April 3rd Update,
Dear OPP Community:
We are taking direction from the State of Connecticut and will continue to work and provide services to our youth remotely until the end of the month—extending this option should it be directed.
Sending wishes to you for peace, health, and safety.
Enid Rey, CEO
To the OPP Community:
This is a very stressful time for our youth, families, staff and our community. The current COVID-19 outbreak has many people anxious. OPP takes seriously its responsibility to the youth, families and staff that comprise our OPP community. For the past few weeks, OPP has been closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 throughout the United States, following guidance from the CDC and local health authorities, to ensure we have the right plans and resources in place to safeguard all our health and well-being.
OPP moved to authorize staff to work remotely effective Thursday, March 19, 2020. OPP’s two physical locations in Hartford & Windham will be closed to the public until further notice. Additionally, OPP will continue to operate remotely and on April 3rd, we will assess the situation and formulate next steps.
While safeguarding the health and wellness of our staff & youth is paramount, OPP is also highly committed to continue to support youth financially through this crisis as we know many depend on their internships/stipends for basic survival. As such, we have devised service specific plans to be able to continue to support youth in Earning & Learning.
It is our expectation that OPP will be able to provide continued, quality services to our youth. OPP has the procedures and the technology in place to work remotely, when needed. Currently, we expect to continue to actively use technology to communicate and interact with our youth and community partners without interruption. These approaches will be continuously evaluated and decisions will be made on whether to increase or extend current practices.
Resources to Help:
- Hartford Public Schools is committed to providing meals for students and will be implementing an emergency meal plan beginning today, March 16th, with hot and cold meals available for pick-up. More information can be found here.
- Foodshare CT, an organization committed to providing access to meals, will still be working across the state to provide groceries to families. Information about their Mobile Foodshare can be found here.
- If you need additional support please visit 211-CT or text 2-1-1, text “CTCOVID” to 898211 or visit the State’s coronavirus information website at ct.gov/coronavirus.
Follow us on Facebook and check our events page for more information!
Please check back for periodic updates.
To reach us, please contact us by email info@opp.org and continue using our office number 860.761.7300. Both of these will be checked daily.
Remember, locations are closed but OPP is still open for business as our commitment, services and supports to Hartford’s Youth will continue to be our priority!
Thank you,
Enid M. Rey Smitesh Davé
CEO Chair
