What Alliance Work Looks Like During COVID-19

Over the past few week’s organizations changed their approach to work due to COVID-19. Coupled with the challenges of social distancing current times can be daunting.  For the past thirty (30) days the Alliance Board of Directors and staff have worked together to develop policies for remote work, as well as implement.  This has changed the way work looks like for us. 
 
First off, work has resulted in changing of spaces.  Our Program Specialist, IT Coordinator, and Media Coordinator started work from home on April 6, 2020.  This required approval from grant funders, and safeguarding all mandates be followed.  The Alliance has remote work policies for inclement weather, due to our heavy storms and hurricanes, but this time with the uncertainty of quarantine, it was imperative to create policies that would support remote work.  With guidelines from our funders the Alliance Board of Directors adopted a remote work policy.  The next step was to provide guidelines to employees on what could be done during remote work.  This meant pulling out workplans to match daily activities.  The next step was to ensure home spaces were safe for remote work to limit on the job injuries.  We purchased needed tables, internet access to ensure staff had all the tools available required to produce and be efficient.  Calendars were developed, and each staff agreed on meeting times, and project deadlines.  Working at home can feel isolating, for this reason we encourage daily morning check in, along with connecting individually. 
 
Working with our partners during COVID-19 is filled with a host of digital meetings, and electronic displays. For the past six (6) months the Alliance has developed webinars, podcasts, heavy traffic on social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), which has prepared us the changes made by COVID-19.  During the month of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), rather than holding a conference, KVZK-TV crew came to the Alliance office where Staff read the Governor’s proclamation regarding SAAM, allowing for the community to learn.  We have weekly webinar’s in English and Samoan that is accessible to anyone who has a computer.  Our Media team is hosting Netflix Party’s, and campaigns for “Teal Tuesday” (where you wear Teal and take a photo), as well as Denim Day, April 29, 2020.  We hosted Zoom meetings for our Sexual Assault Response- Coordinated Community Response partners.  We have scheduled meetings to be held using Zoom to stay connected with our member organizations/partners, and off island support teams.  The internet and digital applications continue to help us remain connected in a time when we are encouraged to practice social distancing.
 
For victims of sexual assault and domestic violence isolation can be more dangerous.  Abusers are at home more often, which can cause more stress.  There has been an increase in the number of victims who have connected with our office because they are fearful of the violence.  We remind them they are not alone, and we support them during this difficult time. When they voice, they are “afraid” the abuser will come back, we encourage safety planning, as well as connecting with law enforcement and advocates.  When they say, “he continues to call me, but I’m tired of being beaten.”  We remind them, “No one deserves to be beaten.”  We say, “We believe you and support you.” Making sure the words we say through online platforms are as authentic and sincere as if we were face to face. 
 
Over the past few weeks this is what work looks like for the Alliance.