COVID-19 Information
Here are actions we are taking to protect our clients and community against the spread of COVID-19. We are monitoring the situation and adjusting our response as needed. Please note that the information and policies cited below may change. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work to balance the mental and physical health needs of our clients while protecting our clients, families, and staff from COVID-19 infection.
Last updated: August 15, 2022
Tours & Assessments
Admissions
We are currently admitting new clients to our adult and adolescent programs. All adult and adolescent clients must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 prior to the day of admission. A negative Covid test (administered by Skyland Trail) may be required on the day of admission. Please speak to an admissions team member for more information: 866-504-4966.
Pre-Admission Campus Tours
Pre-admission campus tours are available for our adult and adolescent campuses. Tours are limited to three guests, and all guests must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19. Proof of vaccination is required. Tour appointments must be scheduled in advance with the admissions team.
Clinical Admissions Assessments
We are conducting all clinical admissions assessments via phone or online video conference. Assessments are scheduled after our clinical team receives and reviews medical records for any previous mental health providers. The admissions assessment helps our clinical team determine if Skyland Trail can meet your treatment needs. Results of the assessment inform the level of care recommended at admission as well as your specialized treatment plan once you begin treatment.
Adult Residential Programs
The following information applies to our adult residential treatment program.
All adult clients must be fully vaccinated prior to the day of admission.
A “fully vaccinated” person must meet one of the following criteria:
- An adult 18+ who has received at least three doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine (in any combination) and their most recent vaccine (booster) was received at least 14 days ago
- An adult 18+ who has received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and their second dose was received more than 14 days ago and less than 5 months ago
- An adult 18+ who has received one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine and a second dose of any FDA authorized Covid-19 vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson)
- An adult 18+ who has received one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than 14 days ago and less than two months ago
Pre-admission Screening
On the day of admission, the client will complete a screening for Covid-19 that may include an antigen Covid-19 test. If, at the discretion of the Skyland Trail medical team, a Covid-19 test is administered and is positive, the client will be required to return home. They must quarantine and receive medical clearance to reschedule the admission appointment.
Admitting to a Residential Campus
Fully vaccinated clients admit directly to a residential room at Rollins Campus or South Campus depending on availability. They may immediately begin attending in-person groups, individual sessions, and meals in the dining room(s).
Visiting Adult Clients on Campus
All visitors must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (including booster vaccines if eligible) and provide proof of vaccination. All visitors also must be pre-registered at least 24 hours before each visit.
Client Community Outings
We have suspended client community outings at this time. Some off-campus outings to outdoor locations may be organized. Our residential and recreational therapy teams organize fun activities on campus - from art activities to "screen on the green" outdoor movies - to encourage social engagement with peers and provide structured schedules on evenings and weekends. All activities ensure that physical distancing can be practiced at all times.
Therapeutic Off-Campus Passes
Off-campus therapeutic passes for adult residential clients are no longer permitted. If clients leave campus at any time, they must return to a quarantine room at South Campus and remain isolated in their room until they receive a negative COVID-19 test and are medically cleared to return to a residential room. Clients in quarantine can continue to participate in treatment remotely via zoom.
Adult Day Treatment and IOP
All clients admitting to the adult day treatment program must by fully vaccinated prior to the day of admission.
A negative Covid-19 antigen test administered by Skyland Trail on the day of admission is required to admit to the program. Direct admissions to day treatment are limited at this time.
Adult Family Services
Family Therapy
We are conducting all family therapy sessions via phone or online video conferencing through zoom. Family therapy is available as a additional service to clients in our adult residential and day treatment programs.
Family STEP Program
Family STEP is our weekly education and support group offered free of charge for families of clients in our adult residential and day treatment programs. Family STEP is held remotely by zoom online meetings each Thursday evening. Instructions to join via zoom are on the online family guide.
Family Orientation
All monthly family orientations are held remotely by zoom online meetings. Instructions to join are emailed to invited families.
Adult Transitional Living Program
Transitional living apartments are available to eligible adult clients who are stepping down from residential treatment to day treatment. Transitional clients may leave campus. Housekeeping and transitional staff are sanitizing common areas daily. Clients are asked to wipe down their apartments daily as well, focusing on commonly used surfaces such as door handles, faucets, refrigerator and microwave doors, etc.
Adult Alumni Program
The alumni program has begun offering a variety of events in-person and on-campus again in addition to a virtual support group. Any on-campus event will require participants to be fully vaccinated and register to attend in advance.
Adolescent Residential Program
The following information applies to our adolescent residential treatment program.
All adolescent clients must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 vaccine prior to admission.
