OCR Text |
Show A-10 The Park Record Get 53% Off the newsstand price when you subscribe! For an in-county rate of only $56 a year, you can save 53% from the newsstand and receive: • Home Delivery • Park Record E-edition • Real Estate Monthly • All Park Record Magazines • Free Sunday Salt Lake Tribune Call 435-649-9014 to get your subscription today! Select option 3 when prompted Save even more with a 2 year subscription! Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, March 28-31, 2020 A lifeline is still available Peace House keeps operating amid the coronavirus crisis JEFF DEMPSEY The Park Record The global spread of the coronavirus has left its mark on the United States, from millions of lost jobs to shelter-in-place orders. As the country comes to grips with the full scope of the virus’ ramifications, Peace House, an organization in Park City dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence, is doing its best to ensure victims are not put in further danger. Sally Tauber, director of development for Peace House, said the shelter is in constant contact with local authorities to craft their response to the coronavirus. “Our team at Peace House has been working closely with multiple agencies including the Summit County Health Department, Utah Department of Human Services, the Utah State Domestic Violence Coalition and the National Network to End Domestic Violence to proactively reduce the impacts of COVID-19 in our community while supporting the safety of domestic violence victims and their families,” she said. The coronavirus presents a unique danger to victims of domestic violence. For many, being ordered to remain at home means being ordered to shelter with their abuser. Tauber said that even relationships that are not yet violent can become so with increased contact and other added stressors like the loss of employment. “Their abusive partner may not be working or are working from home, so they are further monitoring a victim’s day-to-day activities including who they talk to or if they leave,” Tauber said. “The abusive partner may use the current pandemic as a tool to further abuse by telling a victim they cannot go to out to get essential supplies or restrict access to medical care if needed. “Unemployment, financial stress, and isolation are not the cause for domestic violence, but they act like gasoline on a fire that is already burning.” Tauber said a point she wants to emphasize more than any other TANZI PROPST/PARK RECORD Peace House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence in Summit and Wasatch counties, has adjusted its programming in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Core services like its 24-hour help line, however, remain available. is simply that Peace House, which serves both Summit and Wasatch counties, is not going anywhere. It will not close its doors because of COVID-19. “We have adopted updated practices that include the recommendations and mandates from the Centers for Disease Control and Summit County Health Department,” she said. “Peace House services are essential to the safety and well-being of our community members and we continue to operate our domestic violence victim services.” That’s not to say it’s business as usual at Peace House. Out of an abundance of caution, some activities have been suspended until further notice. Those activities include: • Meetings or group gatherings at the Peace House community campus • Onsite volunteer opportunities • Receiving in-kind donations in the lobby • Education presentations in schools and in the community • Support group or parenting classes Peace House’s domestic violence victim services continue to operate, including the 24/7 help line, emergency shelter, legal advocacy services, case management and therapy. “To promote social distancing, we are implementing flexible client care and using technology to support some services,” Tauber said. “We know how important it is to continue to provide these services for individuals and families, and we are working to reduce any barriers a victim may have to accessing support. “ As ever, and perhaps more than ever, Peace House itself needs the support of the community, Tauber said. The nonprofit has increased needs for supplies including cleaning supplies for sanitizing, activities for children, food and basic needs support. Its website, peacehouse.org, is updated regularly to reflect current needs. “We have also had additional costs related to offering flexible client care including a new telehealth platform, equipment and direct assistance needs such as phones and cell service,” Tauber said. In addition to helping Peace House directly, Tauber urged those who think a friend might be the victim of abuse to check on them regularly during the coronavirus pandemic. “Consider establishing a safe word with that person that can be used to alert you if they are feeling unsafe and need law enforcement,” she said. “Peace House advocates are also available to talk to you about safety planning for a friend, family member or neighbor.” Peace House is available to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The help line is staffed by trained advocates to assist anyone who has experienced dating and domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking with safety planning, safe shelter and referrals to other services and programs whether those be in-house or within the community. Call Peace House’s 24/7 help line at 1-800-647-9161 to speak to an advocate. Additionally, Summit County Victim Assistance can be reached at 435-615-3851. Two clinics, two purposes One site is for virus symptoms, other is for unrelated issues JAMES HOYT The Park Record Summit County’s stay-athome order still allows people to exercise outdoors, provided they keep their distance from others. But where do you go when there’s a pandemic on and you sprain your ankle on the Rail Trail? For cases like that, Intermountain Healthcare and Vail Resorts have agreed to keep the Park City Mountain Resort Clinic open past the traditional end of the ski season to take care of anyone whose medical needs don’t involve a low fever, dry cough or body aches that they can’t attribute to an injury, according to Chuck Morrison, co-medical director of the Park City Mountain Resort Clinic. “This way, we have a center where people can get adequate medical treatment without being exposed or having the fear of being exposed to the coronavirus,” Morrison said. “These injuries are still going to happen, right. People are still active, they’re still walking, talking, hiking, some of them are still cross-country skiing ... people definitely need somewhere to go where they won’t have that fear.” That also means the Park City InstaCare urgent care clinic, which is one of Summit County’s COVID-19 testing sites, will now only take patients who have symptoms indicating a coronavirus infection in order to isolate Continued from A-1 Downturn addressed TANZI PROPST/PARK RECORD Intermountain Healthcare is designating the Park City InstaCare clinic, shown, to COVID-19 testing and care. The Park City Mountain Clinic, meanwhile, is the place for Parkites with medical concerns unrelated to cold and flu-like symptoms to go. their care. “It’ll help inside that clinic to prevent that spread from getting out into the community,” Morrison said. Patients with physical injuries and other conditions unrelated to coronavirus symptoms should also steer clear of the Park City Hospital unless their situation is truly an emergency, he said. Instead, head to Park City Mountain Resort. When it’s time to resurface for fresh air, whether you’re working from home or planning quality time with your family, it’s tough to beat living in the Wasatch Range. But Morrison said that anyone planning to go backcountry skiing, mountain biking or hiking shouldn’t take this as a time to push their limits. “As the pandemic goes up, our resources go down,” he said. “I would reel it in; take a lot more caution than you would in normal times because those medical services that we all take for granted may not be available.” With that in mind, Morri- son said that if you’re not sure whether that cough is just from having the wind knocked out of you while skiing or if those body aches are from falling off of a bike, visiting the InstaCare first is the safer bet as a clinic staffer is present to screen patients and refer them to the PCMR clinic if needed. It’s possible to both injure oneself and carry the coronavirus at the same time. “If you are running, for example, you can sometimes generate a bit of a temperature,” Morrison said. “Sometimes people just aren’t aware that they have a lowgrade fever.” The Park City Instacare clinic is located at 1750 Sidewinder Drive and is only seeing patients with possible COVID-19 symptoms at this time, as well as offering testing, though Intermountain Healthcare asks patients to first call its coronavirus hotline at 844-442-5224. For all other immediate medical concerns, visit the Park City Mountain Resort Clinic at 1493 Lowell Ave., in the parking lot near First Time lift. what sorts of financial assistance, he said. “We are looking for what loans are available. Where are the holes? Who is going to get left out?” Doilney said. He said the task force also is interested in ensuring business owners and managers are aware of the resources for those who are laid off or furloughed. One of the resources is the Christian Center of Park City, which provides food and help with basic needs, he said. Businesses and employees are “very, very anxious,” he said. Doilney also discussed the work of the task force on Friday during a virtual Coffee with Council event, revisiting the wide range of ideas. “The needs are all over the board,” he said. |