Rose Brooks Center is about saving lives – so it was vital that our response to COVID-19 was swift and thorough. In March, at the same moment that Kansas City’s mayor was declaring a state of emergency, Rose Brook’s executive team created an emergency response plan for the 120+ employees of the agency, as well as the families and pets living in shelter. Additionally, an action plan to have all program delivery transition to virtual or teleservices was put into place – and the result was uninterrupted safety and care.
The COVID crisis has required Rose Brooks to incur a large amount of unexpected, unbudgeted expenses which will continue to mount as we carry out a new style of service delivery over the coming weeks and months. But with support from generous donors we stay committed to protect the safety and health of clients, staff, and community.
We continue to effectively respond to challenges on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. We do this because we know that domestic violence does not subside during a time like this, but rather it escalates as abusers use isolation as yet another tool of abuse for already vulnerable victims.
See below each photo some examples of how Rose Brooks continues to respond to a few of the COVID related challenges.
To decrease the need for shared spaces, we installed TVs and fridges, and additional outlets in each individual room.
Rose Brooks Center responded to the 31% hotline increase during Kansas City’s stay-at-home order.
We added social distancing signs throughout shelter and administration offices.