Many are facing new problems due to COVID-19-related restrictions, and it’s not always clear who to call for help.
With that in mind, Dickinson Center Inc. has opened a temporary community helpline.
Also, Dickinson Center and Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems have closed non-essential services during this time. Both organizations are affiliates of Journey Health System.
Regarding the helpline, an announcement for Dickinson’s website explained, “In an effort to support our communities during these challenging times, we’re opening up a community helpline. Call (814) 776-0205 if you need help connecting to resources such as food, supplies, support services, etc.”
The staff will do their best to connect the callers with what they need.
Dickinson Center’s Executive Director Heidi Thomas said, “The community hotline is being staffed by our employees who worked in the schools and are temporarily displaced due to school closings. It is funded by Dickinson and several very generous local donors.”
The helpline will be open until March 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“We’ll primarily be able to support individuals in our primary service region (Cameron, Elk, and Potter counties); however, we’ll do our best to help anyone who calls in,” said Thomas. “We are also offering a helpline in Clearfield County for individuals who previously attended our Drop-in Center there.”
The helpline is open to anyone in the public, not just clients.
Dickinson and Beacon Light continue to operate services that are considered essential, but non-essential services are temporarily closed.
“We are taking extra precautions at the programs that remain open,” Thomas noted.
For clients, she said, “We are doing a pre-screening on every person who is scheduled to either come into our facility or to be seen in the community. We are practicing social distancing. We are aggressively cleaning and sanitizing all public and high traffic areas.”
The organizations are watching the health of staff.
“We are asking staff who are experiencing respiratory symptoms or a fever to stay home,” Thomas said. “We will provide a 10-day bank of sick time for staff who are required by their doctor to remain in quarantine.”