Vaccination Status
Clients must be fully vaccinated prior to admission. For admissions on or after February 1, 2022, a “fully vaccinated” person must meet one of the following criteria:
- An adolescent who has received at least three doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine (in any combination) and their most recent vaccine (booster) was received at least 14 days ago
- An adolescent who has received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and their second dose was received more than 14 days ago and less than 5 months ago
Pre-Admission Screening
On the day of admission, the client will complete a screening for Covid-19 that may include an antigen Covid-19 test. If, at the discretion of the Skyland Trail medical team, a Covid-19 test is administered and is positive, the client will be required to return home. They must quarantine and receive medical clearance to reschedule the admission appointment.
Admissions Appointment
Guardians who are fully vaccinated may enter the clinical building for the admission appointment. Guardians are not permitted to enter client treatment areas or the residential building.
Guardians who are not fully vaccinated should remain in the car until any required paperwork is completed. Once paperwork is complete, they may leave campus. Guardians should plan to be available for additional remote sessions via zoom with the treatment team on the day of admission. They should return home or to local accommodations where they have internet access and a private space to participate in these sessions.
Family Therapy Sessions
All family therapy sessions are held remotely via zoom online meetings. Your family therapist will provide instructions for connecting via zoom. Families participate in family therapy sessions weekly.
Visitors and Off Campus Passes
Clients may not leave campus with family members. Client guardians are permitted to visit during visiting hours. Visitors must be fully vaccinated (including booster vaccines if eligible), reserve a time to visit in advance, and provide proof of vaccination.
Client Community Outings
We have suspended all client community outings. Residential and recreational therapy staff members organize structured activities to encourage engagement in treatment and social interaction on evenings and weekends. All activities ensure that physical distancing is maintained at all times.
Infection Control Procedures
Information about action we are taking across all of our campus to follow infection control protocols recommended by public health organizations.
Masks
Effective August 15, 2022, masks are optional.
Skyland Trail may choose to require mask wearing for individuals or the entire Skyland Trail community at any time. Individuals may choose to wear masks if they prefer. Individuals who are immunocompromised should consult their physicians. Masks worn by adolescent clients may not contain a wire or metal strip. Masks are required in the following circumstances:
- Close Contact Exposure: If an employee or client who has received the booster vaccine has a close contact exposure and is not experiencing symptoms, they can come to campus but must wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.
- At the discretion of the Skyland Trail medical team: While following infection control protocols, the Skyland Trail medical team may require that certain individuals wear a mask while on campus for a period of time.
Facilities & Housekeeping
Our facilities and housekeeping staff are following infection control guidelines to disinfect surfaces in our buildings and vehicles regularly. We have increased the presence of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes across our campuses. Clients and staff are being encouraged to wash hands frequently, especially before and after groups and before and after meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Day treatment and IOP clients who test positive for Covid-19 must remain off campus until medically cleared to return to campus.
Residential clients who test positive for COVID-19 at any time may be asked to return home and quarantine until medically cleared.
Clients must quarantine for 5 days after their positive test. If no symptoms develop during the 5 day quarantine, and if approved by Skyland Trail medical staff, the client may return to campus. If the client begins to exhibit symptoms during the 5 day quarantine, they must wait until all symptoms have resolved and then begin a 5-day quarantine, starting over with the first symptom-free day as day one. A negative test is required to return to campus.
Residential client families should have a plan in place in the event that a client would need to return home. Skyland Trail cannot provide transportation.
When a positive case is confirmed on a Skyland Trail campus, the medical staff conducts contact tracing to determine who is at risk of infection. Depending on the results of the contact tracing, individual clients or groups of clients may be required to physically isolate in their private rooms or remain off campus until medically cleared.
All visitors must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (including booster vaccines if eligible) and provide proof of vaccination. All visitors also must be pre-registered at least 24 hours before each visit.
All clients must complete a screening on the day of admission and may be required to complete a Covid test on the day of admission.
Masks are optional at this time.
Skyland Trail may choose to require mask wearing for individuals or the entire Skyland Trail community at any time. Individuals may choose to wear masks if they prefer. Individuals who are immunocompromised should consult their physicians. Masks worn by adolescent clients may not contain a wire or metal strip. Masks are required in the following circumstances:
- Close Contact Exposure: If an employee or client who has received the booster vaccine has a close contact exposure and is not experiencing symptoms, they can come to campus but must wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.
- At the discretion of the Skyland Trail medical team: While following infection control protocols, the Skyland Trail medical team may require that certain individuals wear a mask while on campus for a period of time.
Residential clients in our adult and adolescent clients may not leave campus for therapeutic passes. Some community outings will be organized to visit outdoor or low-risk venues.
For More Information
If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact your loved one's treatment team or call 404-315-8333 and ask to speak to Dr. Ray Kotwicki, Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer.
You may also want to reference information on coronavirus provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Mental Health Resources and Pandemic:
COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health