+ Access to Independence

Access to Independence is making the following updates as of 3/23:

Due to NYS mandate, Access To Independence will be closed to the public until the non-essential buisness mandate is lifted. Our dedicated staff continue to be available to provide assistance and maintain operation of critical services to our community.ATI continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic locally and staff will be working from home.

Please contact us for any access needs: Office: (607) 283-4881 *New Number Email: info@aticortland.org NY Connects: 607-423-0345

News of the Coronavirus can be scary. Please know that Access To Independence aims to ensure the safety and health of people with disabilities in our community. If you have questions or need our assistance, we are available to assist in any way possible.

Please note the following changes to upcoming events: The Census Workshop, set for Wednesday, March 18 is CANCELLED The Universal Access Dinner, set for April 24, 2020, is POSTPONED The Universal 5+½K, set for April 25, 2020, is POSTPONED Events such as Craft Club, Coloring Class, Board Game Club are canceled until regular office hours resume Public meetings, including ATI Board Meetings, Core Advisory Group, Taskforce to Increase Disability Employment and Housing Consortium, will be held via teleconference, please contact us for details VITA Tax Services will continue to accept drop-offs of tax information to help people prepare their tax returns during weekend hours

We believe that these steps are necessary to help our community prevent the spread of COVID-19. We appreciate our community’s support and look forward to seeing all of you happy and healthy once we are past this unfortunate event. Thank you and please contact us with any questions you may have.

+ Catholic Charities of Cortland County

Catholic Charities of Cortland County is making the following updates as of 4/7:

• Catholic Charities will be doing food deliveries only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 1pm to 4pm. Please utilize the following web address to sign up https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVITnylqV7FC4eMbWO8cu02ylCCmW7CRCLw1-p1Mp2F1A1qA/viewform?usp=send_form – or call 607-756-5992 x115. The Salvation Army will be doing food deliveries on Tuesday and Thursday utilizing the same web form.
• Catholic Charities is limiting access to buildings to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but we are still available to help you get the services you need!
• If you need food, prescriptions, homeless services or for other urgent needs, including DELIVERY of necessities, please call us at 756-5992, ext. 115.
• Leave a message and someone will return your call if they are not immediately available.
• For other programs, such as Care Coordination and Peer Services, call 756-5992 x110 to speak with your worker or if you know your workers extension you can dial them directly.
• You can call 607-756-5992 and dial either x110 or x115 and someone will be able to assist you. For the safety of the community and our staff, please avoid coming to our office. We will be able to assist you over the phone and will let you know if we need to see you in person.
• If you wish to make a donation please head over to www.ccocc.org to make a monetary donation. For all other donations such as food, personal care items, or household cleaning items please call ahead to make arrangements at 756-5992 x110.

+ Cayuga Health System

Cayuga Health (CH) and Tompkins County are opening a new COVID-19 sampling center location for patients who meet screening criteria for testing to handle more widespread screening. The Sampling Center will be open starting Tuesday, March 24 from 10am-3pm, Monday-Friday. A new website with on-line registration is available at www.cayugahealth.org for patients to review the screening criteria and pre-register before their arrival, allowing greater efficiencies with patient volume and decreased wait times. In addition, a call center has been set up for patients who may not have access to Internet, need assistance registering, or have questions. The call center number is 607-319-5708. Individuals are strongly encouraged to pre-register prior to coming to the site. [CLICK HERE][0] to preregister

The criteria for testing includes two questions:

1. Have you had a recent onset of fever, cough, shortness of breath, or body aches?
2. Have you been in the same room with a person confirmed positive with COVID-19 in thelast 14 days?

For those tested, they must go straight home, as they will be on mandatory home isolation as directed by the Health Department. Individuals will be contacted in about one week with the test result. Someone will contact individuals daily on behalf of the Health Department to ensure that there is compliance with mandatory home isolation.

The Sampling Center is located in portable structures at The Shops at Ithaca Mall parking lot and will be staffed by experienced and knowledgeable employees. Screening will include swabbing the throat and nose and will be sent to offsite designated testing centers for results. The new Sampling Center will replace the previous sampling facility, which opened on March 16. Patients entering the screening location by car can tune into FM 96.3 to receive instructions about driving through the Sampling Center. In addition, signs will convey important information to assist with traffic control. If you do not have transportation, please do not take public transportation to the sampling center. Cayuga Health and Tompkins County officials are working closely to determine if mobile sampling is available or other transportation options. The public will be updated about these options.

