Phase II Re-Entry Safety Protocol

Thanks to the community effort to keep our girls and staff safe during the Phase I Re-Entry, our farms are now ready for a Phase II Re-Entry. We are so grateful to every champion who donated cleaning supplies and gift cards to safely transition our girls back onto the farms for their much-needed EAP and tutoring sessions!

Phase II Action Plan

Our Coronavirus Task Force has created a procedure for all humans on the farms to follow while we are in the midst of Phase II Reopening, in order to prevent the spread of disease at CORRAL. 

Who is on the Farm During Phase II?

During Phase II at CORRAL, groups of up to 10 people (staff/volunteers/girls) will be allowed to meet in one space. With any group, social distancing of 6ft or more is required (except in case of emergency).  All people entering the farm will still be scheduled so that either Camille (Cary) or Lauren (Raleigh) will know who is on the farm at any given time. The following types of people will be allowed on the farm: 

1. All people allowed during Phase 1
2. Operational Volunteers: cowboys/cowgirls, feeders, horse assistants, equine specialists, tutors, gardeners, exercise riders
3. Corporate volunteers may enter the farm as needed; their manager will check with Camille or Lauren first to make sure that the extra volunteers will not put either farm at “capacity”.

The state Phase II plan states that tele-work should continue where possible. Corporate Team members will continue to tele-work, unless otherwise informed by their manager. 

The following protocols for Phase II: 

1. Masks should be worn indoors when others are present.
2. Encourage groups to meet outside whenever possible.
3. The maximum number of groups at Neuse River at any time is one group.
4. The maximum number of people at the Cary Farm will be 20.
5. Contact-log: 
   1. Everyone entering the farm must check-in on our log or this log, so staff can know who is on the farm and when, in order to monitor all potential contacts.
   2. Everyone leaving the farm must complete the contact log 
   3. Camille & Lauren are responsible for keeping copies of the log available on each farm.
6. During Phase II, we will have additional supervision in high-traffic areas, to ensure that proper cleaning procedures are being followed. This can look like:
   1. A staff member reminding girls to wipe down the bathroom after use
   2. Staff being present when a group of volunteers begin their shift to remind everyone of social distancing and cleaning procedures
   3. Scheduling is essential to reduce capacity in high-capacity areas.
7. Additional signage needed (Cary only):
   1. Signs up at the main office stating that the main office is currently reserved for staff only unless otherwise approved by CORRAL staff.
   2. Place an additional “no visitors” statement that is COVID specific.

Supplies are Crucial to CORRAL’s Ability to Reopen and Stay Open

CORRAL’s champions have made it possible for us to safely reopen by providing sanitary and protective equipment. There is an inventory for each farm, linked here.

Daily Set-Up: First Person Who Arrives Daily

1. At Kildaire Farm, the Program Director will determine who is responsible for daily set-up. At Neuse River, the Managing Director will determine who is responsible for daily set-up.
2. The first person on the farm is required to wash their hands, take their temperature, and complete the COVID-19 exposure assessment upon arrival. See below “Procedure: Entering the Farm” for specifics. 
3. After being cleared to remain on the farm, this person must renew the supplies for the day.
   1. Fill spray bottles with disinfectant (remember to grab a spray bottle for yourself)
   2. Renew bleach solution in the barn
      1. ⅓ cup of bleach per gallon of water
      2. 4 tablespoons of bleach per quart of water
   3. Retrieve checklist and print new ones for any volunteers who may arrive today
4. Please give all spaces a precursory spray down before other people enter the farm.

Procedure: Entering the Farm

Each day, there will be a staff member assigned as acting safety officer on the farm. They are in charge of ensuring all sanitizing and social distancing procedures are followed. At Kildaire Farm, the Program Director (Camille) is the safety officer, but she may appoint another staff member in the event she will not be on the farm. At Neuse River, the Mental Health Professional (Katie) is the safety officer, unless other circumstances require that the Managing Director (Lauren) take over the role.

1. Upon arriving at the farm, please wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer if it is available.
2. After washing your hands, you will need to take your temperature with the thermometer located on site. If you have a thermometer at home, you also have the option of taking your temperature prior to leaving for the farm. If the reading does not indicate a fever (less than 100.4), you are able to stay on the farm for the day. If the reading indicates a fever (100.4 or higher), you will need to inform your manager and leave the farm.
3. After taking your temperature, please sanitize the thermometer with the alcohol wipes provided and then wash your hands again.
4. Independently, complete the COVID questionnaire (JCC 06-10-2020) to determine your likelihood of exposure to COVID-19. If you have any symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, you will need to leave the farm and isolate at home for 14 days.
5. CORRAL will provide two masks for each staff member who will be working on the farm during  Phase 2 (JCC 06-10-2020). Have your mask readily available, to put on if you come into contact with another person. If you will be working in close contact with another person, please wear your mask.
6. Things to remember while on the farm:
   • Remain 6ft away from fellow humans at all times; if it is not possible, you must be wearing a mask.
   • Refrain from touching your face as much as possible. Wear your hair up or wear a hat, if it helps you not touch your face.
   • Do not touch other people unless absolutely necessary (i.e. someone is about to get hurt and the only way to prevent it is to touch them).
   • If you are in the same building as someone else, you must be wearing a mask 

