Coronavirus Updated Visitation Policy
After careful review of the recommendations detailed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Health (DOH) regarding the COVID-19 virus, Sunshine is now on a full visitor restriction protocol. This now extends the restriction to include parents and guardians. This temporary restriction is unfortunately essential due to the growing uncertainty in the community caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. It is never our intention to unnecessarily separate children from their families and we remain hopeful that this interim restriction will be short lived. Click here for up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.
If you have questions regarding COVID-19, please email your questions to: icp@health.ny.gov, covidadultcareinfo@health.ny.gov, or covidnursinghomeinfo@health.ny.gov
Coronavirus Emotional Support Helpline
Healthcare workers and first responders are on the front lines of the COVID-19 emergency. Call the Emotional Support Helpline for help with anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, and grief. We’re here to support you as you continue to support New York. Click here to learn more.
Letter from the Administrator – 4/23/20
Dear Families, Friends and Partners in Care,
As the Administrator of Sunshine Children’s Home and a career nurse, I realize the importance of reaching out to you with an update on Sunshine’s proactive response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. First, I want to recognize our amazing team, the multiple departments, and disciplines, who continue to work together each and every day to provide the best care for our very special children. They are indeed the “heroes” in the lives of our families.
In partnership with our Infection Prevention team, Sunshine was out in front even before the WHO officially recognized COVID-19 as a pandemic. We immediately took action and put emergency policies and protective practices into place, including special visitor restrictions, self-limiting symptomatic employees, screening temperatures, mandatory use of personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing and enhancing our cleaning/disinfecting procedures. These special protocols are strictly enforced, along with a host of additional precautionary measures that have successfully achieved and continue to ensure a safe environment for our children. To further reduce exposures to COVID-19 at Sunshine, all outside clinic consultations have been eliminated and we have expanded our telemedicine capabilities. Through all these efforts, we have protected our children and brought peace of mind (and heart) to our families.
Our children are safe and thriving, despite the current modifications to their day-to-day routine and care. They are provided with enriched opportunities for remote distance learning with lessons provided directly from their teachers, and they continue to receive their therapies and enjoy daily recreational activities that include outdoor walks around our bucolic property. We have engaged our families to stay connected with their children utilizing video communications and letter writing.
I am honored to lead this magnificent team of professionals who show up each and every day to give 110% to the children. They do so with love and compassion, and also with some sacrifice. Our staff leave their own families each day in a commitment to their calling to serve. I acknowledge and applaud this level of service, especially when the stakes are so high.
We are also grateful to our larger community for their outpouring of love and support – from gifts of hand-sewn masks to general well-wishes. I am inspired and encouraged by these acts of kindness and generosity, the depth of the human spirit and by all that we can achieve when we unite together. We will come out of this even stronger. And, we will have learned important lessons. We will be a better healthcare team because of it.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at 914.265.0519, or lmosiello@sunshinechildrenshome.org;
Stay Safe, Stay Strong,
Linda Mosiello, LNHA
Administrator