The Sampling Center will open starting Tuesday, March 24, and will be open into the foreseeable future as needed. Hours will initially be 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. The website can be found at www.cayugahealth.org. As directed by Governor Cuomo, COVID-19 testing is free for all New Yorkers, regardless of health insurance.

+ The Child Development Council

The Child Development Council is making the following adjustments to how we communicate and work with those who rely on our services as of 3/24:

The Child Development Council. office is closed to the public, however staff are still working to help with all your child care and family support needs. Including referrals, scholarships, provider support, warm line, and basic needs. Please call 607-753-0106 and leave a message, or email info@childdevelopmentcouncil.org and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Updates will be posted at childdevelopmentcouncil.org

We will not accept walk-ins to our office. Those who need services or support can call us at (607)273-0259 or email. General inquiries can be addressed to info@childdevelopmentcouncil.org. All trainings, workshops and group meetings are canceled until further notice. Updates on trainings/workshops can be found on our website: Childdevelopmentcouncil.org. We will continue to connect our child care providers with online learning opportunities. We will not be conducting non-essential site/home visits until further notice. We will continue child care inspections where necessary, and deliver food and resources to those enrolled in our programs. Paperwork to enroll in Legally Exempt Care, Child Care Food Program or other business may be left in the dropbox at 609 West Clinton Street (Tompkins County) there is no paperwork drop off at Cortland office at this time. General delivery mail and the dropbox will be checked Monday through Friday. We will be monitoring child care closings and availability. Although we expect these to be quite limited, our services are available as a resource to the community. Updates will be posted at www.childdevelopmentcouncil.org

Please let us know what we can do to help, Sue and the Staff of the Child Development Council

+ Cortland Chenango Rural Services

Cortland Chenango Rural Services is making the following adjustments as of 3/18

• Food pantry by appointment only
• Assistance by appointment only
• Store closed until further notice
• Please call the store for more details (607-863-3828)
• We are still accepting donations and reserve the right to refuse anything that may have been subject to exposure
• Accepting food items or monenatry donations at this time.

+ Cortland County Area Agency on Aging

Cortland County Area Agency on Aging is making the following updates as of 3/16:

• The Cortland County Area Agency on Aging has staff available 8:30-4:30 Monday- Friday. Our location at the County Office Building, 60 Central Ave, Cortland, NY is closed to visitors, so we are conducting all business via phone or email.
• All county Senior Centers remain closed, as well as any scheduled presentation being cancelled. Our Home Delivered Meals Program will continue to operate on a modified schedule.
• Our Case Management programs will continue to operate via phone or email. Anyone needing to contact our agency is encouraged to call 607-753-5060 during weekday hours of 8:30-4:30.
• The NY Connects program continues to operate via phone at 607-756-3485"

+ Cortland County Board of Elections

The Cortland County Board of Elections is making the following adjustments as of 3/17

Beginning March 17th, 2020, transactions at the Cortland County Board of Elections shall be completed via telephone, e-mail or postal mail. In the event that an in-person transaction is necessary, an appointment will be required, as well the completion of a screening questionnaire prior to the actual interview. Basic forms such as voter registration forms and the application for an absentee ballot are available on the website. They are also outside our office entrance.

These procedures will remain in effect until further notice.

For more information contact

Robert C. Howe

Republican Commissioner

607-753-5031

OR

Thomas H. Brown
Democratic Commissioner

607-7 53-5033

+ Cortland County Community Action Program, Inc. (CAPCO)

Cortland County Community Action Program, Inc. (CAPCO) is making the following updates as of 4/6:

We will continue to provide as many CAPCO services and supports as possible by phone or electronically. If you need assistance, please call the appropriate number below or email:

• CDPAP Consumers – 607-345-6510 , edenh@capco.org
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) 607-745-0711, kirstenp@capco.org
• SNAP Applications (NOEP) - 607-745-7240, jessical@capco.org
• Energy Services/WAP – 607-745-6629, denisesperoulakis@capco.org
• Emergency Assistance – 607-345-5506, brandys@capco.org
• Head Start/Early Head Start – 607-753-6781, bethannf@capco.org
• General Services: 607-753-6781, info@capco.org

As a community, Cortland is committed to making sure that children and families have food and access to needed supports. Please check the websites for each School District for specific information regarding access to food for students. To find the most current information and resources for food and other emergency assistance throughout Cortland County, contact 2-1-1 by dialing 211 from your phone or internet access at https://www.211cortland.org .

