The following update was posted on January 6, 2021, at 10:45 am

We will now take intakes on Monday and Tuesday up to five clients over the two days. We can provide additional Thursday and Friday intakes, if needed, up to a maximum of five clients per week. Testing will be done on Tuesdays and Fridays for each group. Each group will be moved in the same group to the upstairs dorms after their second COVID test.

This allows us to use only two volunteer drivers for testing, while continuing to reduce co-mingling risk.

The following update was posted on December 3, 2020, at 1:17 pm

One of our Program Coordinators who was at the house on Monday, November 30, has tested positive for COVID-19. All staff members who were exposed were tested today, and we are awaiting results.

Our current intake day is scheduled for Monday, December 7, however, given the nature of current circumstances, it is susceptible to change without notice.

Please check back for additional updates.

The following update was posted on November 30, 2020, at 5:39 pm

Following all Social Detox Staff testing negative twice in one week, professionally laundering all linens, and an overhaul of COVID-19 procedures, we have reopened Social Detox services as of this morning.

Newly Added COVID-19 Procedures

  • Social Detox clients will be admitted every seven days, in groups of five.
  • To be admitted, each client will be required to test negative for COVID-19 on a rapid test less than 24 hours before intake.
  • On a client’s seventh day, each client will be required to test a second time.
  • Clients will room, eat, and spend free time in their two separate intake groups.
  • Masks for clients will no longer be optional; they will be required.
  • The meeting room has been re-arranged to allow for more space between seating.
  • Along with Staff, Overnight Volunteers will be tested regularly.
  • All meals will now be pre-portioned by staff or in individual packages.
  • Only single-use disposable plates, eating utensils, and drinkware will be used.
  • We are eliminating community laundry, and instead, each client will be provided with a pre-sorted set of linens – sheets, blanket, small throw, two towels, and two washcloths – which she is personally responsible for.

For intakes, please call our Social Detox Office at 214.324.9261.

Urgent Needs

We have an increased need for supplies, individually packaged food, and donated meals due to these new procedures. If you can send or drop off any of these items, we would greatly appreciate it!

  • Supplies
    • disposable plates, bowls, drinkware, and utensils
    • plastic zip bags
    • disposable face masks
    • laundry bags
    • stir sticks, individually wrapped
    • paper towels
    • toilet paper
    • disinfecting wipes
    • disinfectant spray
    • toothbrush covers
  • Individually Wrapped Food Products
    • single-serve chip/pretzel/cracker bags
    • protein/granola bars
    • cheese sticks
    • bananas/apples/oranges
    • soup
    • microwave meals/snacks
    • frozen breakfast sandwich/wrap/pocket
    • yogurt
    • apple sauce cups
    • small protein packs
    • individual cereals

You can send any of these items via Amazon or any other retailer that ships or drop items off on the front porch.

If you need additional information or have concerns, please reach out to info@magdalenhouse.org.

The following update was posted on November 21, 2020, at 12:17 pm

On Saturday, November 21 following two recent Social Detox clients testing positive for COVID-19, we have elected to temporarily suspend the Social Detox program until Monday, November 30 for the safety of our Staff, Clients, and Volunteers.

We will continue to hold all of our meetings – including our 12-Step recovery meetings, Family Support, and Fellowship Events – which have been virtual since March of this year. Meeting Schedule: magdalenhouse.org/meetings

Additionally, The Next Step will continue with no interruption of services.

If you need additional information or have concerns, please reach out to info@magdalenhouse.org.

The following update was posted on July 3, 2020, at 2:33 pm

Following 16 days of NO positive exposure and NO symptoms by staff or clients, we will begin switching back to following our Phases for Reopening that have been guiding our operational procedures. We are being safe, prudent, and diligent about safety measures and have been quarantining (staff has been self-isolating) for the protection of our staff, current clients, and future clients.

