COVID Updates

True Friends is a nonprofit organization with an over 65-year history of serving individuals with a variety of disabilities and health conditions. By participating in our programs, visiting our locations with your group, or renting our scenic properties, you are supporting our mission to provide adventures and experiences for individuals with disabilities.

Today, we continue to ask for your support as we work to keep the individuals and families we serve safe, as well as our staff. We also recognize that each individual is at a different stage of dealing with the pandemic and the effects of various COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Therefore we are asking patience and understanding for each individual who engages with True Friends.

Disclaimer: We have taken enhanced health and safety measures—for you, our other guests, and employees. You must follow all posted instructions while visiting True Friends. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable.

By visiting True Friends, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.

Prior to visiting one of our locations, or operating as a True Friends employee or participant offsite, please:

1.    Monitor your health, daily. Symptoms? Stay home.
We ask that all individuals who engage with or on behalf of the organization monitor their health and check their symptoms daily (participants in all programs will participate in daily health screenings). If you are exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms (fever of 100.4 or above, chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose/sniffles, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or new or increased cough in the last 7 seven days) or if you’re aware of any exposure to COVID-19 do not visit onsite or in the community.

If you are exhibiting symptoms, been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, or have received a positive COVID-19 test, please contact Human Resources at 952.852.0108 or [email protected]

2.    Talk to your healthcare provider.  If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about your risk of exposure to COVID-19 and whether or not other precautions need to be taken prior to participating in a True Friends program or visiting onsite.

3.    Follow preventative measures. We ask you to continue to follow other proper preventative measures as recommended by the CDC.

While onsite at a True Friends location or working on behalf of the organization in the community, we ask that you follow these guidelines:  

1.    If anyone develops signs or symptoms of COVID-19 while onsite, they should wear a mask, leave the location, and contact Human Resources at 952.852.0108 or [email protected].

2.    Masks are recommended, while onsite, inside buildings, or within 6 feet of another individual.

3.    You are required to keep a mask on your person at all times while onsite or working in the community on behalf of True Friends.

4.    Masks may still be required in certain situations. We expect all True Friends employees to follow these requirements:

Masks Are Required

·         If you are working in close proximity to other individuals, and if any of those individuals request a mask to be worn, please put on a mask.

·         Anywhere local, state, or federal regulation requires the use of a mask

·         If identified by an individuals Coordinated Service Support Plan, Community Support Plan or individual’s health needs in the Travel, Respite, Camp, Therapy and Adaptive Riding programs

·         When requested and agreed upon by our partner camp, camping together, or rental groups in writing

·         When entering a facility that requires the use of a mask

·         When traveling to a high COVID-19 community transmission area 

Further Protection Needed
Why has True Friends decided to continue following some of these regulations? 

Simple: to continue to protect the individuals and families we serve, as well as our staff

·         True Friends welcomes individuals of all ages and abilities. Our programs welcome children under the age of 5, who are currently unable to be vaccinated.

·         Many of the individuals and families we serve are more medically complex and may not be able to receive the vaccination at this time.

·         We welcome individuals and families from all over Minnesota, the United States, and internationally all of which are in different stages of the pandemic.

·         While staff are onsite, they will be working with individuals from all of our programs. Therefore, it’s necessary to have staff continue following the same protocols no matter what program is running.

·         Finally, we do not want to put the future of our organization at risk by relaxing protocols that are available to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

True Friends will continue to evaluate the situation, and changes may occur. Safety guidelines can change at anytime. If you have any questions about these requirements, please email us at [email protected] or call 952.852.0101.