SEASPAR is committed to continuing to ensure a safe environment for all employees and patrons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the State of Illinois’ mask mandate effective August 30, 2021, SEASPAR is updating its policies regarding face masks. These rules are effective beginning August 30 and are subject to change as the state and CDC continue to issue additional guidance.
Under the new mandate, masks are required indoors in Illinois for all individuals over the age of 2, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. As a result, masks are required for all SEASPAR participants for indoor programs or programs including transportation. For fully outdoor programs, masks are only required for unvaccinated individuals when a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained.
Participants who do not provide proof of vaccination must meet SEASPAR’s eligibility criteria:
- Wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot physical distance from others
- Manage independent care
- Participate safely with visual and verbal prompting
Individuals who are not fully vaccinated and participating in outdoor programs may remove masks when able to maintain a 6-foot physical distance from others.
You are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the administration of the final course of your vaccine—in other words, 14 days after the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or 14 days after the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Vaccination is not required to participate, but SEASPAR participants are invited to upload a photo or scan of the participant’s vaccination card. If a family is not comfortable uploading a photo of their vaccination card but would still like to confirm vaccination status, we invite them to bring it to the SEASPAR office. Staff will view the vaccination card, document the date of the last vaccination, and ask them to sign a form.
SEASPAR will continue to take other COVID-19 safety precautions in all programs, including, but not limited to:
- Cleaning and disinfecting pursuant to state and local guidelines.
- Making face masks available to patrons and employees.
- Requiring regular handwashing and providing hand sanitizer to patrons and employees at each facility.
- Requiring vaccinated and unvaccinated employees and patrons to stay home if they have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19.
- Contact tracing when an employee or patron is diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Requiring employees and participants to quarantine following close contact with a person with COVID-19 will be based on revised state and local guidelines and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
- Following program capacity requirements.
- Continually updating COVID-19 policies and practices based on updated guidance from state and local entities.
- Allowing employees and participants with medical conditions making them vulnerable to COVID-19 and/or unable to be vaccinated to contact SEASPAR for reasonable accommodations.
SEASPAR In-Person Programming Eligibility
For in-person programming, SEASPAR has established eligibility and safety guidelines for staff and participants. Participants interested in registering for in-person programming are required to complete the Participant Assessment to determine eligibility. This assessment only needs to be completed once.
As always, evaluations of reasonable accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis to ensure that SEASPAR has as much information as possible about the specifics of the request being made, and SEASPAR retains the right at all times to re-evaluate participation when a situation is creating a direct threat of safety.
Wellness Screening Agreement
As part of the registration process, participants and/or caregivers are committing to the guidelines set forth by CDC and the Illinois Department Public Heath (IDPH). At the time of registration for each season/session, participants/caregivers will be asked to complete the Wellness Screening Agreement. This agreement requires that the participant be withheld from program if certain criteria are met. Please refer to the registration form for the current season for more information.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the SEASPAR office at 630.960.7600 and speak with Matt Corso, Dawn Krawiec, or Karen Lesniak.