Like many organizations across the country, Puzzle Pieces has had to adapt regarding how they serve clients even though their doors are closed.
Puzzle Pieces Executive Director Amanda Owen said currently she is working on keeping morale and positivity high for her staff and clients.
“What we have done is we have updates on Zoom calls for all of the staff and provide directions and what our next steps are, what we need to be doing and what we need to be focusing on,” she said.
Owen said while they did have to lay off some workers, she is very fortunate that they are continuing to join in on the daily work calls.
“That says a lot about our culture and our team,” she said. “I am focusing on all of the positives and silver linings to the closure and not focusing on what we are lacking.”
Owen said before the shutdown she and her team designed a plan to keep staff and clients engaged. Virtual show-and-tell and dance parties are just some examples of how they are all interacting and keeping spirits high.
“We set all the families and clients up to do Zoom calls with our staff,” Owen said. “We do two a day … we’ve had a lot of feedback from families, clients and even staff that it’s something they look forward to. It has created structure within their home, which is what our clients need. That’s what we all need — structure and consistency.”
Owen said clients are getting to share their homes with the staff on the daily web calls, and the staff are getting to share their work with their children.
“Even through the hardest times we are family to one another. Just because we are not providing that service inside our campus doesn’t mean we have not stayed connected,” Owen said. “We are still serving individuals in their homes.”
While the adult day training program is closed, some Puzzle Pieces employees are still providing essential services to 29 individuals in residential homes.
“Our clients are the priority right now,” Owen said. “We are following all CDC guidelines to make sure everyone is safe.”
Owen said many people think Puzzle Pieces falls under daycares, but they are actually regulated under the Division of Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities.
“Our mandate (to close) came from them,” she said. “We had to shut down the adult day training programs but they approved a lot of virtual contact.”
“We’re very optimistic (about opening soon),” Owen said. “We’re constantly in contact with the department in Frankfort. The positive is we were kind of the last to be mandated to close, so I feel like we will be one of the first to be allowed to be reopened.”
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