Gruenert Center Reopens!

“I am so happy to be back, in person!” said Kaleigh, from DPD Gruenert Center.

Catholic Charities, Department for Persons with Disabilities, helps over 300 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities each day. The agency operates 10 group homes, 2 supervised apartments, Support Coordination (case management), recreational opportunities and a day habilitation program (Gruenert Center), through 3 New Jersey counties.  

On March 16, DPD had to close the doors of its vital Gruenert Center following the directives of the N.J. Division of Developmental Disabilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, Gruenert created virtual sessions for all of its 60 adults.
On October 28th Gruenert Center opened back up, in a safe and socially distanced matter.

“Gruenert Center staff have worked very hard to create a safe, socially distanced environment for the participants to return to the center.  As with all settings of this nature, we will operate in a reduced capacity and schedule with a maximum of 25% of the usual census attending at any given time on rotating days. We are so proud of our staff who have worked on the front lines during this pandemic, and our service recipients who have remained resilient and strong,” said Joanna Miller, Department for Persons with Disabilities Executive Director.

All COVID-19 best practices and safeguards are in place are in place at Gruenert Center to keep participants and staff safe and healthy.  Some of these include daily screening of all who attend prior to entering the building, social distancing and cohorting of individuals in small groups, generally with the same participants and same staff staying in the same room each day to minimize any potential crossover or exposure.  Transportation has also been planned out very carefully to allow for social distancing on vehicles.  The staff engage in a thorough daily cleaning of the center before the participants arrive and again after they depart each day. 

Should there be any positive cases, the Department will follow all guidance of the local health department for COVID-19 deep cleaning before welcoming any participants and staff back in to the center.

“The people who we help, have been thrilled to be back at Gruenert Center, even if only for a day or two per week.  They have been at home, sheltering in place for many months so this is a welcome change in their routine and a return to some sense of normalcy.  We are appreciative of the many who support them and support our ministry,” said Carolina Nelson, Gruenert Center Director.