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The Crookston Youth Foundation (CYF) is committed to providing a safe and healthy place for all youth student visitors and adult volunteers to The Cove Youth Center. To ensure we have a safe and healthy space, the CYF has developed the following COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Board members, volunteers and students are all responsible for implementing this plan. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our communities, and that requires full cooperation among all who use and visit the youth center. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health of all persons in our community. 

The COVID-19 Preparedness Plan is administered by volunteer Shannon Stassen who will maintain the overall authority and responsibility for the plan. However, volunteers and students are equally responsible for supporting, implementing, complying with and providing recommendations to further improve all aspects of this COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. We have involved both students and volunteers in this process by discussing items and getting input and feedback from our youth board and adult board of directors. 

The CYF’s COVID-19 Preparedness Plan follows the industry guidance developed by the state of Minnesota, available at the Stay Safe Minnesota website (https://staysafe.mn.gov), which is based upon Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines for COVID-19, and Minnesota’s relevant and current executive orders. It addresses: 

• ensuring sick volunteers and students stay home; 
• social distancing and management of occupancy; 
• hand hygiene and face coverings requirements; 
• youth center cleaning and disinfection protocol; and 
• communications and training practices and protocol. 

The Cove Youth Center has reviewed and incorporated the industry guidance applicable to our youth activities provided by the state of Minnesota for the development of this plan, including the Youth and Student Programs guidance [https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/socialdistance.pdf]. 

It is subject to changes as guidance continues to change and be updated. 

Ensure sick volunteers and students stay home and prompt identification and isolation of sick persons 

Students and volunteers will be informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following procedures are being implemented to assess visitors’ health status prior to entering the youth center and for volunteers to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms: 

• A self-screener will be made available to students and volunteers (https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/facilityhlthscreen.pdf)
• Volunteers will be asked to communicate via phone with Shannon Stassen if they are sick or experiencing symptoms prior to scheduled volunteers shifts
• Parents and students are asked to inform the preparedness plan coordinator if a student tests positive. (Shannon Stassen at 218 280 1347)
• If volunteers or students experience symptoms while at the youth center, they will be isolated in the back break room until students can be sent home or a replacement for the volunteer can be found
• High-risk volunteers or those with underlying medical conditions or who have household members with underlying health conditions are asked to not resume volunteering at this time
• A daily log of visitors (students and volunteers) will be required 

The CYF has implemented a policy for informing volunteers or students if they have been exposed to a person with COVID- youth center and requiring them to quarantine for the required amount of time. Persons at the youth center on the day in which there was a positive case will be notified by the preparedness plan administrator. The privacy of student and volunteer’s health status and health information is valued and will be kept confidential unless the positive person allows otherwise.
 

Social distancing and management of occupancy 

Social distancing of at least six feet will be implemented and maintained between students at all times through the following engineering and administrative controls: 

• No more than 14 students will be allowed at the youth center at one time; this includes one volunteer to equal a total number of 15. A waitlist procedure will be implemented to ensure occupancy is maintained. 
• The physical space has been altered to increase physical distance between student activities and computer stations; chairs have been placed facing in the same direction to eliminate face-to-face interactions or chairs have been removed completely. 
• The check-in table will have a plexi-glass barrier between students and the volunteer.
• There will be staggered volunteer shifts and staggered visiting time between grades; (3:30 – 6:30 for 7th – 8th
  grades; 6:30 – 9:30 for 9-12th grades) – volunteers will be asked to stay with these groups of students as much as possible 
• Hours and days of youth center operation will be limited to two days per week (Wednesdays & Fridays) 
• Signage, markings and verbal instructions will be used to continually address social distancing 
• The flow of students will be directed to allow for social distancing between students and volunteers 
• Students will be prevented from gathering in groups in common areas and “bottlenecks” – back room meeting room and kitchen will be blocked off (partition in place to prevent access to the kitchen area) 
• Students will be asked to limit ride-sharing and to be picked up and dropped off by a family member or drive only themselves 
• Students will be asked to bring their own equipment whenever feasible and possible 
• Parents will not be allowed to enter the youth center except for matter regarding updates to registrations or in the
  case of an emergency 
• Whenever possible, pick-up and departure times will be staggered to the best of the volunteer and students’ ability 
• If there is an ongoing increase in visitor interest, there will be options provided for virtual interactions between youth 
• Virtual gatherings, meetings and events will be considered for future activities
  

