COVID-19 Information and Resources
The COVID-19 pandemic is evolving each day, please check back for updates!
Collaboration and resiliency are hallmarks of the Warren Village community, including our many supporters.
As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic evolves each day. We want our community to know that we are actively monitoring state and local guidance and acting to ensure continued support to our families. We cannot control this rapidly changing environment, but we maintain a laser-like focus on our families and ensure frequent and clear communication with them, and with you—our amazing supporters. We do not know what lies ahead, but we do know that the strength of our community and our core values will guide us in these uncertain times.
Over the past year, we have continued to evaluate all government guidance, monitor our residents’ health and safety, and work hard to deliver our program in a remote environment. I have been incredibly impressed by the tenacity and creativity of our teams. They have been diligent in their efforts and tireless in their concern for our families. I am also tremendously affected by the outpouring of support from our donors, our corporate partners, and our foundation funders. Your generosity has allowed us to focus on meeting the most urgent and immediate needs of our families and our operations. Because of your kindness and caring, we are weathering the storm and continuing our mission.
Learning along the way
Along this journey, I can’t help but reflect on the good that we often find in such trying times. Much of our energy has been consumed with serious challenges, fears and obstacles to service continuity. I personally find it helpful to focus on lessons learned along the way:
- Relationship. The power of in-person, face-to-face time cannot be overestimated. While we have been maintaining with this new operating environment, we realize it is no substitute for being with those we serve and with you, our partners in this work.
- Trust. Without the in-person connections, we appreciate just how important trust is in the workplace. This remote work environment has solidified the bonds of trust that empower us to collaborate and co-create together.
- Results. As a nearly entirely-remote organization for the last two months, we have increased our focus on results, at all levels, with less dictation of process. Autonomy is a powerful lens that encourages us to focus on the end result—an enduring lesson for the future.
- Efficiency. Productivity can actually increase with more digital and automated processes. We have been forced to abandon paper and in-person procedures—decisions that will likely continue even after this is all over.
- Team. We sometimes spend more time with our coworkers than our own families, and we probably took that time for granted. Now, more than a year later, we realize just how much we care about our colleagues, miss our time with them, and appreciate their dedication to our shared work.
As we focus on the immediate future of our community and of our organization, we are closely following state budget discussions and developing contingencies for supporting our resident families and alumni. The need for support services will only increase. Statewide funding cuts and program reductions are nearly certain. Your partnership with Warren Village is as important as ever.
With hope and gratitude,
Ethan Hemming
President & CEO
Seeing Red in Denver
Update as of Thursday, November 19, 2020
Warren Village staff (except those in the Learning Center) have been and will continue to work on a primarily remote basis. Our Learning Center, which formally reopened June 1st has been providing child care and education at 75% capacity/enrollment with heightened safety and cleaning protocols, all in accordance with CDC, CDPHE, and the state division of early learning. Our Family Services team has been primarily delivering services remotely but offers in-person consultation for those who need it. Our Housing team has been processing applications, move-ins, and move-outs per our normal in-person process. Our in-person volunteer opportunities will remain on hold until further notice. Our approach is focused on health, safety, and service continuity for our families. We have plans in place to address positive cases of COVID-19 and are in regular communication with those we serve and our front-line staff. Everyone entering our housing complex, Learning Center, 1300 administration building, and/or those residents participating in Kids’ Club are required to wear a mask.
If you have any questions, please email info@warrenvillage.org.
Our Transition Back Has Begun
Update as of Thursday, May 27, 2020, at 4 p.m.
Warren Village has begun our gradual “transition back” to in-office services. Our Learning Center formally reopens June 1 with limited enrollment and heightened safety and cleaning protocols, all in accordance with CDC and state guidance. Our Family Services and administrative teams will also begin their phased-in return to the workplace. Our volunteer programs and opportunities will remain on hold until further notice. Our approach is focused on health, safety, and service continuity for our families. We have plans in place to address positive cases of COVID-19 and are in regular communication with those we serve and our front-line staff. As you might understand, there are concerns and fears to address as we move forward through this evolving situation. As with the last two months, we remain guided by our principles and priorities as we take the next steps on our path forward.
If you have any questions, please email info@warrenvillage.org.
A Gradual and Cautious Return
Update as of Thursday, May 7, 2020, at 4 p.m.
As you all know by now, the spread of the virus in our community has slowed sufficiently for the State and the City to announce the end of the stay-at-home orders and start a transition back toward a slightly more normal existence, a transition that will be gradual and slow.
Warren Village will begin its gradual and cautious return to more normal operations on June 1, 2020. On that date, our Learning Center will reopen with limited staffing and limited and prioritized enrollment. In addition, our Family Services, Housing, and Administration teams will begin their gradual transition back process as well. If the status of COVID-19 in Denver negatively changes in the next few weeks, the city may issue new guidance and Warren Village will appropriately adjust these plans.
