Rep. Stanley, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, will hold the Committee’s fourth public hearing on Tuesday, September 21 at 1 p.m. Committee members will hear testimony on bills relating to workforce issues. The public is invited to participate in this hearing but to present oral testimony registration is required. To register or learn more about the hearing, click here.

The City of Waltham received an Action Grant in the amount of $362,000 from the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program to make Beaver Brook climate resilient. MVP provides communities with funding and technical support to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change.

Through this latest round of funding, 93% of Massachusetts cities and towns, or 328 municipalities, are now enrolled in the MVP program. The program pairs local leadership and knowledge with a significant investment of resources and funding from the Commonwealth to address ongoing climate change impacts, such as inland flooding, storms, sea level rise, and extreme temperatures. (photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Gov. Baker announced $9.7 million in grants from the Skills Capital Grant Program to 47 educational organizations across the state to update equipment and expand student enrollment in programs that provide career education. Waltham High School will receive $152,871 to purchase industry-standard health care equipment to support students enrolled in the newly launched Healthcare Assistant Program to gain Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) industry recognized credential.

The Skills Capital Grant Program was originally launched in 2015 with the goal of replacing outdated equipment and technology, mainly at vocational technical high schools and community colleges. Since then, the program has evolved into a crucial component of local workforce training efforts by expanding the number of young people and adults trained and experienced with the newest technologies used by local employers. Approximately 40,000 students across the Commonwealth have directly benefitted from these grants.

Gov. Baker announced plans to require COVID-19 vaccination for all staff at rest homes, assisted living residences (ALRs), hospice programs, as well as for home care workers (HCWs) providing in-home, direct care services. The plan to expand the vaccine requirement for caregivers is subject to Public Health Council (PHC) approval and is part of the Administration’s continued effort to protect older adults against COVID-19. Last month, the Administration announced a vaccine requirement for employees of skilled nursing facilities.

All personnel at rest homes, ALRs, hospice programs, and home care workers will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination by October 31, 2021 unless they qualify for a limited exemption because they have a medical condition that prevents them from receiving vaccination or they object to vaccination based on a sincerely held religious belief. For rest homes, ALRs, hospice settings, the requirement applies to all individuals employed directly by the provider/facility as well as contractors who regularly enter the facility.

Rep. Stanley signed onto a resolution recognizing September 19th through September 25th as Telehealth Awareness Week. In addition to the joint resolution, the American Telemedicine Association’s (ATA) observance of Telehealth Awareness Week will include a schedule of events underscoring the growing acceptance and value of virtual care in U.S. healthcare as well as a series of new informational resources to support broader access to telehealth services for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. To learn more about activities planned for Telehealth Awareness Week and opportunities to participate, visit the official Telehealth Awareness Week website.

As a member of the Food System Caucus, Rep. Stanley will attend a Legislative Briefing hosted by Project Bread, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Worcester County Food Bank, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and The Greater Boston Food Bank.

COVID-19 exacerbated our nation’s already pressing hunger crisis. At their highest point, food insecurity rates across Massachusetts doubled during the course of the pandemic. The legislative discussion will focus on the opportunities presented by the American Rescue Plan to address the systemic causes of food insecurity in Massachusetts.

In a letter to the Joint Committee on Election Laws, Rep. Stanley and his colleagues expressed support for S475, legislation supporting parents running for office. The bill allows candidates to use donated campaign funds to pay for certain childcare expenses and is aimed to reduce barriers for people entering politics. This bill would give the opportunity for parents to have the choice to commit donated funds to paying for childcare during the campaign process. For many parents, this is currently an insurmountable barrier for entering political life.

In 2018, the Federal Election Commission approved usage of campaign funds for childcare. Since that approval legislation has passed in 14 states, most recently Connecticut and Rhode Island this year, with another 11 states implementing it administratively.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced major enhancements to the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, a federal disaster relief loan designed to better serve and support our small business communities still reeling from the pandemic, especially hard-hit sectors such as restaurants, gyms, and hotels. The SBA is ready to receive new applications immediately from small businesses looking to take advantage of these new policy changes. Learn more.

The USDA announced a permanent 21% increase to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the largest increase in the program’s history. This increase marks an historic investment in families and households across the country and here in Massachusetts. Starting this October, the over 950,000 SNAP recipients in Massachusetts will receive an average monthly increase of $36 to buy the groceries they need. While modest, these extra resources will help individuals and families access higher quality foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.

Despite the important role SNAP has played in reducing food insecurity and poverty, it has historically been insufficient to meet the needs of households. The USDA estimates that over half of households exhaust their monthly benefits in just two weeks, and the Urban Institute has found that the maximum SNAP benefit (set at the Thrifty Food Plan) did not cover the cost of a meal in 96% of US counties, including all the counties in Massachusetts. While more must be done to increase household purchasing power for basic needs, the USDA’s decision is a huge step forward in addressing food insecurity that will help put healthy food within reach of low-income households.

If you’re a renter having trouble paying your rent, utilities, or other housing costs – or if you’re a landlord trying to stay afloat with tenants in this situation – help may be available. State and local programs are distributing billions of dollars in rental assistance to help renters stay housed during the pandemic. Visit the CFPB’s Rental Assistance Finder to find out what this means for you and what you can do. The CFPB’s site also includes resources to help renters and landlords understand other resources to help navigate various financial hardships related to the pandemic.

In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, Beautifully Simply You and Waltham Partnership for Youth are excited to announce Waltham's 2nd annual Mental Health Awareness Event on September 18, 2021 (rain date September 19) from 11-3 on Waltham Common. This event brings community members together to raise awareness around mental health and provide tools and skills for wellness and self-care through over 30 mental health organizations. The event will feature hands-on mental health activities, mental wellness education workshops, Zumba, Yoga, music, food and much more! Learn more.

If you or a loved one are facing an eviction or housing security, please seek rental assistance and legal aid. The Massachusetts COVID Eviction Legal Help Project gives free legal help to low-income tenants and to low-income owner-occupants of two or three family homes. For legal help and information, call 2-1-1 or visit the COVID Eviction Legal Help Project website.

The Massachusetts Assisted Living Association (Mass-ALA) created a video to honor the extraordinary work done by the Unsung Heroes working in assisted living to help residents stay healthy, plan activities with friends and family, and have a fun and meaningful day. Mass-ALA is a not-for-profit association, dedicated to professionally operated assisted living residences in Massachusetts that provide housing and services for individuals with varied needs and income levels. Watch the video.

The City of Waltham posts open jobs on its website. Click here to learn more.

To view career opportunities with the Town of Lincoln, click here.