Next UWHC-COSA Call is June 30th at 10am.

United Way of Hampshire County-COSA Resource Calls are happening every other Tuesday at 10am-11am. Join us for a conversation about resources, planning, and reopening.

Get the Zoom call information HERE.
Resource Call Notes:
UWHC-COSA Calls are now biweekly on
Tuesdays at 10am:

June 30

Upcoming dates will be announced.
Massachusetts Nonprofit Network would like to hear from you! MNN is running a survey, in concert with Philanthropy Massachusetts , to understand the effects of COVID-19 on nonprofit management and resources. This survey is intended to help identify the high-level impact of COVID-19 on the nonprofit community and to unveil the knowledge and skills needed by the sector to emerge from COVID-19 as a stronger, more effective, and resilient system. 

Please let them know what you think is needed to move forward effectively.

Survey online HERE .
School's Out, Now What?

Parenting teens and tweens
during pandemics and protests.
A presentation for parents, caregivers and community members. Learn practical ways to address anxiety and promote positive mental health, hope, and safe and healthy decision-making while setting the tone for a fun summer.

Get more information about this informative webinar and register HERE .

June 24th at 4pm
Update from Western Mass Network to End Homelessness

Ways to Take Action:
Support legislation in support of homelessness issues
Subscribe at the website for blog updates HERE
Attend the racial equity training
It has already started, but you can catch up by viewing recordings. Final session is June 18, read more HERE
Contact Pamela Schwartz for details
 
Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness
413-219-5658 http://westernmasshousingfirst.org
National Alliance to End Homelessness:
Nationwide Virtual Town Hall on
Ending Homelessness

The 2020 Nationwide Town Hall on Ending Homelessness seeks to provide a virtual space for members of the homeless services community to gather, celebrate, and strengthen their work in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more HERE.
MassHire Virtual Job Expo
June 22, 23, and 24

MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center connects Job Seekers and Employers. “The June Virtual Job Expo is our first virtual recruitment event and we plan to offer more virtual events in the future” – said Penni Menard, Business Services Representative. Job Seekers will have access to company and job information and connect directly with Employers via links on the Job Expo webpage. The only difference between a traditional job fair and a virtual job expo is everyone will experience this recruitment event safely through their computers, smart phones and tablets.   

The Virtual Job Expo is open to anyone looking for a job or wanting to learn more about jobs and employers in the region. Pre-registration is required. Get all the details HERE . Or you can PRE-REGISTER by calling 413-774-4361.
Census 101
2-minute PSA shares why Census 2020 is important. Massachusetts counts.
Your clients can find resources through Mass 2-1-1 HERE .

Look4Help has updated information about services that are available HERE .

Email updates to Mary McClintock at Community Action.
Time for a quick read? 3 Tips for First Time Donor Retention from Nonprofit Hub.
Did a colleague forward this email to you?
Mass.gov Resources

Report Unemployment Insurance Fraud - has someone filed a false claim in your name?
Reopening Massachusetts - see the full report
MassHealth COVID-19 Resources and FAQs
Community Legal Aid has some exciting news to share about the expansion of Community Legal Aid’s Education Law Project into Franklin, Hampshire, and Berkshire Counties. Our education law attorney will provide advice and assistance with the myriad Covid-related and other education issues families face now and in the future as schools reopen.
  
Families can apply for services by calling 855-CLA-LEGAL (855-252-5342) or applying on line at   https://communitylegal.org/get-help/ .
New ADA Self-Evaluation Survey from Town of Amherst:

In keeping with its ongoing efforts to serve all members of the public, The Town of Amherst is updating its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-Evaluation & Transition Plan.

As part of this project, the Town of Amherst is seeking input from various stakeholders, including  members of the public and organizations assisting persons with disabilities . Your feedback will assist in addressing and prioritizing current and future accessibility needs. 

To access the surveys, click on the links below: 
Public Input:  Online Survey   |  Survey (PDF)   |  Survey (Word Doc)
Organizations Assisting Persons with Disabilities:  Online Survey  |  Survey (PDF)  |  Survey (Word Doc) Paper copies may be mailed, upon request. 

Surveys are due by Friday, July 11th

For more information, click on the Project Page:  https://www.amherstma.gov/3530/ADA-Self-Evaluation-Transition-Plan
If you have any questions or comments about the Self-Evaluation & Transition Plan, please contact Maureen Pollock, Planner at  pollockm@amherstma.gov  or at (413) 259-3120.
On-Demand: NonProfit Times Rebooting and Managing After COVID-19

