Dear Volunteers & FTC Community,

We are writing to update you on our current situation and use this opportunity to share our guidelines in support of navigating this situation.

On March 17, 2020, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations (CDCR), in the best interest of the incarcerated populations, volunteers and staff, has suspended all prison programs until further notice. Noting that they will remain agile in their response to addressing COVID-19, with safety being the top priority.

FTC guidelines (modified for COVID-19) are fundamentally the same as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for each of us in our day-to-day life, are as follows:

 

1. Take care of yourself so you can help take care of others.

1. Wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, including the back of your hands and between your fingers.
2. When possible, use your hand sanitizer periodically.
3. Keep your unwashed hands away from your face. (This is a surprisingly challenging practice, however given the prevalence of COVID-19, it could save your life.)
4. Practice social distancing as much as possible.

Early symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 can include sore throat, dry cough, fever, lethargy, etc. These are also symptoms of any respiratory viral infection, such as influenza or the common cold, so please contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

 

2. Don’t hurt yourself, and don’t hurt others.

Same guidelines as for Ground Rule #1.

 

3. Use everything for your growth and learning.

These are challenging circumstances for everyone. Practicing your FTC skills is good for you, and helps everyone else. Emotional upset and judgments can reduce a key immune defense (Ig A), so identifying “Freedom to Choose Moments” and de-escalating your fight-flight-freeze response is good for your health! Practice releasing judgments as quickly as you can, in service to your health, growth and learning. Make it OK that we’re all in “learning mode” all of the time and be kind and compassionate with yourself and others.

We are grateful to each of you for your commitment to the work of The Freedom to Choose Project (FTC) and all of the people we serve.

From all of us at FTC, please join us in blessings to everyone in our community, along with the entire human family.

Loving and Light,

David & Bonnie