Sign and Share - Continue Remote IFSP Meetings

COVID numbers are when is the rise and so is the monkeypox.

With covid outbreaks accelerating at this time - I don't think now is the correct time to start in person meetings

Nahla

as a working mom this would cause a burden on my already hectic schedule as a mother - please keep these phone calls remote!

Dear sir or madam, we are still under pandemics and it is unfair for the services coordinators to be exposed to the different people and lots of viruses. Please think about our health as well. Also, some of us are in age and with health conditions. Why should we be discriminated against healthy people who just take Corona like flue?! also, Corona sometimes does not have symptoms at all and your screening is not universal.

Most parents prefer phone meetings, and these meetings are efficient on the phone and are less of an inconvenience when meetings are usually only up to 30 minutes do it is unnecessary to be in person.

With Covid cases rises I would not like to risk me or my children getting sick I believe remote meetings through via-phone is the best solution for right now!

Fully in agreement with the petition. It was a proven fact that everyone including EIOD were capable of doing the meetings remotes.

If everything is working perfectly fine why we should go backward and lose time on transportation and put ourselves and others at risk of spreading viruses. It seems like nobody cares about EI employees or our clients. I hope this petition would work.

For those of us that are still working remotely and going back to in person is either not an option or is too difficult, there should be another way!!!

I don't think returning to do IFSP in person is a good idea. SC, job is difficult any way with the traveling part. IFSP from home makes it a little bit easier and saves time to do more things and help other families. Please keep it via phone to make it easier and smoother.

I work as an Ongoing and Initial sc with thrive by five. The memorandum on how the in person ifsp meetings will be conducted, and responsibility sc's will hold on doing the pre screening with families and ensuring everyone does not have covid when entering an ifsp meeting in person-in my opinion is above the clinical area an sc has.

I find it irresponsible that the EIOD is returning to in person IFSP meetings when NYC is seeing another surge in COVID cases that is higher than July of 2021 numbers. Every day I have parents confirm during our evaluation appointments that the child or someone else in the home has had COVID in the last month. Also we have shown for the past 2 years and 4 months that virtual meetings work for IFSP meetings. It's difficult for parents to commute with children with developmental delays and special needs such as autism, and again we are in the middle of another COVID19 surge in cases. IFSP meetings should continue to be virtual and consider the coordinator, the parents and the EIOD representative's time.

It's easier for parents who are working to do the IFSP meeting via telehealth

Remote meetings are a more efficient use of time for families and service coordinators. It also lessens the chances of getting and spreading Covid 19. Please provide the flexibility for everyone.

IFSP meetings via phone have been extremely successful and productive. A very high number of parents have reported virtual meetings being easier for them to participate without having to take time off from work, riding dangerous public forms of transportation, and eliminating paying babysitter to look after other siblings to attend an in person meeting. I truly hope the correct decision to keep virtual/phone meetings is made a permanent option.

There’s no room for growth if there are no opportunities for changes. This pandemic has brought an opportunity for a change in how meetings are conducted. It’s been effective so far, for two and a half years, so why change it? Service Coordinators and families have greatly benefited from virtual meetings. EI is said to be a family centered program, and it would be tragic to put the health of families and co workers at risk over a demand for in person meetings. A fact is that the COVID virus still exists. Some people are still terrified to take public transportation even to meet up with friends or family. They don’t want to become sick and bring it home to their loved ones. Some even avoid taking their child to a playground or any social gathering. Virtual meetings have allowed for less IFSP cancellations. The 45th day deadline has been met more frequently. No one has to pay for transportation to attend a EI meeting. The gas prices are insanely high for those who drive. The time a SC spends traveling to a IFSP is time that can be used to assist an additional family. Parents wouldn’t have to worry about taking time off from work or making babysitting arrangements to be able to physically attend a meeting that could otherwise have been done by phone. The list goes on and on. We kindly ask that this be reconsidered. Everyone’s voice should count because we are all a team.

Keep IFSP safe by keeping on the phone

public transportation has become an absolute nightmare after the pandemic making this mode of transportation dangerous for us to get to these meetings. If we drive, that means spending more $ at the pump and tolls. We have been effective as SC's in scheduling and attending these meetings via phone with EIODs, Eval reps and parents.