For current updates and information about CAPCO services, please visit our webpage at www.capco.org and our Facebook page at Cortland County Community Action Program

+ Cortland County Mental Health Department

Cortland County Mental Health Department is making the following updates as of 3/19:

Cortland County Mental Health Department will be Providing Services through Telephone and Telehealth

• As of March 19, 2020, Cortland County Mental Health Department will be utilizing telephone and telehealth to provide mental health services during the current crisis.
• If you are in crisis and need to speak to someone, call the clinic and we will triage the call to determine how we can assist. We are not accepting intakes or walk in services.
• Those that are receiving medication management through our clinic currently, should call the clinic or utilize your patient portal for medication refill requests.
• For updated information on our service provision as well as resources in the resources to reach out to in the area, we encourage you to access 211 services via phone or online.
• Horizon House and Family Support Services are closed until further notice.

+ The Cortland Police Department

The Cortland Police Department is making the following adjustments as of 3/17

Effective Immediately: If you require police assistance for a not in progress issue, be advices that the assigned officer may contact you on the telephone rather than respond to your location, in an attempt to rectify the situation. If you require police assistance and you or an individual residing in your household are experiencing flu like symptoms, please advise the call taker of this. Officers will then make arrangements to meet you outside of the residence and will most likely be wearinf PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) which may or may not include gloves, mask and eye protection. Anyone showing flu like symptoms will not be allowed into the police department. In addition a courtesy phone has been places in the lobby of City Hall with directions on how to contact our desk officer.

If you require RECORDS from the Cortland Police Department:

• Call the Records Bureau at 607-758-8305
• Email: pguerrera@cortland.org or pbarden@cortland.org, describe the nature of the record, date/address or incident and any additional information to identify the record.
• To obtain an accident report go to: www.crashdocs.org

+ The Cortland Standard

The Cortland Standard is making the following adjustments as of 3/17

• Out of an abundance of caution, the offices of the Cortland Standard will be closed to the public until further notice. We will continue to deliver the newspaper to homes and newsstands.
• Members of our staff are working from home but will be available to assist subscribers, advertisers and the general public.
• If there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to get in touch with your regular contact at the newspaper. Email messages will be the most efficient way to reach us. Please see the staff directory at www.cortlandstandard.net for contact information.

+ Cortland Taxi & Silver Star Taxi

Cortland Taxi & Silver Star Taxi is making the following announcement as of 3/22

In this time of need, we will do free pick up for prepaid essentials for those that can't get them anywhere in cortland.

+ Cortland Transit

Cortland Transit is making the following adjustments as of 3/18

Cortland Transit has made some route changes. For more up to date information please head to the Way 2 Go Cortland website.

+ The Cortland Works Career Center

The Cortland Works Career Center is making the following adjustments as of 3/17

• The Cortland Works Career Center is closed, until at least April 3, 2020.

If you have questions you can email them to employed@cortland-co.org or you may call 607-756-7585, or 607-753-5071.

+ Cortland Youth Bureau

Cortland Youth Bureau is making the following announcement as of 3/23

For the saftey of all, and to stop the spread of COVID-19, all parks, playgrounds, athletic courts, and sports fields are closed until further notice.

+ Family and Children Counseling Services

Family and Children Counseling Services is making the following adjustments as of 3/19:

Cortland, NY, March 19, 2020 – To protect the health of our staff, clients and the community, and to operate in accordance with county, state and federal recommendations, Family & Children’s Counseling Services is transitioning to telephone and telehealth services to ensure that clients have access to essential behavioral health services during the evolving COVID-19 health crisis. While we intend to continue offering services, please do expect changes to how we do business:

• Our clinic facilities will be closed to the public effective Thursday, March 19 at 5:00 pm and remain closed until 8:00 am on Monday, April 6.
• Our phone lines for information, support and referral will be open Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For information or to schedule appointments please call:
• Binghamton (607) 729-6206
• Cortland (607) 753-0234
• Oneida (315) 280-0400
• In lieu of face-to-face contact, we will be delivering behavioral health services through telephone or telehealth capabilities, including technology commonly available on smart phones and other devices. Clinical services will be offered Monday – Thursday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, which is consistent with our normal clinic hours.

