E-Newsletter . Issue 271 . May 29, 2020
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Greetings!
Welcome to the Barnstable County Department of Human Services' E-Newsletter. This bi-weekly newsletter is designed to provide timely information on health and human service topics of interest for people living and working in Barnstable County. For additional information visit the Department website at
www.bchumanservices.net
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2020 Census Operational Updates
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The deadline for responding to the census has been extended through October 31
st
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Please pass along this information and link to your networks, urging all to respond to the census at
https://2020census.gov/en.html
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COMMUNITY NEWS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Community Health Center of Cape Cod is Offering Virtual Visits
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We are happy to let you know that Community Health Center of Cape Cod is offering virtual visits, allowing individuals to see a provider for follow-up and day to day health concerns without having to leave home.
To make it as easy as possible for you to access these services, you can just follow these steps:
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1. Call the Health Center at (508) 477-7090 to register as a patient and set-up a virtual visit appointment
2. Prior to your appointment, a member of your care team will contact you with a link to use, and to walk you through details for your visit
3. Use the link provided at your appointment time, and you will be connected face to face with your provider!
These secure virtual visits take place through Zoom, and you can use this
step-by-step guide
The health of our community is our top priority, especially in times like these. Be well, and please feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested in a visit.
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Applications available
for one new affordable
Habitat for Humanity 2-bedroom homes located at
15 Quanset Road in Orleans
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COVID-19 Test Collection Site - Whole Health Pharmacy
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Join Housing Assistance Corporation's Walk for Hope on June 27!
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Now more than ever, stable housing is needed to ensure the health and well-being of all on Cape Cod and the Islands. You can help address that need by participating in Housing Assistance Corporation's Walk for Hope on June 27!
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This year, the walk is going virtual which means you can walk wherever you are and in a location and a distance suitable for you. Register now at
REGISTER HERE
You can sign up as an individual or create/join a team of friends, family or colleagues. Make sure to tag Housing Assistance on social media (
@haconcapecod
) and help drive awareness and raise funds to the housing needs in our region.
If you own a business, consider serving as a Walk for Hope Sponsor! Contact Deanna Bussiere at
dbussiere@haconcapecod.org
for more details. By walking, you will be taking important steps so our neighbors on Cape Cod and the Islands have access to safe, stable housing. You can make a difference!
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A Program to Support Dad's & Father Figures
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Thrive! CIGSYA - LGBTQ and Ally Center of Cape Cod Continue Digital Meetings
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CHNA27 Save the Date 06-11-20 Zoom Meeting
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Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender Diverse Peer Support Group Via ZOOM
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This group is open to Trans, non-binary, questioning, or other gender diverse identified people ages 18+. You do not need to be a Fenway Health patient to join, and the group is free to attend. Meets on the on the : 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month September-June from 5:30-7PM.
This group typically meets in person in Barnstable, MA.
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MA SMP Economic Stimulus Check Scam Alert!
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Social Security Administration News
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COVID-19 Update from the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts, LLC
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COVID-19 and Dementia: Common Questions/Topics
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Thanks to the Alzheimer’s Association for sharing the questions and answers for the most common concerns that they are hearing on their hotline calls. These documents will soon be available in Spanish.
You or anyone else – can reach out to the Alzheimer’s Assoc. 24/7 Hotline at 800-272-3900 to ask questions.
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COVID-19 NOTICES & RESOURCES
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Barnstable County COVID-19 Recovery Resources
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COVID-19 can be difficult for all of us but especially for those in recovery. This might be exacerbated by people unable to attend their normal support group meetings or other recovery supports. Please click on button below to find local and nationwide resources related to substance use disorder and mental health. You can also call the MA Substance Use Helpline anytime at 800-327-5050.
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Telehealth & Suicide Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Community Agencies and Therapists Offering Telehealth Support
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The Barnstable County Children's Behavioral Health Work Group has developed a list of community agencies offering telehealth support
HERE
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Please email
barbaradominic612@gmail.com
if you have additional telehealth support that you would like listed, or if you want to update your listing. This listing will be periodically updated and distributed by Barnstable County.
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Helpful Utility Links During COVID-19
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Social Isolation for Family Members in Close Quarters
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Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment: COVID-19 Updates
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Links To Each Cape Cod Town's Health Department
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URGENT message from the AG's Office
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Free Grocery Delivery Service Launches for Barnstable County Seniors and Residents at Higher Risk
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The Cape Cod Medical Reserve Corps’ Delivery Service will help people who should stay home receive groceries and critical household goods.
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Food Access & Resources During COVID-19
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Free Student Meal Services & Pick-up Sites
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Access this map of sites serving meals to children and teens during April school closures due to Coronavirus pandemic.
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CLICK BELOW TO ACCESS FREE STUDENT MEAL SERVICE INFORMATION
(Open to ALL Students regardless of residence)
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The Council of Churches
operates as a "front-line" service provider in many areas and offers remote operations where possible. Please see below.
Faith Family Kitchen
will continue to provide nutritious dinners on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Please note these revised hours. At the door, families and other adults will be given a paper bag containing Jeni's homemade soup plus a few supplemental items.
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Hands of Hope Food Pantry
will continue distributing a single prepackaged bag of groceries during regular hours of operation, which are Monday and Friday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 1 p.m.- 3 p.m. Clients will wait outside the door for a bag that is designed to feed 1, 2, 3 or 4 people. New clients, please call 508-432-1312 or email
churcheshoh@comcast.net
first to register. No client should come inside the building during service hours. The Thrift Store is closed until further notice. Hands of Hope is located at 49 Route 28, West Harwich.
