while still providing services to you and your family.

First, rest assured that our agency is still operating. We can be reached by phone Monday- Thursday from 8- 4:30 and on Friday’s we are checking messages.

If you have an emergency, we will do our best to have clinical staff talk to you that day.

We ask that you call 911 or go to the local emergency room if the emergency is life-threatening.

We are using telehealth as much as possible for all services, but we are starting face to face on a very limited need basis. Your clinician and the support staff will be discussing if you will be doing face to face.

We have a waiver and health questions that will need to be signed, prior to any face to face contact.

However, if you are running both a fever, or you have a cough or respiratory symptoms, we ask that you schedule a video visit to reduce possible exposure to the new virus.

If you have travel outside of Bonner County, please let the front desk know as we may be unable to do face to face for 10-14 days if you have travel to a high-risk area. Our staff has the same requirements.

At this time, in accordance with CDC guidelines, we now require that all patients

wear a face mask in our office. If you are unable to wear a mask for any reason,

please inform our receptionists at the time of your appointment. Understand that

we are sanitizing common touch surfaces like door handles, countertops, and

pens several times a day. Even so, practice good personal hygiene habits including

hand washing and avoid touching your face when in public.

We have been here through this whole health emergency and we will continue to be here.

Please call us at 208-265-6798 and let us know what you need.

Sincerely,

North Idaho Community Mental Health

What our services will look like going into May

April 29, 2020

Dear client or family,

I am continually monitoring the various sources of information (Panhandle Health District, Department of H&W and Governor Little’s informational briefings) to help us prepare for the ongoing impacts from COVID-19.

The Department of H&W is asking us to use our best clinical and professional judgement to minimize risk for both our clients and our staff. They are asking us to continue to use telehealth options whenever possible. I know we have clients and staff that have high risk factors and will be needing to continue Telehealth options for a long time to come.

I will be having staff call you by phone in the next 2 weeks to start assessing your preference for the delivery of your therapeutic services.

In the meantime, our office remains closed to client’s in the building.

When we do start more face to face contact, there is a list of health questions my staff will be utilizing for themselves and clients prior to starting a session. Obviously if anyone is sick, the session will not occur at that time.

We will also be utilizing outdoor activities and outdoor spaces as often as possible for some of the support services.

This will be a team approach between you and your staff.

Please continue to reach out if you are in crisis or if you have any questions. I am at work daily and return calls very quickly.

Thank you so much for everyone’s patience during this public health emergency.

Jenny Brotherton- Manna

Owner, NICMH

jenbro@nicmh.com

208-265-6798