To Our Community,
These are exceptional times. And we need to rely on our exceptional community.
Since early this year, we have been monitoring health advisories and anticipating dramatic and immediate changes to our direct services in response to COVID-19. Like so many non-profits providing critical services, our mission and the community serve, as well as the safety and health of our staff, are our foremost priority in our decision making.
With 2020 marking our fourth decade, how we adapt and continue to serve during this health crisis is our greatest challenge to date.
What we know is that our shared CEID values have guided us since the 1980s and have helped us weather many storms. We have faced extraordinarily challenges before and came out stronger on the other end.
Our families, patients and staff have developed special skills that have led to transformation and success through time. At CEID, as we connect and create community, we hold core values and live by them every day. Our ability to be creative, flexible and agile; our capacity to identify strengths and promote hope; our belief in the power of collaboration and lifelong learning; and our tenacity and advocacy will guide us through these most trying of times. If there is any group who can figure out how to navigate this extraordinary situation, it is our CEID Community.
We made the decision on Monday, March 16, 2020 to temporarily suspend in-person support programming. It was an excruciatingly difficult call to make. But every passing hour confirms that it was the right one.
At the same time, we knew even before the Shelter in Place Order, that total social isolation is not an option; that community connection and emotional support are as essential to our health as minimizing exposure and spread. Reducing social isolation is the reason CEID exists. Therefore, our staff has been working around the clock – re-imagining and adjusting services to families & patients in our community.
We will be sharing details about our education and other “virtual” services as we build them and continue to provide ways to connect and support until we are able to fully open our doors again. Our Development team is also busy re-envisioning our now virtual Walk-A-Thon fundraiser, more on that soon!
Wherever we can, we've transformed in-person coaching and consultative therapies into virtual ones, and are fast-tracking online possibilities so we can continue to connect and provide services.
As you know, our Center and Clinics rely on funding from districts and other sources that are uncertain at this time. Now, more than ever, we ask our community to help sustain CEID as we chart a new course and look ahead to re-opening our doors.
We need your help. If you are able, you can help CEID weather this storm by becoming a sustaining donor for as little as $10 per month:
www.ceid.org/donate
.
Our team and our participants so appreciate your contributions.
The work of community care may be more important today than it has ever been in our 40 year history. The dramatic changes we’re facing as a community challenges us all. Together, we can transform this moment of unprecedented struggle into an opportunity for innovating towards even more resilient and transformative community care.
Yours in community,
