During this public health crisis of COVID-19, Compass’ commitment to the well-being of our community remains as strong as ever, and it is our responsibility to do our part to flatten the curve in our area.  While many of our direct client services have already been transitioned to virtual services, Compass staff will continue working to provide services to our community, even if we cannot do so in person. 

UPDATE 7/31/2020 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:

It’s been four months since the coronavirus shut down our community, our state, our nation. Each of us has had to make difficult decisions to adapt. Compass Community Center is no different.

Compass staff are busy behind the scenes, working out how to continue offering events in a virtual environment. We continue to offer all the same services as before, in a different way that keeps us all safe.

Since mid-July, Compass is once again offering free HIV testing in the center, Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM.  Please call the center to make an appointment, and be prepared to answer basic health assessment questions and have your temperature taken upon arrival. We ask all testing clients to wear a mask and will have them available if you do not have one of your own. Prevention staff are also available by phone to provide answers to your questions about HIV test-at-home kits, sexual health, PrEP, PEP, and more.

Compass’ therapists continue to meet with clients virtually since support is so critical during this difficult time. Please call the center if you need to talk with someone - mental health is always important, and especially now. Case managers are continuing to serve their clients in assisting with doctors' appointments, communicating with other providers, and connecting clients with emergency housing and food assistance.

Since April, Compass has spent a quarter of a million dollars to cover health and wellness expenses, emergency housing and food assistance, trips to doctor’s visits, and specialized behavioral therapy for community members in need.

Staff-facilitated support groups are also meeting virtually, which is especially exciting because while we meet this way, geography and access to transportation is not a barrier for anyone to attend. This includes the youth group, meeting on Wednesday and Friday nights to talk, play games, and learn some cooking tips!

Compass team members are also available on the phone to connect community members with resources around housing, food distributions, intimate partner violence, and legal help. The center is staffed Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, for walk-up visitors to access condoms, free masks, and information about resources. Our cyber center is also available for use by appointment, so please call ahead to arrange a time to use one of our computers.

Our Coffee Clatch group is meeting virtually every other week, and PBA mixers have moved online, too. We welcome you to join us! Visit us online at www.compassglcc.com or call the center for more information on these gatherings.

Community members are welcome to call the center with any questions they may have or to visit our website for more information. Each staff member’s extension is available on the site, and we welcome your calls.

PAST COVID UPDATES:

May 20, 2020

1. Wash your hands
2. Maintain 6' of social distancing
3. Wear a mask. My mask protects you, your mask protects me.

HIV PREVENTION, TESTING AND EDUCATION: 

All HIV testing is suspended until further notice to follow the latest guidelines from the Department of Health and the CDC.  While HIV testing is temporarily suspended, please call us at 561-533-9699 to talk with one of our knowledgeable testing counselors at Compass. Our testing counselors can help you learn more about your HIV status, answer your questions about HIV, PrEP, PEP and other sexual health related topics, and link you to additional resources. As always, all conversations are confidential and we are looking forward to getting your call!

Lorenzo Lowe ext 4009

Dylan Brooks ext 4004

Walberto Colon (en Espanol) ext 4042

HEALTH SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, and MENTAL HEALTH 

All appointments will be held via phone or video call, as staff and clients determine best for their circumstances.  Clients eligible to receive tangible resources, such as food pantry or bus passes, will be contacted by their case managers to arrange these meetings. 

YOUTH AND FAMILIES

Youth Drop-in center is closed, in alignment with the school district’s closure. Youth group members are encouraged to contact youth staff if they need to talk. Youth staff will be reaching out to therapy clients and other youth group members to discuss these changes. Youth group will be held virtually, with youth staff contacting group members for when and how they can participate.

Amanda Canete ext 4011

Lucas O’Ryan ext 4040

Rex Barnes ext 4035

ALL-CENTER SUPPORT GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES

All groups and events scheduled in the center are suspended. We encourage groups to meet virtually to support their members. We will explore opportunities with group facilitators to move appropriate meetings to web-based platforms such as Zoom. We urge group members to take advantage of calls and texts to care for one another. 

CYBER CENTER
The David Bohnett Cyber Center is closed to the public.

We understand this decision presents challenges to many, but we continue to follow the lead of the CDC, Department of Health and other health officials. Compass remains committed to providing services to our community. We hope that these changes, while disruptive to people’s lives, will also help to save lives. 

You can access information regarding COVID-19 from the Florida Department of Health HERE and the Center for Disease Control HERE. We will continue to follow guidance from these agencies, public health officials, as well as Palm Beach County and City of Lake Worth Beach officials. For information on how to help during this time through the United Way, please click here. 

Remember our individual responsibility in the prevention of viral spread by minding the basic steps of proper hygiene:

• Wash hands often with soap and hot water.
• Supplement hand washing with antibacterial hand sanitizer.
• Cover mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough (not with your hands).
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
• Stay home if you (or a residential family member) are symptomatic: fever, cough, shortness of breath (flu-like symptoms)

Durante esta crisis de salud pública del COVID-19, el compromiso de compass de servir a la comunidad se mantiene firme y vigente, y es nuestra responsabilidad de mantener las regulaciones pertinentes en nuestra área. Mientras que muchos de los servicios directos al cliente han sido transferidos a modo virtual, los empleados de Compass seguirán ofreciendo los servicios a la comunidad, aun cuando no sea posible de manera personal. 

