Open for Iowa

This site was active from 2020-2022.

Events at County Offices:  Update to the County General Liability Policy - Feb. 4, 2022
Safe food handling is still a priority for ISU Extension and Outreach. Contact your regional director if you need clarification on when to purchase special event coverage.

  • Food that is made or sold by Extension/4-H at county fairs, including 4-H food stands, no longer needs a special events policy.
  • Food that is made or sold for stand-alone fundraising events, not in conjunction with county fairs, will need to obtain a special events policy. 
  • Food sales for fundraising from a third-party vendor, such as fruit, frozen pastry, frozen pizza, cookie dough, sausage and cheese, do not need to obtain a special events policy.
  • Please refer to the Food Safety for County Offices document dated May 4, 2021, from Human Sciences for food handling safety procedures and expectations for extension staff and volunteers.

COVID-19 Update from Vice President for Extension and Outreach John LawrenceJanuary 28, 2022


Crisis Communication Plan

Crisis Communications Plan available on MyExtension (for staff only). Please review the plan and consider how you would implement it, should a crisis arise. 

Ongoing Guidance

Aug. 23, 2021 - Mitigating COVID-19 Risk - Vice President for Extension and Outreach - John Lawrence discussed getting vaccinated, wearing face masks, and encouraging vaccination to protect Iowans from COVID-19.


In accordance with President Wintersteen’s August 10, 2021 memo, ISU Extension and Outreach:

  • Strongly encourages all staff to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
  • Encourages wearing face masks indoors when around others, but cannot require them to be worn.
  • Encourages unvaccinated people to physically distance from others when possible and wear a face mask when around others.

If partners or a venue have more restrictive guidelines, you should follow their guidance.

Employees who are symptomatic should arrange a test through their primary care provider. If you test positive or need to quarantine according to CDC guidance, it’s your responsibility to contact your supervisor and make work arrangements.

This fall the pillars of Cyclones Care focus on: Vaccinate. Monitor your health. Stay home if you’re ill. Wash your hands often. For many, the pandemic has also taken a toll on mental health. Please consider the resources available for students and faculty and staff to prioritize overall wellbeing.


COVID-19 Vaccine

Iowa State University strongly encourages students, faculty, and staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The Iowa Board of Regents announced in April that the regent universities will not mandate vaccinations for any student or employee for the 2021-22 academic year. Faculty, staff, and students are not allowed to inquire about vaccine status.

Face Masks

Legislation passed last spring restricting mandates on face coverings, physical distance, and other COVID-19 related mitigation strategies in Iowa. In addition, the Iowa Board of Regents lifted its state of emergency for regent institutions and removed campus requirements for face coverings. While not required, all participants, students, faculty, staff and visitors are encouraged to wear face masks in all indoor spaces when around others. Unvaccinated individuals are encouraged to wear a face mask anywhere they are around others, and to practice physical distancing when possible. CDC guidance shows that the wearing of face coverings reduces transmission. County staff should also follow any approved policy that their council (employer) has in place.

No one can be required to wear a face mask. 

Physical distancing

Unvaccinated individuals are encouraged to to physically distance from others when possible and wear a face mask when around others.

Testing

Employees who are symptomatic should arrange a test through their primary care provider or Test Iowa. If you test positive, please follow CDC isolation protocols and contact your supervisor. 

Cyclones Care

As Cyclones and ISU Extension and Outreach, we care about the health and well-being of our campus, colleagues, and communities. This year, our Cyclones Care principles will be focused on the following:

  • Get your COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Wash your hands.
  • Monitor your health, including your mental health.
  • Stay home if you are sick.

Partners

If partners or a venue have more restrictive guidelines, you should follow their guidance.

 

 

Archived Communications

Archived Feb. 4, 2022

Events at County Offices
Safe food handling is still a priority for ISU Extension and Outreach.

  • Please refer to the Food Safety for County Offices document dated May 4, 2021, from Human Sciences for food handling safety procedures and expectations for extension staff and volunteers.
  • Food made and/or sold for fundraising, including food stands, will still need to obtain a special events policy. Food sales for fundraising from a third-party vendor, such as fruit, frozen pastry, frozen pizza, cookie dough, sausage and cheese do not need to obtain a special events policy. Contact your regional director if you need further clarification on when to purchase special event coverage. 

Archived Aug. 6, 2021

On May 20, 2021, Governor Reynolds signs bill banning face covering and physical distance mandates and other COVID-19 related mitigation strategies in Iowa. 

Board of Regents lifts State of Emergency effective May 20, 2021. 

  • Iowa State University including Extension and Outreach may not impose any requirement that students, faculty, staff or volunteers receive or provide evidence of having received a vaccination for COVID-19.

  • Unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to continue to wear a mask or other appropriate face-covering.

Iowa 4-H Guidance and Protocols

Iowa 4-H Addendum to Guidance and Expectations for In-Person Education and Business - May 14, 2021


Document archived May 21, 2021

Conversations About Personal Comfort and COVID-19 Safety Practices in the Workplace - August 10, 2020


Open for Iowa Committee and Charge - No longer active as of May 9, 2021.


Documents archived May 9, 2021

Screening for COVID-19

Documents no longer applicable as of May 1, 2021.

Food

Food and Beverage Guidance and Training, October 26, 2020 - companion piece to County Services Insurance Updates. This guide is meant to supplement—not replace—any state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which businesses must comply. 

Face Coverings

Iowa State University:  Guidance for Supporting Community Expectations During COVID-19 Pandemic


Documentations no longer applicable as of April 1, 2021

Collecting Contact Information


Documentations no longer applicable as of Nov. 16, 2020

County Offices Reopening Letter - Dr. John Lawrence, Vice President for Extension and Outreach, June 22, 2020
Second Monday Live, June 8 -- Structured for Success and Open for Iowa
Second Monday Live, Open for Iowa - Q & A, June 8

Iowa State University COVID-19 Guidance

Considerations for Leaders, Supervisors and Extension Councils

Considerations for staff

Waivers

Open for Iowa does not recommend the use of waivers for events or programming. However, if counties choose to use waivers,  LMC Insurance has provided waiver templates for your use. Contact your regional director for more information.

Extension Councils - Infection Control Policies, Whitfield & Eddy

CIRAS COVID-19: Protecting Your Business, July 6, 2020 - See resources under "Return to Work", which includes a sample "Return to Office Plan" based on the modified White House Opening America Criteria and will continue to be updated by the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS).  The White House Opening America Criteria could be used to create/update a phased plan that is data-driven, along with developing a relationship with county emergency management and public health officials, to help navigate when to open and close an office. 

Expectations In-person Guidance and Protocols

Use these documents to guide your conversations and planning process for any extension meeting or event:

Screening for COVID-19

Screening for COVID-19 Training and Guidance, October 6, 2020 - If you are experiencing any symptoms potentially related to COVID-19, do not report to work. 

Face Coverings

Face Covering Training and Guidance, August 10, 2020 - for ISU Extension and Outreach

Vulnerable Populations

The Gerontological Society of America - COVID-19 Updates - added September 24, 2020

 

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