THE CENTER FOR DISCOVERY® & SULLIVAN COUNTY COLLABORATE ON POST-COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH COMPLEX CONDITIONS
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HARRIS, NY – The Center for Discovery (TCFD), in partnership with Sullivan County, has received a $2 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to improve safety for all residents and staff in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding, issued by New York State to Sullivan County, is considered a pass-through grant. “It will be going to The Center for Discovery to support air quality improvements campus-wide to further prevent, prepare for and respond to the Coronavirus pandemic,” Sullivan County Deputy Commissioner of Planning Jill Weyer said.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for safety upgrades in The Center’s nearly 50 residential homes and dozens of other school and supporting buildings, particularly in the area of air filtration. The grant will outfit each structure with state-of-the-art hospital-grade air filtration units and specialized filters. “The diffuse airborne nature of the COVID-19 virus made it clear that we need to focus attention on our air quality, not only for this continuing pandemic, but for general health and the prevention of other viruses to come,” said TCFD CEO Patrick H. Dollard, “We are so grateful to Sullivan County for understanding the medical frailties of the 350 children and adults in our residential community. This grant will also be vital in keeping our 1,700 staff members and their families safe. The Center will be in a stronger place for future infectious diseases thanks to the foresight of our great county.”
“Sullivan County is proud to be the home of The Center for Discovery, a world-class leader in providing care and services to people who are often medically fragile,” said Sullivan County Legislator Ira Steingart, who chairs the Legislature’s Planning Committee and represents the district in which The Center is headquartered. “COVID-19 is a particularly dangerous threat to the health of their residents and employees, so I am very glad we can assist The Center in ensuring their wonderful mission is carried out in a healthy, safe environment.”
The Center for Discovery emerged as the gold standard of care and education for individuals with complex conditions, such as autism, during the COVID-19 pandemic for its pre-pandemic plan, early procurement and extensive use of personal protective equipment (PPE), meticulous state, county and campus data analysis, strategic movement of personnel, opening and closing of buildings, and robust early vaccination and testing program.
For more information about The Center for Discovery please contact Michael Rosen, Exec. VP of Marketing and Strategic Communications, Mrosen@tcfd.org.