Jun 22-24: MassHire Virtual Job Expo is online!
Jun 23: HSF June Breakfast is online!
Jun 24: CES School's Out, Now What? Parenting Teen and Tweens
Jun 24: MNN Nonprofit Awareness Day, A Celebration of Nonprofit Excellence
Jul 22: HSF Administrative Professionals Day in JULY !
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Click on a logo to learn what positions are currently available.
Click on a logo to learn what positions are currently available.
Keep your legislators informed about what matters to you
and to your organization during reopening. Reach out!
Rep. Mindy Domb has news about the response to COVID-19, legislative efforts, the 2020 Census, and more on her Facebook feed HERE.
Sen. Jo Comerford has updates on COVID-19 for constituents HERE. There is information about the state and federal response HERE.
Check out Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa 's Twitter feed HERE for the latest. Join in her virtual office hours HERE .
Rep. Dan Carey posts about ways MA state government is working on COVID-19. He's on Facebook HERE .
Congressman Jim McGovern has an updated page about COVID-19 HERE with information for constituents. For tips and updates, try Facebook HERE.
Rep. Natalie Blais updates regularly on Facebook HERE about COVID-19, info, and legislative responses to the public health crisis.
There's a new website detailing the MA Pandemic-Electronic Benefits Transfer Card ( P-EBT Program ). Find updates right HERE .

Check out the FAQ page HERE .
Wrong time for a new charitable tax deduction ? HERE

COVID-19 and the MA State budget is HERE .

FAQs about Early Education and Care HERE .

Community Legal Aid has started a project, using trained volunteers, including lawyers and law students, to file claims for people not able to manage the complex online UI process on their own. 
 
English and Spanish language flyers or call 855-252-5342 or applying for services online ( www.communitylegal.org ). 
 
Want to volunteer or to offer interpretation services? Email Jen Dieringer HERE .
This Healthy Incentives Program document is updated each month, so you can expect this link to be useful through the year. Here is the updated listing of all of the HIP locations throughout the Pioneer Valley. And check out HIP Facebook updates HERE .
Massachusetts Counts in 2020.

Census 2020 is still counting on you to complete your census information. Here's a link to a flyer that can be distributed to clients through various services such as food pantries. Don't let western Massachusetts go undercounted! Ensure local communities receive needed resources for everyone.

Complete the 2020 Census ONLINE.

Complete the 2020 Census by PHONE.

Multilingual support is available in Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Russian, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Japanese, Tagalog, French, and other languages.
Northampton Survival Center in collaboration with Grow Food Northampton and Community Action Pioneer Valley has a temporary pantry site at Jackson St. School and bags available at several Northampton locations. Get current information about services HERE .
Amherst Survival Center onsite open hours changed May 4.
See details HERE .

Amherst Survival Center is seeking partners for food delivery options . Please see the message from their director HERE .
Easthampton Community Center continues to serve individuals and families from 22 communities and has modified food pickup to observe social distancing.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has updated its services. Get information HERE .

Pantry and Meals updates HERE .
COVID-19 Prevention and Response for Homeless Providers: Daily Resource Digest. Get full information HERE .

CDC Checklist for Homeless Service Providers During Community Reopening HERE .


Mass DHCD has a new website related to COVID-19. Find resources and guidance about RAFT, public housing, rental vouchers, guidelines for shelter providers, the eviction moratorium and loads more.

Get it all on Mass.gov HERE .
CENSUS 2020: Make It Count!

You and your clients can complete the 2020 census by phone! There is multi-lingual support available including Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish and more HERE .

Find your home town on a live map of response rates HERE .


Complete the Census 2020 ONLINE
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Neighbor, meet Neighbor.

The Western Massachusetts Community Aid is a grassroots movement that provides opportunities to post updates about support and requests for assistance.

How can I help? What if I need help? Learn more HERE .
Learn more about resources for your organization at Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Get the details on their COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley HERE .
Many thanks to Massachusetts Nonprofit Network for assembling a helpful list of links to support your nonprofit during this outbreak. Look HERE .
Partners HealthCare COVID-19 Multi-Lingual Information Page in English, Arabic, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish HERE
Baystate Health regularly updates information about coronavirus in our area. They include a glossary of terms.

Does your organization have additional supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)? They welcome your donations of this life-saving equipment.
Call 413-794-6552 or email COVID19PPE@baystatehealth.org .
Cooley Dickinson Health Care updated information page HERE .

Cooley Dickinson has a COVID-19 Call Center for questions about symptoms or general inquiries.

Call 888-554-4234

Cooley Dickinson is accepting cloth masks that will be washed, packaged, and distributed to patients in need.
CDC Coronavirus Resources , includes map of US cases to date and downloads

includes downloads
Massachusetts Form PC Filing Deadline Extended by six months: Get the update HERE.
Mass.gov video PSA about following the mandatory masks rule HERE.
Mass.gov Resources on COVID-19 including How to Make Your Own Mask, Quarantine and Isolation info in multiple languages, emergency orders, plus more HERE.
Federal Disaster Declaration for Massachusetts: On March 27, 2020, the President  declared  a Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, DR-4496, related to the COVID-19 pandemic response. This declaration supersedes the previous Emergency Declaration, EM-3438, granted to the Commonwealth of MA by the President on March 13, 2020. The Major Disaster Declaration, like the Emergency Declaration, authorizes only Category B, Emergency Protective Measures; making federal funding available to local governments, state agencies, and eligible private non-profit organizations in all counties. The incident period is from January 20, 2020 and continuing.
COSA MEMBERS
Roger Anderson
Jan Klausner - Wise
Renee Moss
Jeff Roth - Howe