Most staff will work remotely from home using telephone and telehealth technology to perform their jobs. Some staff will continue to use our offices under social distancing guidelines. The agency has already been confirming telephone contact information for our clients and we have options available for clients who do not have access to a phone.

Please understand that we did not make this decision lightly. Individual and group counseling are critical for many in our community along with medication assisted treatment to support those in recovery. We have a strong sense of responsibility toward our clients and are making every possible effort to ensure that they have access to the services they need.

+ The Groton Public Library

The Groton Public Library is making the following adjustments as of 3/17

The Groton Public Library is Closed to the public until further notice.

+ Liberty Resources

Liberty Resources is making the following adjustments as of 3/22:

Liberty Resources has opened a warm line for anyone feeling stressed or overwhelmed. If you or a loved one are feeling stressed, overwhelmed or having a bad day and need to talk to someone please call (855)778-1900. For more information on what a warm line is please CLICK HERE

+ NYSEG

NYSEG is making the following adjustments as of 3/22:

NYSEG can help you with programs to manage bills and maintain service. If you are worried about a service lapse due to payment during this time, you can call 888-315-1755 Monday-Friday 7am-7pm to speak with a representative about your options.

+ Person to Person Citizens Advocacy

Person to Person Citizens Advocacy is making the following updates as of 3/19:

• PPCA is a nonprofit organization that aims to reduce the risk of social isolation for adults with developmental disabilities.
• Social distancing has made it difficult for PPCA to keep those we serve connected to others. We are looking for volunteers to call and/or write to the folks we serve to keep them socially engaged. Just a short chat a few minutes every week can make a huge difference, especially to those who live alone.

If you are interested in joining our community of neighbors helping neighbors, please contact Annmarie DiGiorgio, the Cortland program coordinator at adigiorgio@ppcadvocacy.org or 315-424-3467

+ The Salvation Army - Cortland

The Salvation Army - Cortland is making the following adjustments as of 4/7:

138 Main Street, Cortland (607) 753-9363

On-site to-go style lunch served on Wednesdays 12:00pm-1:00pm. Delivery of pre-packaged food bags only starting 3/24/20 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call or visit CLICK HERE to complete a delivery request form. Open to all. Catholic Charities will be doing food deliveries on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Please use the same link.

+ Seven Valleys Health Coalition

Seven Valleys Health Coalition is making the following adjustments as of 3/26:

As the Cortland community rises to meet the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, Seven Valleys Health Coalition (SVHC) stands committed in our dedication to serve our Cortland community during these unique times. If you have any questions, concerns, or need to connect with SVHC, please call (607) 756-4198.

Our physical office may be closed but our staff is engaging now with the same mission we have always had…serving our neighbors:

• Connecting people to resources: by communicating timely and accurate resource information through the 211Cortland.org website and 2-1-1 call center,
• Food: working with our community partners to support and improve the local food system,
• Transportation: supporting Cortland Transit through our Mobility Management, and continuing Supports for Health (transportation free of charge to low-income individuals in the community needing transportation to fulfill essential needs Eg. to work, the grocery store, etc.).
• Supporting healthy lifestyles: our Diabetes Prevention Program continues to meet virtually. We are actively exploring taking our other community education programs virtual as well. Stay tuned.

+ Veteran Peer Support Group

Veteran Peer Support Group is making the following announcement as of 3/19:

We are thrilled to share a daily telephone support group for all of our Veterans! This will be lead by our BVAC Peer Support Specialists & myself, and will continue for the time being. Note that this is a trial, so we are asking everyone to be patient and fluid as we get our bearings.

Veterans Peer Support Call - DAILY at 1p.m. EST (BEGINS MONDAY, MARCH 23rd) 1-800-767-1750 x99873

+ YWCA of Cortland

YWCA of Cortland is making the following adjustments as of 3/19:

• The Cortland YWCA facility and all programs to the public will be closed until further notice
• Aid to Vicims of Violence (AVV) will be operating by appointment only except in a crisis or emergency.

Aid to Victims of Violence is an essential service and will remain open with some modifications.

1. Staff are primarily working remotely. Persons seeking services are encouraged to call the hotline for guidance and direction on how to proceed in seeking services

2. To the extent it is possible, AVV will be conducting as much business as possible by phone, email or Skype.

3. If a face to face encounter is necessary, visitors will be screened as per Health Department guidelines and advocates will follow our COVID-19 protocol to ensure the safest environment for all parties.