All volunteer activities and Kids’ Club will remain suspended until further notice, with the exemption of those Life Skills facilitators who are conducting virtual classes.
If you are a parent of a child currently enrolled in our Learning Center, and have additional questions, please contact LiShanna Langley via email.
Continued Closure and Remote Work Until May 7
Update as of Thursday, April 30, 2020, at 12 p.m.
As always, we are unified in our mission to serve our resident and alumni families all the while supporting the community health imperative. We can’t predict the future, but we know that the economic recession that is ahead will hurt our families and that our service will be even more important than ever before.
At this point in time, our Learning Center will remain closed and our Family Services, Housing, and administrative teams will continue to operate on a primarily remote basis. Our Crisis Management Team will meet again on May 7 to assess guidance from the authorities, assess our situation and make decisions on the timeline for our transition back. Please check back on the afternoon of 5/7/20 for guidance and information.
Our priorities continue to be our community health, our resident and alumni service needs and our employee’s needs. Our decisions and actions will be informed by our priorities.
Our leadership team and crisis team are creating a “transition back” approach that will be slow and phased. It will be flexible and adaptable. It will be informed by Warren Village’s unique mission and service model that blends many elements together in one place. Our approach will be differentiated – we have very unique teams, with unique facility situations, and there is no “one size fits all” approach.
We expect to confirm the start of our “transition back” plan and the details of the plan after the next Crisis Management Team meeting on May 7. Please know that the leadership and crisis team is assembling supplies and determining protocols that are based on professional guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and other health authorities. The health of our employees and resident families is our top priority in this process.
Continued Closure and Remote Work Until May 1
Update as of Wednesday, April 15, 2020, at 12 p.m.
Our Learning Center will remain closed and our Family Services, Housing, and administrative teams will continue to operate on a remote basis. We will remain in this operational status until at least May 1, 2020. Our Crisis Management Team will meet again on April 29 to assess guidance from the authorities and determine whether to extend the current operational status further. Please check back here on the afternoon of April 30 for additional information.
Continued Closure and Remote Work
Update as of Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at 3 p.m.
As you can imagine, decision-making right now is incredibly complicated for us. Our focus must include many things at one time: Helping slow the spread of the COVID19 virus, continuing to serve our families, and taking care of our staff. We continue to seek balance among these areas.
At this point in time, our Learning Center will remain closed and our Family Services, Housing, and administrative teams will continue to operate on a primarily remote basis. We will remain in this operational status until at least April 20, 2020. Our Crisis Management Team will meet again on April 15 to assess guidance from the authorities and determine whether to extend the current operational status further. Please check back here on the afternoon of April 15 for additional information.
It is truly impossible for us to know exactly when our world will return to normal. However, we do know that, eventually, we will return to normal operations and normal life. Until that time, we will continue to assess information and make decisions that align, to the best extent possible, with our prioritization of health, residents and staff.
Flatten the Curve
Update as of Friday, March 20, 2020, at 3 p.m.
Warren Village is actively supporting efforts to “flatten the curve” and prevent the spread of COVID-19. We recently activated several contingency operations plans:
- Our Learning Center will remain closed at least through Friday, April 3.
- Our Family Services team continues to support our residents via phone and online videoconferencing.
- Administrative staff has transitioned to remote work through Friday, April 3.
- All volunteer activities, Life Skills Classes, and Kids’ Club are suspended until further notice.
Warren Village Closing Learning Center and Transitioning Staff to Remote Work
Update as of Friday, March 13, 2020, at 5 p.m.
It is our intent to keep resident families and staff safe and prevent/contain the spread of COVID-19. As such, we have decided to institute a temporary closure of our Learning Center from March 16 – 20. Also during this time, all administrative functions and family support services will be conducted remotely. All volunteer activities, Life Skills Classes, and Kids’ Club are cancelled through March 31.
Our work continues and our families need help now more than ever. Many of you have asked, so below are a few ways you can support us during these unprecedented times.
Donate Now
Donate directly to Warren Village as we continue to meet our families’ greatest needs.
Electronic Gift Cards
Send an electronic gift card, which will be forwarded to our residents in need of budget relief. Please send all eGift Card donations to volunteers@warrenvillage.org and include the subject line” “Assistance for Warren Village Families.” Please include your name and we will send you an in-kind receipt. Buy now at:
Amazon
Door Dash
Grubhub
Target
Walmart
Essential Bulk Items
While we prefer you donate directly to Warren Village or send electronic gift cards, we understand some of you may have large quantities of items you’d like to donate. Given the Mayor of Denver’s new stay-at-home order, we will no longer be able to accept donations via drop off. Please contact Anna Foster via email to discuss other options.
Partner Organizations
If you cannot donate within our parameters, please reach out to one of our partner organizations:
