March 8, 2021
CP State News
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Updated CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people
The Centers for Disease Control has issued updated public health recommendations for people who have been fully vaccinated. For the purposes of this guidance, people are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 ≥2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or ≥2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson [J&J]/Janssen ).
The following recommendations apply to non-healthcare settings.
Fully vaccinated people can:
  • Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
  • Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
  • Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic
For now, fully vaccinated people should continue to:
  • Take precautions in public like wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distancing
  • Wear masks, practice physical distancing, and adhere to other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease
  • Wear masks, maintain physical distance, and practice other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households
  • Avoid medium- and large-sized in-person gatherings
  • Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
  • Follow guidance issued by individual employers
  • Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations
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Empire Pandemic Grant Program offers $29M in direct funding for essential workers
New York will soon begin accepting applications for the Empire Pandemic Grant Program, which will provide a total of $29 million in direct funding to essential workers and first responders. Eligible individuals may receive up to $1,000 per household to reimburse out-of-pocket childcare, transportation, lodging, and other qualified expenses. The application has not been finalized, but we encourage Affiliates to sign up here to receive notification once the relief fund launches. Please share this opportunity widely with staff as soon as applications open. The grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and funds will be expended as requests are made.
💕 Series on dating and relationships for people with I/DD wraps up this week! 💕
Tuesday, March 9:
How to Increase Self Esteem and Confidence for Dating
Description: Learn why dating and relationships is really a self esteem issue, especially for people with disabilities. The basics of dating, disability, and sexuality as they relate to a person’s ability to attract others and healthy relationships. Learn how to increase “dating confidence” in people with disabilities, as well as teaching the importance of having a vision of what kind of relationship is wanted.
Wednesday, March 10:
Problem Solving and Finding Relationship Success
Learn how teaching problem solving skills for dating and relationships is essential. Explore how crucial it is to support people in maintaining confidence and empowerment in a relationship, as well as knowing when to end a relationship. Learn techniques for bringing a disability into a relationship, as well as the importance of having a support network for both dating and relationships.
Sessions are presented by Kathy O’Connell, Director of Radiant Abilities. Radiant Abilities provides resources and products for people with disabilities in the areas of self-esteem, relationships, personal empowerment, and living the life you want. Kathy has a specialized focus in helping people with disabilities with dating and relationship success. She works from the premise of a healthy self-esteem, increased confidence, and good boundaries build the foundation for success in dating, relationships, and sexuality. Read more about Kathy.
CP State is offering these FREE sessions through its DDPC Rural Advocacy Grant. If you would like to participate, please contact Tim Ferguson at TFerguson@cpstate.org or 518-436-0178.
NYDA statement on the passage of the American Rescue Plan
New York Disability Advocates (NYDA) today applauded New York’s congressional delegation for passing the American Rescue Plan—which includes increased funding for providers of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities—and urged the Cuomo Administration to allocate incoming funds to the I/DD sector.
The increased funding is provided through a 10% increase in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid. The increase reflects the increased cost to deliver services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the pandemic.   
Advocacy Alert!
Set aside resources for community-based organizations from the state’s Healthcare Transformation Fund
The 2018 enacted state budget gave Governor Cuomo control over a new account that holds New York’s proceeds from health plan business transactions including the sale of Fidelis to Centene, and more recently the merger of CVS/Aetna, etc. We are calling for a set aside from future disbursements of these funds to be invested in community-based organizations that serve as the safety net for vulnerable New Yorkers. The time is now to demand fairness and equity in the distribution of these funds!
Use CP State's one-click advocacy tool to tell your Assembly and Senate representatives as well as Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to request that the set aside language embedded in A 264/S2531 be included in the Assembly and Senate one house bills.
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