Update May 9, 2023
Fact Sheet: End of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Read more here: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html#:~:text=Based%20on%20current%20COVID%2D19,day%20on%20May%2011%2C%202023.
Update August 8, 2022
Allegheny County Community Spread is once again at the ‘Red’ level, where the CDC recommends masking again in indoor spaces. While not mandatory, we encourage those individuals visiting out offices to consider wearing a mask while indoors. Thank you for continuing to keep everyone safe!
Update February 25, 2022
With the updated guidelines from the CDC, masks are no longer mandatory in the office for vaccinated staff/clients/vendors. If you are not fully vaccinated and boosted, please continue to wear a mask in our offices. Let’s continue to keep everyone safe!
Update September, 2021
Masks are mandatory in the office, whether you are fully vaccinated or not, until further notice. Let’s all keep one another safe!
Update June 28, 2021
As of June 28th, Allegheny County has lifted the mask mandate! Pennsylvania lifted its mask mandate as well, citing broad success in vaccinating adults.
Read the announcement here.
Please be advised that Outreach still requires those unvaccinated to continue to wear a mask for their safety, and the safety of the agency’s clients and employees. Thank you!
Update June 17, 2021
Masked or Vaxxed
Outreach counselors are now seeing clients in person! We are in our new office space at 615 Washington Road, TL-6 (down the hall from Arancini House). Please note that we are still requiring those who are not vaccinated to wear masks into the office. Please take note that we are still providing teletherapy for those who prefer that to in person sessions. Call us at 412-561-5405 or email us at info@outreachteen.org to schedule your session today.
Update February 15, 2021
We are now entering year 2 of the pandemic. We know there is a lot of fatigue out there; we feel it as well. But we are here for you.
Our agency is still taking new clients! Outreach continues to provide the majority of counseling sessions via teletherapy through the TheraNest HIPAA compliant platform. Our agency is in the 1a category for receipt of vaccines; counselors are receiving their vaccines, and a few have already received their vaccines through their daytime jobs. Stay tuned for more information on when all counselors will be conducting in person counseling sessions. Per the CDC guidelines, masks will still be required, with double masking highly recommended. And don’t forget to wash those hands. Stay safe and healthy!
Update September 29, 2020
Our counselors are here to help!
Outreach has subscribed to TheraNest, a top-rated software platform for delivering mental health counseling sessions through either the phone or video-conferencing. All intake forms are now available through this system. It is fully HIPAA compliant, and uses encryption to ensure all Electronic Health Records remain confidential.
June 5, 2020 Going Green! (Updated July 12, 2020)
While restaurants, salons and other companies begin opening their doors, Outreach has also evaluated how best to provide counseling services to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Our counselors continue to provide telehealth sessions for all present and new clients. All new clients are evaluated to determine if telehealth is appropriate for the level of care needed.
Please call today, 412-561-5405, or email us at info@outreachteen.org, to schedule an appointment.
Once face to face counseling is offered again, we will require all clients to wear masks upon entering the office and arrive just five (5) minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. We ask that only clients being seen come into the office.
In addition, we are restricting access to the agency for anyone who may have recently been exposed to the virus. By entering our office, you are affirming and attesting that:
- You have not in the last 14 days, had any close contact with anyone who is either confirmed or suspected of being infected with COVID-19, including anyone who was experiencing or displaying any of the known symptoms of COVID-19 (which are listed in item (c) below); AND
- You have not in the last month traveled to a restricted area that is under a Level 2, 3 or 4 Travel Advisory according to the U.S. State Department (including China, Italy, Iran and most of Europe), as well as recent state hot spots of Arizona, California, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina; AND
- You do not currently experience or display, and you have not in the last 14 days experienced or displayed, any of the following symptoms:
- Elevated temperature or fever of 100.4 F or higher;
- Cough;
- Shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing;
- Loss of smell and/or taste;
- Fatigue; or
- Persistent headaches
If you answered YES to any of the above statements, you may not enter the Outreach office. Thank you for your cooperation!
May 29, 2020
As the Governor continues to re-open counties throughout the state, Outreach has remained a resource for those seeking counseling services. While the agency does have a re-opening protocol in place, the decision to provide face to face counseling services will be determined by individual counselors, as well as the clinical needs of each client. Telehealth continues to be provided for clients. Please call today, 412-561-5405, or email us at info@outreachteen.org, to schedule an appointment.
Please note that if you have a fever or a cough, have been with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 within the past two weeks of your appointment, you need to re-schedule your counseling session (if it is onsite). This is for the safety of our counselors and the well-being of others within the agency. Anyone entering our agency will be required to wear a mask. Thank you!
April 9, 2020
March 21, 2020
To our clients, colleagues, and supporters:
During these uncertain times, Outreach Teen & Family Services remains open to provide mental health counseling for children, ages 5-21, and their parents. We are considered a ‘life-essential’ business by Governor Wolf (as of today).
In accordance with CDC and the Allegheny Health Department guidelines, no one will be seen by a counselor if they are exhibiting any signs of sickness. If you have been in contact with anyone who has signs of sickness, please consider re-scheduling your appointment. (No Show fees are waived until the end of March.) We will not allow more than 10 individuals in the office at one time.
If you or someone close to you has been to China, Italy, Spain, France or a state with a high rate of infection, we cannot provide face to face counseling services to you. We are disinfecting our areas daily, and all offices are being wiped down prior to each new client, and immediately after the session to keep those coming into our agency safe and healthy.
We know that changes to routines and uncertainty with schools, jobs and financial situations can strain families already vulnerable when dealing with mental health concerns. We want to be able to continue to provide you with professional counseling services in whichever setting is safest for your children/family, and determined appropriate by our clinical staff.
In order to provide options for counseling sessions, we will be utilizing video conferencing through Microsoft Teams.
We will require a new consent form to be signed prior to these sessions being implemented by counselors.The form can be downloaded here: Telehealth Informed Consent 2020.
Please sign and return this form either by email or snail mail. (While the HIPAA regulations have been relaxed, we will accept email consent of this form as well. We do ask you return a hard copy as well at your earliest convenience.) Our counseling fees remain in place. Please go to https://outreachteen.org/about/fees-insurance/ for more information on payment options.
We will keep our website and office information up to date with the latest directives. We want to be certain that our counselors and our clients are safe and healthy!
Please read this letter from our Clinical Director, Dr. Tracy Scanlon, COVID-19 – Advice for parents
Thank you for placing your trust in Outreach Teen & Family Services for the past 45 years. We are here to promote and provide empathetic, personal, accessible and affordable mental health counseling and wellness programs for children and families during these unprecedented times of uncertainty and change.
Stay healthy,
Mary D. Birks
Executive Director
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