Westmoreland pandemic panel: Technology presents solutions, challenges

Technology is a lifeline for many during the social separation that is part of the coronavirus pandemic. But the increased virtual connections people are making aren’t without pitfalls.

As screen time for children has grown, so have concerns about what they may be viewing between online lessons and what face-to-face experiences they may be missing.

“You have to limit the games they’re playing and limit what they watch,” said Dawn Hennessey, executive director of Faith Forward Ministries, a Latrobe-based human services organization. “I think communication is key.”

Faith Forward this week played host to a partially virtual discussion of pandemic-related challenges with representatives from other service groups in Westmoreland County.

For years, kids have been told not to sit in front of a screen all day. “But that’s exactly what they’re doing now,” said Kristan Weisdack, founder of Rostraver-based BehaviorWorx of Southwestern Pennsylvania, which serves children with behavioral issues.

“All of my kids are falling behind,” she said. “They’re having socialization issues.

“They learn by watching others. They’re missing that big piece — not being able to socialize, being around their peers.”

On the other hand, online support meetings are well suited for those recovering from substance abuse, according to Tim Phillips, executive director of the Westmoreland Drug Overdose Task Force.

“This has been a real blessing,” Phillips said. “They can come on the screen at their own convenience. They can ease into the process of recovery.”

Allen Kern, a Faith Forward social worker, lamented the end of in-person group meetings with senior citizens because of coronavirus restrictions.

“These people no longer have that access,” he said. “They’re in the latter years of their lives and they rely on that contact.”

The stress of dealing with the pandemic can increase anxiety for most anyone, but such feelings can be magnified for those who live with existing mental health issues. Kern pointed out someone who has a phobia about germs now might feel “justified for being panicked.”

Several meeting participants recommended cooperation among organizations to better reach those who could benefit from their services.

Phillips said his task force teamed up with the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank to distribute overdose-reversing Narcan in conjunction with the bank’s diaper giveaways in rural parts of the county.

“We need to stay connected and support one another,” Hennessey said of area service organizations. “You have to be creative and you can make it work.”

She said Faith Forward plans to post links to various resources people can turn to during the pandemic on its website, faithforwardpa.com, and on its Facebook page.