We have established formal COVID-19 Protocols that we are using for re-opening and on an ongoing basis, alongside our in-house COVID-19 Policies and Procedures. Ongoing procedures will now include:

  • All essential staff members will be tested for COVID-19 every 30 days
  • All staff and clients will wear masks, when possible
  • Once a quarter, The Magdalen House premises will be treated with a hospital-grade, EPA approved disinfectant

COVID-19 Phone Screening Addendum 

We have kept our doors open during the COVID-19 pandemic because we know that the need for recovery services is critical, now more than ever. We feel it’s appropriate to let you know that on June 21, we learned that a client who had left on June 19 tested positive for COVID-19 immediately upon leaving and immediately suspended Social Detox intakes. All of our clients, staff members, and volunteers who presented a risk of exposure were tested on-site on June 25. While we haven’t received any positive test results, given the current state of Texas’ testing, we believe that there is a delay in providing negative test results. 

We began taking intakes on July 1, and we are taking every precautionary measure to prevent the spread within The Magdalen House. These measures include a hospital-grade, EPA approved disinfection of the premises on July 1, hand sanitizer, masks, and routine sanitizing of surfaces. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please send us an email info@magdalenhouse.org.

The following update was posted on June 23, 2020, at 7:33 pm

Due to the high-demand for COVID-19 testing, our on-site testing has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 25. Results will be provided to clients and staff within four days. While almost all of our clients have elected to stay, women who leave The Magdalen House (either at their 14-day program completion or before), are being instructed to get a test immediately upon leaving and self-quarantine.

Additionally, we will have a hospital-grade, EPA-approved facility disinfection on Friday, June 26. This will become a regular maintenance procedure that we have done every three months for the foreseeable future.

If you have any questions or concerns, please send us an email info@magdalenhouse.org.

The following update was posted on June 22, 2020, at 11:43 am

Yesterday evening we were informed that we had a client with a confirmed positive COVID-19 case staying at The Magdalen House from Wednesday, June 17 at 8:00pm and left the house on Friday, June 19 at 9:45am. Within the hour we began taking action towards a solution, and are still working diligently to keep our clients, staff, and volunteers safe and healthy.

Upon being notified of the positive result, we immediately let our clients, staff, and on-site volunteers know of the situation. All clients that are in the house have elected to stay.

We have been in contact with the Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services, and we have made arrangements to have everyone that has been on-site, or potentially exposed, tested on-site at The Magdalen House on Tuesday, June 23.

Self-quarantining is in effect, Social Detox Program intakes are suspended until further notice, and we will post updates as we have new information.

PLEASE DO NOT COME INTO THE MAGDALEN HOUSE FOR ANY REASON.

If you have any questions or concerns, please send us an email info@magdalenhouse.org.

The following update was posted on June 12, 2020, at 9:22 am

We’ve elected to use the Dallas County “COVID-19 Health Guidance for the Public” to help guide our Phases for Reopening to the public. While we are still closed to the public, you can now find a comprehensive list of reopening details by phase level and our current phase.

Learn more on our post, Phases for Reopening.

Just a reminder: We are still accepting clients to our Social Detox Program. Phone screening required to enroll: 214.324.9261

The following update was posted on May 5, 2020, at 10:34 am

As of yesterday, we have made the decision to increase the limit of our Social Detox clients from nine to 12. This is still reduced from our normal operating capacity of 14, and a maximum emergency capacity of 16.

We originally reduced the number of clients to nine on March 23 so that we could have three clients per room, with one bedroom left open for possible quarantine. Moving away from the idea of quarantining on property we have chosen this number so we can maintain the same level of safety with three women per bedroom while being able to serve more alcoholic women in crisis.

As of right now, we have not made any additional changes to our operating procedures.

The following update was posted on April 29, 2020, at 2:45 pm

With Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay at order expiring on April 30, many are wondering what is and isn’t changing. For The Magdalen House, nothing is changing for the time being. Several changes were made to our operating procedures before both Gov. Abbott’s and Judge Jenkin’s orders were issued, and in an effort to protect our clients, volunteers, staff, and community we are continuing to provide services under our most recent operating procedures update on March 23, until further notice. See below for more information.

If you’re an alcoholic woman or family member looking to get help, we encourage you to visit the COVID-19 Help Hub. To everyone who has reached out in the last 7 weeks to help with House Needs, Donated Meals, and Financial Support – we thank you for your continued help during this time of uncertainty.

