LSS' COVID-19 Response
The health and safety of those we serve, our employees and volunteers are our top priorities. With concerns around COVID-19, we want you to know what we are doing to respond to this national emergency.
Maintaining Continuity of Service Operations
First, we are paying close attention to updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Minnesota Department of Health and using their guidance in our planning processes to maintain essential services for people we support and implement important health and safety measures in our operations.
With their help, we’ve developed a three-tiered response to COVID-19: Prevention, Containment and Treatment/Response. Each tier contains unique responses for our services as well as plans for maintaining critical services through the months ahead. We’re also implementing services that can be provided via technology, such as Tele-Health for mental health counseling.
Second, in our service and office locations statewide, we’re communicating and implementing prevention and wellness strategies for employees and volunteers that include:
- handwashing thoroughly and often,
- covering coughs and sneezes,
- staying home when they are ill,
- telecommuting when possible,
- avoiding unnecessary travel and meeting virtually or by phone,
- assuring cleanliness of work spaces, homes and offices.
Third, our leadership and internal response team across services continue to meet regularly to monitor and follow guidance of state and national experts on COVID-19 to help keep people safe and supported. We especially want to express our deep appreciation to our employees and volunteers who are the front lines of our services for their compassion and dedication in these unusual times.
Community Resources
We Are Here For You: These are unsettling times. We have a variety of resources that are available to help, such as mental health counseling, financial counseling, support for older adults, housing counseling and more. Find services.
United Way Resource Hotline at 2-1-1: United Way across Minnesota is one of our longtime service partners. If you or someone you know needs assistance accessing food or other essential services, dial 2-1-1 or text the letters MNCOVID to 898-211. A Certified Community Resource Specialist will help you find available resources in your area.
How You Can Help
We have volunteer opportunities in many locations statewide, especially to support older Minnesotans who may need help grocery shopping or having meals delivered. To volunteer, see our current volunteer opportunities. To support our work with a financial contribution, please visit our donation page. For other inquiries, please email changinglives@lssmn.org.
Thank you for all you are doing to watch out for our neighbors, especially those who are elderly or with underlying health conditions, and for taking important precautions in your lives to stop the spread of COVID-19.