Updated October 28, 2020
While we know our plans will change day by day, sometimes minute by minute, we wanted to inform you of the things we are doing to keep our children, customers, clients, and employees safe.
- All Ranch staff at all locations (including our thrift stores) are “masking up.” Masks are required at our stores, warehouses, schools, campuses, and cottages. Let’s all stay well together.
- Upon recommendation of North Dakota Department of Health and the CDC, we have taken critical steps to slow the spread and acceleration of the virus, with an emphasis on social distancing.
- The Dakota Memorial School Smart Restart Plan addresses the COVID-19 challenges while providing a flexible framework to guide our response over the next school year. We are making changes to our schedule as the risk levels change in each of our communities and on our campuses.
- Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch (Ranch) Residential Programs located in Fargo, Bismarck and Minot have continued operations throughout the pandemic, with additional safeguards in place to decrease the spread of COVID-19. Additional safeguards include, but are not limited to:
- Enhanced screening of staff and children; along with rapid identification and management of ill residents.
- We continue to limit visitors for our residents. Please contact your child's case manager/treatment coordinator to arrange a visit.
- Visitors must wear a mask and socially distance--no exceptions.
- Increased cleaning and disinfecting efforts.
- Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch Thrift Stores are open with limited hours and new procedures. The stores are open for shopping Monday-Saturday, 10 .am. - 6 p.m.
- We have sanitizing stations set up at the front of every store for customers.
- We will sanitize the carts after every use.
- Children must be with their parent/guardian at all times.
- One person per cart and no large groups of shoppers allowed.
- Store capacity will be limited to five customers per 1,000 sq. ft. of selling floor space.
- We are asking customers and staff to practice social distancing.
- Cash register customer lines will be "marked" for six feet apart.
- We will clean high contact areas every hour.
- Thrift store donations will be accepted Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10 - 5:30 p.m., or until the store's donation quarantine space is full. (except at the North Fargo store at 1001 4th Ave. N. which is no longer accepting donations.)
- We will ask donors to place donations outside on tables and bins. From there, we will bring them to the designated area in the store/warehouse.
- Donors are asked to bring in only saleable items. Staff will decline any non-saleable furniture.
- We are limiting the quantity of donations accepted each day. Once the store is full, the donation center will close for the day.
- Donors will line up in a car queue line, with one vehicle donating at a time.
- We will not be doing donation pick-ups at this time.
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Our Dakota Family Services providers are available for in-person or telehealth visits.
How can you help? Symptoms of the COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, congestion, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.. The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Please do not visit the Ranch if you have these symptoms.
We take the safety of our kids, staff, clients and customers very seriously. We will continue to monitor the situation, work with state and local health officials, and follow recommended guidance as it becomes available.
Thank you for your attention and support during this time. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Joy Ryan, President/CEO
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch