Share Reliable and Up-To-Date Information: Being transparent with staff and providing accurate, timely, and reliable information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s COVID-19 website as well as other state and local health department websites can sustain trust among staff and provides the basis for effective communication.
For some staff members, mass transit may be the only feasible way to commute to and from work. CBO leadership and staff should refer to local mass transit websites as they return to work in order to have up-to-date information on transit operations. The CDC also created guidance on how to stay safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19 when using public transportation, which is especially important as staff begin to interface with clients.
Lastly, supervising and communicating with staff in an empathetic and compassionate way, while already a cornerstone of good leadership, will be especially important as CBOs and staff begin to resume their responsibilities.
Communicate Behavioral Health Resources: The sharing of straightforward information on stress throughout the pandemic can help normalize individuals’ feelings and reactions. Resources from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress include guides for staff on how to maintain care and manage stress. The Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) also has a resource that provides practical leadership tips which can help leaders learn how to effectively communicate with staff about behavioral health needs throughout and after the pandemic.
Help Staff Address Grief: Throughout the pandemic, it is important to realize that staff may have feelings of moral injury, and that those working at community facilities with multiple COVID-19 related deaths may experience cumulative grief. These feelings can be further exacerbated when a co-worker, family member, friend, or respected community leader has passed as a result of the virus. This ASPR resource, Death of a Colleague during the COVID-19 Pandemic, provides recommendations for leaders and health care staff to consider when attempting to manage grief following the death of a colleague during COVID-19.