EFECTIVO EL 23 DE MARZO DEL 2020 HASTA NUEVO AVISO:

De acuerdo con la guía publica más reciente con respecto al COVID-19, Compass Community Center estará cerrado al público a partir del Lunes, 23 de Marzo del 2020, por la mañana. La intención es proteger aún más al público y a los empleados de la propagación de COVID-19. Estas medidas permanecerán vigentes durante el tiempo que se considere prudente y necesario. Para obtener más información llame al centro al 561-533-9699.  

PREVENCIÓN DE  VIH, PRUEBAS Y EDUCACIÓN:

Todos los servicios de pruebas de VIH han sido suspendidos hasta nuevo aviso, esto para seguir con las recomendaciones del Departamento de Salud y del CDC. Mientras se suspenden temporalmente las pruebas de VIH, llámenos al 561-533-9699 para hablar con uno de los empleados del departamento de prevención de Compass. Nuestros expertos pueden ayudarlo a obtener más información con relación a su estado de VIH, responder sus preguntas sobre VIH, PrEP, PEP y otros temas relacionados con la salud sexual, y vincularlo con servicios adicionales. Como siempre, todas las conversaciones serán confidenciales. Esperamos recibir su llamada!

Lorenzo Lowe ext 4009

Dylan Brooks ext 4004

Walberto Colon (en Espanol) ext 4042

SERVICIOS DE SALUD, MANEJO DE CASOS, Y SALUD MENTAL:

Todas las citas serán atendidas vía telefónica o a través de videollamada, esto será determinado a la conveniencia del empleado y de el cliente en base a lo que mejor se ajuste a las circunstancias. Clientes elegibles para recibir los servicios de bonos de alimentos o pases para el bus serán contactados por su manejador de caso para coordinar una cita. 

JÓVENES Y FAMILIAS:

El servicio del Departamento de Jóvenes de Compass estará cerrado hasta nuevo aviso, esto en coordinación con el cierre del Distrito Escolar. Los miembros del grupo de jóvenes pueden contactar algún empleado del Departamento de Jóvenes si necesitan hablar con alguien. Los empleados del Departamento de Jóvenes estarán haciendo las llamada pertinentes and los clientes de terapia y a los miembros del grupo de jóvenes para dejarles saber sobre estos cambios. Las reuniones del grupo de jóvenes se realizarán de manera virtual. Esto será coordinado por los empleados del Departamento de Jóvenes y los miembros del grupo en base a la disponibilidad de ambas partes. 

Amanda Canete ext 4011

Lucas O’Ryan ext 4040

Rex Barnes ext 4035

TODOS LOS GRUPOS DE APOYO Y ACTIVIDADES DEL CENTRO DE COMPASS:

Todos los grupos y eventos programados han sido suspendidos. Se le recomienda a los grupos a reunirse de forma virtual en apoyo a sus miembros. Se estarán buscando alternativas con los facilitadores de grupos para que las reuniones puedan ser ofrecidas de manera virtual o en linea a traves de Zoom. Se le recomienda a los miembros de los distintos grupos a mantenerse en comunicación vía llamada o texto para ayudarse unos a otros. 

CENTRO DE COMPUTADORAS:

El Centro De Computadoras David Bohnett está cerrado al público. 

Nosotros comprendemos que esta decisión presenta muchas dificultades para nuestros clientes, pero nosotros seguimos las directrices y recomendaciones del CDC, del Departamento de Salud y los oficiales de Salud. Compass mantiene el compromiso de ofrecer los servicios a la comunidad. Mantenemos la esperanza, que aunque estos cambios son difíciles, nos ayuden a salvar vidas.

Pueden accesar información respecto al COVID-19  desde la página de Departamento de Salud Aquí, y del Centro del Control de Enfermedades Aqui. Nosotros seguiremos las recomendaciones de estas agencias, oficiales de salud pública, y de los oficiales de la ciudad de Lake Worth Beach en el Condado de Palm Beach.

Palm Beach Pride, scheduled to take place in Bryant Park on March 28th and 29th, has been cancelled. In collaboration with the City of Lake Worth Beach, and following the guidelines recently established by the governor of Florida, the leadership of Compass Community Center which produces the event each year, has made the decision as a precautionary measure, in light of the continued spread of COVID-19. 

All who were planning to participate in Palm Beach Pride as performers, vendors, volunteers, or parade participants will be contacted directly by Compass staff.

We are working on our process for refunding Palm Beach Pride Tickets to the anyone who has purchased them and will release that plan in the near future. 

Julie Seaver, Compass’ Executive Director, explains, “This is a difficult decision to make, as we recognize both the economic and emotional impact the lack of this Pride festival will have on Lake Worth Beach and the thousands of residents and visitors who look forward to the event every March. However, in light of the rapid spread of the virus, cancelling is the most responsible thing we can do. The health and well-being of the community remains our main concern.” 

The Pride 5K will be rescheduled for a future date. Information will be released in the future.

Decisions regarding other events held at Compass will be made on an ongoing basis and communicated to the public as quickly as possible. Compass leadership will continue to remain in communication with city commissioners, and state and county health department officials to inform decisions moving forward.

“We want to continue with business as usual, as much as we possibly can. However, the health of our community members comes first, so some larger gatherings may be suspended for the time being,” says Marc Pickering, Compass’ Board Chair. 

Discussions are already underway to determine if Palm Beach Pride 2020 can be rescheduled to a date later in the year. 

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Compass has already taken the following steps: 

• open communications with staff around extending their PTO sick time and stay home policy if symptomatic
• self-quarantine for specific staff meeting the COVID-19 target demographic
• sanitation procedures for self and for the center
• continuing to be calm and informed to assure clients are being served 

Compass Community Center is the only LGBTQ community center in Palm Beach County, and works to engage, empower and enrich the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people and those impacted by HIV and AIDS.