A Baby Center
will offer "To Go" bags of baby essentials for existing clients on Wednesdays 10 a.m. - noon. This will be a "drive up window" service only; no clients are to enter the building. A Baby Center is located 81 Willow Ave, Hyannis.
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Coping in Hard Times: Fact Sheet for Parents
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A Conversation on Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health During COVID-19
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Talking To Children About COVID-19
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Mental Health and COVID-19
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We are amid an unprecedented public health crisis, yet we also have an extraordinary opportunity to come together within our families and our communities to reduce the stigma that often surrounds mental health.
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The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention encourages everyone to engage in an open, honest dialogue with their friends and loved ones, to demonstrate compassion and kindness, and to practice self-care by exercising, meditating, and consuming the news in measured doses. And, reach out to those who may be isolated and need the extra support.
These actions can save lives and positively change our collective culture surrounding mental health for the long-term. We hope these tools help you to spread positive messages of hope, compassion, mental health care and suicide prevention.
For helpful and informative resources about mental health and Covid-19, check out AFSP's dedicated webpage:
www.afsp.org/covid19
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Donation of Home-Made Face Masks and Face Shield Headbands to Support COVID-19 Emergency Response
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The Cape Cod Medical Reserve Corps (MRC),
in service to the Barnstable County Incident Command COVID-19 response, wishes to bring to the public's attention the following information for people willing to produce and donate face masks and the headbands that hold plastic face shields. Learn more
HERE
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What You Should Know About the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws
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Housing Assistance Established Cape Cod COVID-19
Workforce Housing Relief Fund
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Housing Assistance has established the Cape Cod COVID-19 Workforce Housing Relief Fund to provide urgent and ongoing assistance with past due rent or mortgage payments or other housing-related expenses for current, year-round Cape Cod and Island residents who are losing income due to the coronavirus. To apply for support for any Housing Assistance programs, contact an intake counselor at
hac@haconcapecod.org
508-771-5400. See more information
HERE
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CARES Act & UI COVID Materials for Providers & YYA Experiencing Homelessness
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The Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice has released informational pamphlets on the
CARES Act
and
Applying for Unemployment Benefits
to assist Youth and Young Adults navigate systems for critical resources during the Coronavirus pandemic. Access to these resources play an important role in maintaining housing stability for our region’s young persons facing financial hardship due to loss of employment. Additional resources for Unaccompanied Youth and Young Adults age 24 and under that are homeless or at-risk of homelessness can be accessed through the Program Manager at
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Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund
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Launched by Massachusetts Governor Baker and First Lady Lauren Baker, the
Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund
will help support essential frontline workers and vulnerable populations across the state, including Massachusetts residents and immigrants facing homelessness, food insecurity and loss of critical services as a result of the COVID-19 public health crisis. The Fund is administered by Eastern Bank providing a safe and reliable way for donations to be made to this Fund, and at no cost to the Fund. In addition to the $10 million already announced by our Charitable Foundation, our Foundation has donated to this fund and Eastern is among the leading organizations and philanthropists that are Founding Donors. Please help at
https://www.macovid19relieffund.org
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The Homeless Prevention Council (HPC) is providing support for our neighbors in need on the Lower and Outer Cape. We have undertaken the following actions to ensure that services are not interrupted. Please read more
HERE
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Independence House continues to assist those in the community that seek help for domestic and sexual violence matters during the Covid-19 crisis. Remote services range in all areas including one-on-one counseling with active and new clients by phone and video, group video counseling, assistance with court applications remotely in order to obtain emergency 209A Restraining Orders or 258E Harassment Orders, and legal assistance and representation by a staff attorney. Their confidential emergency domestic and sexual violence shelter remains in full operation as well a 24-hour hotline at 800-439-6507. Full details about the Independence House Covid 19 response can be found at
www.independencehouse.org
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Many Hands Make Light Work
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Cape Cod Children's Place, The Community Development Partnership, The Family Pantry of Cape Cod, Helping Our Women, Homeless Prevention Council, Lower Cape Outreach Council
, and
WE CAN
have joined together to better serve the unique needs of the Lower and Outer Cape Communities. In this unprecedented time, their collaboration and communication is focused on removing barriers to human service delivery--now more important than ever. A list of free and confidential services provided by these organizations that community members can access is available
HERE
*All community members are welcome to reach out to the organizations regardless of income or immigration status.
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HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT INITIATIVES
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HUMAN SERVICES PUBLICATIONS-DATA
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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
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In an effort to make the submission process as easy as possible, submissions will only be accepted using our online submission form. Submission buttons will be located at the bottom of every newsletter and on the homepage of our website. If you have questions regarding the newsletter, please email
HUMANSERVICES@BARNSTABLECOUNTY.ORG
Thank you!
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BARNSTABLE COUNTY SUBMISSION Guidelines
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Please submit your news to be included by clicking on image above.
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- Content Policy - We are prioritizing timely information on the ever-changing landscape of health and human services events and opportunities.
- Due to the increasing number of submissions to the newsletter, the Department reserves the right to limit the number of times a submission is published.
- Posting of articles submitted for publication in the Barnstable County Department of Human Services E-Newsletter is at the discretion of the Department. To request this newsletter in alternate formats, please call 508-375-6628.
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Barnstable County Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 427, 3195 Main Street, Barnstable, MA 02630
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