Dear Facing Forward Family,

If you have chosen to read this, it is undoubtedly because you care deeply for the community and hold special compassion for the vulnerable among us. We are living in a moment of shared anxiety and exceptional caution. I want each of you to know three things:

First, the 700+ residents at Facing Forward are being attended to. As we continue to closely monitor coronavirus (COVID-19), we are working to ensure our residents remain safe and stably housed, giving special attention toward those who are most at risk and anyone showing symptoms. Our skilled team of clinical case managers are also working hard to provide comfort to our residents during a very stressful time.

Second, we are doing our part to promote public safety. Our team will be contacting all residents with additional guidance to help them stay safe and to help prevent the spread of illness. We have also taken measures, as so many others have done, to reduce the exposure of our team to illness and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

Finally, in all your concern for others, remember to take care of yourself too. As we carry the weight of worry for loved ones and concern for how this will impact our lives in the days ahead, take some time to be kind to yourself. Getting enough sleep, eating well, and taking a minute to remind yourself that you too are worthy of care and love can reduce stress and help you refuel for what is ahead.

An article that I find myself coming back to is The Five Things You Need to Know About Self-Care, from the Self-Care Institute, which reminds us, “From the day you were born, you have been a human being worthy of compassion, love, and kindness from others and from yourself. Self-care is a given right, not something that needs to be earned.”

As a man of faith, I want you to know that I am praying for you. I hope you will take a minute to reach out and let me know how you are and if there is anything in particular you would like me to pray for. Please also feel free to reach out and let me know if you have any questions about how things are going at Facing Forward.

The following links can help you to keep up to date with recommendations from public health authorities:
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)
• Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

Thank you for helping so many in our community during this important time. You are making a difference.

Please stay safe and be well.

Sincerely,
Rev. Douglas Bradshaw,
Executive Director