October 2019, Felton celebrated our 130th Anniversary of uninterrupted service to Bay Area communities, received a proclamation awarded by the Mayor of San Francisco, and enjoyed the celebratory gathering of 500 donors, supporters, staff, and program partners. We had no idea that within four months our community—in fact, the world community— would face a deadly pandemic that challenged the way we serve.
Thankfully, Felton was prepared to meet the challenges that 2020’s shelter-in-place government orders, the deadly dangers of the highly transmissible COVID-19 virus, social unrest due to national racial reckoning, and the uncertainties wrought by the presidential election.
Faced with social chaos and heightened need, we maintained our mental health assistance to our high-risk clients by expanding our remote services. Having upgraded the technology used to respond to crisis calls shortly following the merger of San Francisco Suicide Prevention into Felton, we were prepared to equip staff with the ability to work from home. The Senior Division was effective in addressing increased client needs associated with isolation. The Early Care and Education sites transformed to support in-home care, then reconfigured as in-person pods when conditions improved. Felton staff lent their expertise to San Francisco’s Health Department in planning for Pop-Up hospitals in anticipation of COVID response needs. Facing the gravest health jeopardy, our street team donned PPE and continued high risk intervention, outreach services to the most vulnerable. As is our tradition, we served in turbulent times.
Felton’s footprint expanded during this time. The Agency growth was fueled through expansion of our Justice programs that offered reentry services to an increasing number of individuals released from prison and jails. Felton’s Technical Assistance services to nonprofits in behavioral health also proved a source of growth. These areas allowed our talented team of problem solvers to jump into action, share innovative visions of how to improve outcomes for those in need of health access and support, and accelerate overall community
well-being.
Given the tremendous work of these Felton first responders, it is notable that no staff were lost to the deadly virus. Additionally, the organization successfully managed increased financial burdens of protective measures necessitated in response to COVID-19, including PPE and office structural redesigns. In fact, Felton has emerged in 2021 stronger and better prepared to serve our communities as we pursue a new normal.