In the last 48 days:

We appreciate your cooperation, continued support, and prayers,
Lisa Kroencke

The following update was posted on March 23, 2020, at 5:24 pm

Following the announcement of Dallas County issuing a shelter in place order, we have made adjustments to our current operating procedures. Because The Magdalen House is deemed an essential business and service to the community, we will continue operating Social Detox on premises while implementing the following procedures:

  • Overnight volunteers are the only non-staff women allowed on property besides clients
  • limiting Social Detox clients to nine (three in each dorm room, with one bedroom left open for possible quarantine)
  • updating Community Resource lists daily
  • six-foot protocol to be observed by everyone in house and sleeping arrangements have been adjusted for more space
  • NO ONE is to cross over the threshold of the house without authorization
  • Taking staff temperatures upon entry
  • Trader Joe’s donations are only handled by staff and extras are given to vetted agency partners in need

While we have seen no signs or symptoms of COVID-19 at The Magdalen House, we are still taking precautionary measures to help mitigate risk both on-site and within our community. In the instance that we have anyone on property exhibiting symptoms (99.6 fever or above, sore throat, cough) we will move into what we are calling “Phase 4” of our COVID-19 Operating Procedures. Things we have done in preparation in the instance that we have to move into this phase:

  • detailed plan of action for staff, clients, and infected person
  • pre-bundled quarantine supplies in a bucket so we are prepared and well stocked
  • reserved 1 upstairs room as a quarantine room so we can move quickly, if needed

The following update was posted on March 13, 2020, at 3:59 pm

As of now, our doors are closed to the public, the only exceptions being overnight volunteers, front desk admin, essential staff, Social Detox clients, and new Social Detox intakes. This means family visitors, outside meeting attendees, and non-essential volunteers will not be allowed at The Magdalen House.

*Our Social Detox Program is still running, and we are still accepting intakes! If you or a woman you know needs help, please give us a call to begin the screening: 214.324.9261

ALL daytime meetings are taking place via Zoom at our regularly scheduled times and we encourage women in recovery to join. For more information, please request to join Maggie’s Women’s Group private Facebook Group.

We are continuing to monitoring the situation in real-time, and we will continue to provide updates here.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

The following was posted March 12, 2020 at 4:10 pm

At The Magdalen House, the health and safety of our clients, volunteers, and employees is always our priority. We are continuing to monitor the quickly evolving news related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and while we have seen no signs or symptoms of the virus within our Maggie’s community, we are taking precautionary measures to help mitigate risk both on-site and within our community.

Beginning earlier this week we began implementing the following precautionary measures:

  • increasing the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing, especially in high traffic areas such as the meeting room, door handles, entryways, and restrooms
  • refraining from holding hands, shaking hands, or hugging
  • requesting that all visitors use hand sanitizer upon entry
  • checking temperatures of clients 2x a day

Today we are implementing the following measures:

  • discontinuing evening (7:00 pm) and most populous meetings (Friday at 12:00 pm, Sunday at 11:00am, and Monday 12:00 pm) until further notice
  • evaluating all volunteers for continuing duties
  • only essential employees being on-site
  • all visitors will have their temperature taken, and if elevated will be asked to leave the premises
  • meetings that are not discontinued will still take place via video conference

As we take expanded precautions, our doors are partially open for the time being. However, we ask that if you are feeling sick (specifically if you have a cough or fever), that you please stay home. Additionally, we ask that you implement requests of local officials and health organizations. As Mayor Eric Johnson wrote in a note earlier this morning,

“People should alter their behaviors to stop COVID-19 before it has the chance to spread. That means you should tell others to put a moratorium on handshakes (I’ve started doing elbow bumps); tell people to stay home when they are sick; ask people to cover their coughs and sneezes; and encourage people to get a flu shot and work to avoid other illnesses that could strain our healthcare system and put people at further risk.”

We are closely monitoring the situation in real-time relying on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, as well as local and federal government and public agencies and will take additional precautions as necessary.

When there are updates, we will share them accordingly. Please check back to this blog post for the most recent updates.

During this time, we still need your help with House Needs and financial support. We greatly appreciate donations of any kind. You can donate online here, and we are more than happy to pick up any donations you may have at home –  please reach out to arrange: info@magdalenhouse.org.

We appreciate your cooperation, continued support, and prayers,
Lisa Kroencke

MAGGIE’S DURING COVID-19

Whether you’re looking to get help or give help, the Help Hub has everything you need to know.

Visit The Help Hub