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Dukes County Health & Human Services Newsletter
Connecting Islanders with Care
Dukes County Financing Update
Dukes County issued a credit of $234,664 to the towns and asked for that much less in payments of county assessments in May 2020. County kept only $50,400 for any unforeseen emergencies. The County Advisory Board on Expenditures (comprised of one selectmen from each town) decided to request funding county stabilization fund and FY21 budget shortfall (instead of asking for the 5% administrative fee). Additional cuts helped bring the budget shortfall down to $30K. Both requests are totaling $80,400 still leaving the towns with over $150,000 of savings gained from the May.  Please support the county request at the annual town meetings so we can keep delivering services at the current level. Thank you for all your support!
Community Ambassadors Partnership
Dukes County is supporting the Community Ambassador Partnership led by Leah Palmer as a group of concerned residents and professionals on Martha's Vineyard who are working to improve the ability of our community to deliver messaging to the Portuguese speaking community on Martha's Vineyard, particularly with public health information related to COVID-19. The group received grant funding from the Permanent Endowment Fund to fund a pilot project that will train local interpreters and create a pool of people readily available to help island organizations to deliver their messaging to the Portuguese speakers in our community. Dukes County will be the fiscal agent for this pilot program and work with Sheryl Taylor, coordinator for this pilot program. Sheryl can be reached via e-mail: staylor@mvyps.org
Latest News Regarding
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
COVID-19 Testing at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School
Drive-thru diagnostic testing for COVID-19 is now available for any asymptomatic Islander or visitor who wants a test.

Priority in these initial weeks will be given to public safety/first responders;
medical/dental personnel; grocery/convenience workers & emergency food workers; public transportation workers; municipal employees; other essential businesses with public contact; 65+ years old; those with chronic health conditions; those living in congregate housing situations.

Testing is by appointment only. Everyone must pre-register.
Call (877) 336-9855 for an appointment. The call center is open 8 AM to 5 PM Monday-Friday.

The testing site at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School is open from 9 AM to 4 PM Monday-Saturday. Only those with appointments will be seen.

This is a self-administered swab test that will be observed by a licensed clinician who will collect the kit once completed. Results will be available in one to two days. For more information please visit https://www.ihimv.org/#welcome-alert
 
Press Release: Black Lives Matter
Dukes County Commissioners Press Release: Black Lives Matter
Please see below for official press release from Dukes County Commissioners regarding Black Lives Matter movement.
2020 Census Workers Needed
Dukes County Needs 60 More Census Workers
The 2020 Census had been converted to online self-reporting due to the Covid-19 crisis. That new way of taking the census requires that workers are needed by July to complete the training that will occur on-line and in person here on the island. That will occur in July. Door-to-Door soliciting will occur in August, September, October and possibly November. Safety and health procedures will be a part of the training. Workers are needed to confirm and complete the census on a house to house basis. They will not go inside and will be trained to do this utilizing social distancing and other personal protection. 

Completing the census is very important to our island and the funding it will receive over the next ten years. 

The pay is $22 per hour and workers must be able to work 20 hours per week.  

Please go to 2020census.gov/en/jobs for more information.
Latest News from our Departments
Open Enrollment Period Extended
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, an extended enrollment period is available through June 23, 2020 for qualified Massachusetts residents who are uninsured. Enroll by June 23 for coverage that starts July 1. Learn more at MAhealthconnector.org or contact the Access program for information and assistance.
Call the Access Program if you have questions or need to purchase a plan.


June is Pride Month
Join Massachusetts virtual events throughout the month from  Boston Pride  -Visit https://www.bostonpride.org/2020-virtual-pride/ for additional information.
giving-hands-together.jpg

Phone: (508) 696-3844
Hours of Operation: Monday, Thursday & Friday 9-4



Massachusetts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - Online Purchasing Program Update
Starting May 29, 2020, Massachusetts residents who receive SNAP benefits can use their EBT card to buy food online from Amazon and Walmart. For more information visit https://www.mass.gov/snap-online-purchasing-program


Unemployment Scams and Fraud Alert
Dukes County residents should be aware that their social security number along with contact and mailing information can be used by others to file and collect unemployment in their name. 

If you have a previous unemployment claim, go on to your account and make sure nothing has been filed in your name. If you have not filed but have received a notice in the mail about a monetary determination from the Department of Unemployment either under the Pandemic application for 1099 and gig workers or the regular unemployment application site, please contact the fraud department located on Mass.gov under Unemployment Fraud. If you believe someone has had access to your post office box or mailbox, please notify the post office and the police department where you live. 

Lastly, secure your identifying documents and access to your home. 

If you have been contacted in this way, please report it to the fraud division of the Department of Unemployment Assistance at https://www.mass.gov/forms/unemployment-fraud-reporting-form


Introducing "Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer" (P-EBT) - Food support for families during COVID-19
P-EBT, or Pandemic EBT, is a federal program. The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), in collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), received approval to operate this program in response to the COVID-19 related school closures. P-EBT provides food supports to help families with children who were receiving free and reduced-price school meals pay for food.

For more information and outreach materials (flyers, FAQ, etc.), visit map-ebt.org or please view attachments below.

Bruce Montrose
Phone: (508) 693-6887
To say the least, it has been and continues to be a time when we all have to learn new ways to accomplish what used to be take for granted. Rest assured that Dukes County Veterans Services continues to provide services to all veterans. If you need assistance with the claims process, please feel free to contact me. Check out the following links for an overview of benefits you may be eligible for.

Federal Benefits   

Massachusetts State Benefits

Call or email anytime, I am, in real time monitoring all calls and emails. Please stay safe.
Budget Cut
Due to budget cuts Dukes County had to scale down our support for homelessness prevention starting with the new fiscal year. We are presenting to the towns a request for $30,000 island-wide for combined Substance Use and Homelessness Prevention. If funded at the town meetings county will be able to provide the advocacy and grant writing portion of the homelessness prevention activities going forward. In prior years Dukes County was able to raise over $100K for homelessness prevention activities through various grants and advocacy work. Please support the request at your town meeting.


Pandemic Relief Funding Aids Island Homeless Prevention
Please click here for more information on article from Vineyard Gazette.
Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD)
Virtual Recovery Training Program
Recovery Coaching Program now performed virtually.

Please click here for article from MV Times.
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