Student and volunteer hygiene and face coverings are required
Basic infection prevention measures will be implemented at the youth center at all times:

• Cloth face masks will be available at the check-in desk; face coverings are required at all times except when eating or drinking or when in the recording studio alone 
• All students and volunteers are required to wash or sanitize their hands prior to or immediately upon entering the center. Hand-sanitizer dispensers (that use sanitizers of greater than 60% alcohol) will be available at the entrance and locations in the youth center so they can be used for hand hygiene in place of soap and water. 
• Disinfectant wipes will be available at game and computer stations; students will be required to wipe down any equipment after use and sanitize between uses.
• Students and volunteers are instructed to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout their time at the center,, but especially prior to any individual snacks consumed and after using the restroom.
• Students are asked to bring their own water bottles – if drinks are purchased, we will limit the exchange of money, or require use gloves or hand sanitizer before and after transactions.
• The only snacks provided on site will be individually packaged – there will be no sharing of food items.
• Phones, pens, computer equipment, desks and other equipment will have limited sharing and will be cleaned and disinfected between users (disinfectant wipes will be available); in addition, volunteers and students should wash hands or use hand sanitizer if they come into contact or use shared amenities.
• Signage will demonstrate hand hygiene, required face covering and respiratory etiquette upon entry and throughout the youth center; students will be verbally reminded often.
• The preparedness plan coordinator and board members will ensure hand sanitizer and soap is stocked and available for regular use.

Center cleaning and disinfection protocol
Regular practices of cleaning and disinfecting have been implemented, including a schedule for routine cleaning and disinfecting of hard surfaces, games, supplies, and areas in the environment, including restrooms, and drop-off and pick-up location (entryway). Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will be conducted of high-touch areas, including phones, keyboards, touch screens, controls, door handles, etc. These surfaces will be disinfected between student groups (at 6:30pm) and on Wednesday and Friday evenings upon closure of the youth center by the volunteer on that day. Volunteers will be trained in cleaning protocol.

• Isopropyl alcohol will be used on all high-touch surfaces at least once to two times daily on open days by the adult volunteer 
• Disinfectant wipes will be used in between uses by youth center students and volunteers 
• Bathrooms will be cleaned and sanitized at least two times during each open day 
• If a person is symptomatic or is diagnosed with COVID-19, more rigorous cleaning will take place at that time

Appropriate and effective cleaning and disinfecting supplies have been purchased and are available for use in accordance with product labels and manufacturer specifications, and are being used with required personal protective equipment for the product.

Communications and training practices and protocol
This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan will be communicated by posting at the youth center and on the Crookston Youth Foundation website. It will be communicated to all volunteers at their first shift with necessary training on cleaning protocol provided. Students will also be asked to re-register upon arrival to ensure that we have the most updated and accurate contact information for parents and caregivers. Additional communication and training with volunteers will be ongoing by the preparedness plan coordinator and new youth student visitors will be provided an overview of our safety protocols including: 1) social distancing protocols and practices; 2) drop-off, & pick-up; 3) practices for hygiene and respiratory etiquette; 4) requirements regarding the use of face-coverings. All visitors will also be advised not to enter the center if they are experiencing symptoms or have contracted COVID-19 through signage and a visitor self-screener. 

The board of directors will continuously monitor how effective the safety program has been implemented and will discuss any necessary updates or changes at each board meeting. All board members are to take an active role and collaborate in carrying out the various aspects of this plan, and update the protections, protocols, practices and training as necessary. Students are encouraged in engage in developing future communications and creative strategies to limit the spread of COVID-19.

This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan has been certified by the Crookston Youth Foundation advisory board and the plan was posted throughout the center and made readily available to visitors as of October 23, 2020. It will be updated as necessary by preparedness plan administrator. If parents or students have questions or concerns, they can contact Shannon Stassen at 218.280.1347. 

Certified by: The Crookston Youth Foundation (CYF) Board of Directors 

October 23, 2020