Howard Center Program Updates
Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, some Howard Center programs and services are operating with changes. Below is a list of programs and how they are currently operating under these conditions. Programs may change over time depending on the course the virus takes and/or its impact in our community. If you have questions, please contact Howard Center at 802-488-6000. If you or someone you know is in crisis, our First Call for Chittenden County is available 24/7/365 at 802-488-7777.
Howard Center Locations Operating with Modifications: 102 S. Winooski and 855 Pine Street in Burlington and 172 Fairfield Street in St. Albans do not have reception and are closed to the public.
Visitors are restricted at all residential homes and are being screened at all sites.
Access & Intake continues answering our main number 802-488-6000 and offering support via telephone and video telehealth (Zoom).
Baird School and Jean Garvin School implemented on-line learning and are in the midst of their end-of-year student celebrations.
Chittenden Clinic has implemented several changes, including take home protocols, to reduce the numbers of people accessing the clinic daily.
All clinical groups are being offered via telehealth.
Community Outreach has reduced in person support and offering support by telephone. They have suspended home visits. They continue work in the city and town police departments.
Day and Community Supports: staff members who usually provide one-on-one supports in the community have suspended face-to-face services and are working with clients and client’s families as needed to offer tele-support and assistance acquiring groceries and medications.
First Call for Chittenden County is offering assessments by telephone and video telehealth generally and for individuals in the emergency department. There may be a delay in receiving a call back from FCCC when the answering service picks up the call. Please call back if you haven’t received a call within 15 minutes.
Home and Community Based Services is working remotely and offering support via telephone and video telehealth.
Impaired Driver Rehabilitation Program (IDRP) will offer orientation and assessments by telephone and video telehealth.
The Onion River Program and Resource Center located at Knight Lane in Williston are closed temporarily.
Outpatient Services has suspended the in-person drop-in assessment clinic at 855 Pine Street. Scheduled assessment appointments will be available using telephone and video telehealth. Individual and group sessions are available through telephone and video telehealth.
St. Albans Substance Use Crisis Program and Outpatient Substance Use Program Outpatient staff are working remotely and using telehealth to connect with clients. There is no administrative support or reception for Outpatient services but the public inebriate program is still offering in-person support at this location.
Safe Recovery continues providing sterile needles, supplies, Narcan, and low barrier access to buprenorphine.
School Services is supporting families using telephone and video telehealth.
Street Outreach has reduced in person support and is offering support by telephone with a reduced presence on the marketplace. They are focusing their efforts on clients who are homeless and have suspended home visits. Street Outreach is not currently going to the Burlington Police Department but can act as a resource regarding what services are open and still available.
Westview House has suspended in-person activities and on-site meals but staff and peers will continue to work to establish supportive connections and assistance with meals.