Procedure: End of Day Routine

1. The last person to use a space for the day must thoroughly spray everything that is touched regularly (i.e. door handles, light switches, sink knobs, toilet handles, etc).
2. Place any used and un-sanitized masks into the bleach solution. Let them sit for 10 minutes, then thoroughly rinse them in water and hang them up to dry.
3. Pour out the bleach solution as it will be replenished the following day.
4. Sign the cleaning checklist to indicate that you have cleaned all spaces before leaving.
5. Wash your hands before leaving the farm for the day.

Transportation protocols 

1. Driver should have no more than one participant per vehicle
2. Both the participant and the driver should wear a mask.  To maintain social-distancing, the participant will sit on the back passenger-side. 
3. Participants should clean or spray hands with sanitizer upon entering the car.
4. Roll windows down when possible. 
5. Participant is to follow CORRAL procedures once arriving on the farm
6. Once a participant leaves the vehicle after arriving back home, drivers are responsible for their own clean up. CORRAL suggests wiping the surfaces with a bleach or alcohol solution to sanitize. 

Important Notes 

If an employee/girl/volunteer develops COVID-19 symptoms while at CORRAL, they should notify their manager immediately. The manager will notify the Task Force immediately.  All people on the farm should be sent home ASAP and the farm will close to undergo cleaning.

How are we making accommodations for the most vulnerable?

1. Working on the farm is scheduled only to provide direct mental health and/or tutoring interventions to our girls or to do farm/horse work. Please limit your time spent at the farm for other purposes. Desk work should be done at home.
2. CORRAL is providing flexible scheduling or a modified schedule to limit people at the farm at any given time, thus reducing the risk.  Only the Programming Team has been called back on the farm and only for the above mentioned services.  Our Corporate Team is still working remotely.  If an employee is considered at higher vulnerability risk for the virus, he or she can request a modified working schedule to their manager. 
3. CORRAL will be providing on-going education / information for employees to be aware of what makes a person “higher-risk” and what to do.  Employees are expected to do a self-assessment of their medical history and informing their managers if they would be categorized as “higher risk”.  Special accommodations will be made for that employee in terms of office space and schedule. 
4. Always an option to “meet” virtually as long as COVID is a public health issue. 

When someone gets sick

If an employee/volunteer develops COVID-19 symptoms or tests positive for the virus within seven days of being present at CORRAL, they must notify their manager as soon as possible. If a girl develops symptoms or tests positive within seven days of being at CORRAL, parents/guardians must tell program staff as soon as possible. 

It is important to note that staff cannot require a person to get tested or inform others who the identified person is.

Once a positive, or likely positive, case is identified, CORRAL will take the following steps:

1. The Leadership Team will determine who was on the farm (staff, volunteers, & families/girls) at the same time as the positive case. They will then notify these people that they may have come into contact with a positive case of COVID-19.
2. Anyone who was in contact with the positive case will be asked to work from home for 14 days.
3. The farm will close immediately for 48 hours. After the first 24 hours, the farm will undergo a deep clean.
4. During the first 24 hours, no human will be allowed on the farm except to make sure the horses have water and food necessary for 24 hours.
5. The Programming Team will devise a programming plan to take into account the staff who need to isolate at home.
6. The Director of Corporate Operations will send a staff-wide email informing them that the farm is closed and why. 
7. Volunteer managers will contact all volunteers scheduled to be on the farm within the following 72 hours and inform them that their shifts are canceled.
8. Camille or Lauren will notify the families.
9. Consider reporting to JCPC as applicable.

We recognize that as this pandemic continues, people may be triggered by anxiety and become overwhelmed about the implications of this public health emergency. Additionally, your physical safety is CORRAL’s absolute priority in this Phase 2 of reopening. We encourage our staff to maintain an open and direct conversation with your managers and/or Human Resources regarding physical and mental health concerns. 

It’s times like these that we need to rely on each other for support. Let’s all work together towards ensuring that CORRAL maintains the best quality of service to our girls and families, while keeping all of our staff and volunteers safe.