Dukes County Health Care Access Program Dukes County Public Benefits Access Program Dukes County Veterans Services Dukes County Homeless Prevention Services Martha's Vineyard Center for Living Dukes County Committee for Disabled Affairs

Latest News from our Departments

DUKES COUNTY MANAGERS OFFICE

Please support funding requests at the Annual Town Meetings to assure the county can continue providing services at the current level – especially in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, where some requests are not recommended for funding by the Finance Committee. Oak Bluffs Town Meeting: 7 PM April 11th at the PAC Edgartown Town Meeting 7 PM April 11th at the Whaling Church

County Revenue Replacement Edgartown – Article 40.   Oak Bluffs – Article 24. The projected budget shortfall for FY2024 is $42,000. Edgartown share is $17,001; Oak Bluffs share is $6,670. As per unaudited calculation of FY2022 surplus there will be approximately $225,000 back to the towns in form of credit on their May 2023 county assessment, the town shares: Edgartown credit back $81,913; Oak Bluffs credit back $29,414. These should more than offset the county request for revenue replacement.

Improvements to the Health Care Access Building Edgartown - Article 41. Oak Bluffs – Article 25. The cost of planned upgrades to the Health Care Access building is approx. $200,000. Edgartown share is $66,260; Oak Bluffs share is $42,880. The plans are already done which will increase privacy for people coming to discuss their health & life situation; upgrade heat from kerosene to mini-splits and improve lighting in the more private spaces. As stated above the town will be receiving unanticipated funding from the county that can cover the majority of this request.

For more information about these requests, please visit the county website here. Feel free to reach out to the county manager with any questions. manager@dukescounty.org or call us at 508-696-3840

Dukes County Health Care Access Program 508-696-0020

MassHealth Renewals

Keep an eye on your mailbox for information about renewing your health insurance coverage for 2023. Health Care Access Program Navigators are here to help. Your MassHealth coverage may have been protected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure you have the right coverage for 2023, be prepared to update your account (such as a change of income, pregnancy or birth of a child, or a new job). Health Care Access Navigators are here to help by answering questions and with renewal applications.  Call (508) 696-0020 or email info@mvhealthcareaccess.org

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Behavioral Health Help Line

Community Behavioral Health Centers are closely connected to the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line. The Behavioral Health Help Line is a 24/7 clinical hotline staffed by trained behavioral health providers and peer coaches who offer clinical assessment, treatment referrals, and crisis triage services. Help Line staff directly connect callers with their nearest CBHC and perform a warm handoff when appropriate.  The Help Line is available in more than 200 languages, 24/7, 365 days a year. Call or Text: 833-773-2445 Web Chat: masshelpline.com

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Dukes County Veterans Services vetsagent@dukescounty.org Phone: (508) 693-6887

Delta Dog: Service Dog Demonstrations April 13th in New Hampshire

Dukes County Registry of Deeds (508) 627-4025

SCAM WARNING: Home Warranty Consumer Alert

Be aware of correspondences pretending to be from a lender or the County asking about your home warranty. This letter was sent from Helping Hand Home Warranty with a West Palm Beach, FL address. While the practice may be legal, it is misleading; it is an aggressive and fraudulent marketing practice to apply pressure to homeowners to buy their product.

Updated Consumer Notification Service

Dukes County Registry of Deeds is pleased to announce a new and improved version of the Consumer Notification Service (CNS) to the many real estate owners who recorded property through their office.   Dukes County Registry of Deeds is one of 8 locations offering this updated CNS. This service is provided at no cost to the consumer or the public. If you are new to CNS, use this link to start the process. Fill out your details, and then register up to 3 properties. CNS is based on data matching – the information you enter is checked against the database that stores your property data. Data checking is ongoing.   If a document is modified or added for an address you’ve registered, you’ll get an email alert with instructions to give our office a call to investigate You can add optional book and page numbers for up to 3 documents for each of the three properties you register. If you write by name only, you will be alerted if a lien or similar document is recorded against your name.

Dukes County Public Benefits Access Program 508-696-3844 socialservices@dukescounty.org

Fuel Assistance Food Stamps (SNAP) & Other Food Assistance Limited Cash Assistance Social Security Disability Monday 8-4:30 Tuesday 8-2:30 Wednesday 8-4:30 Thursday 8-2:30 and by Appointment

Massachusetts Households to Receive First State-Funded Extra SNAP Payment on April 7

Individuals and families in Massachusetts will receive their first state-funded extra Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment on April 7, 2023, following Governor Healey’s signing of a supplemental budget that includes $130 million to create an offramp from the extra COVID SNAP benefits, known as SNAP Emergency Allotments. Individuals and families in Massachusetts will receive their first state-funded extra Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment on April 7, 2023, following Governor Healey’s signing of a supplemental budget that includes $130 million to create an off-ramp from the extra COVID SNAP benefits, known as SNAP Emergency Allotments.  The state-funded extra SNAP benefits will be available for the prior month at the beginning of April, May, and June 2023.

Report Fraud to DTA

There has been an increase in the fraudulent use of clients' DTA benefits. Never give your card number or pin to anyone. To protect your benefits, DTA strongly encourages you to change your EBT card PIN regularly. You do not need a new card. Learn more: https://Mass.gov/ProtectYourEBT. If any DTA client believes they may have fallen victim to a scam, they are encouraged to report it to DTA’s fraud hotline at 1-800-372-8399.

Island Health Care Community Health Workers / Peer Recovery Coaches are available for those who need help with their Substance Use.

Martha's Vineyard Community Services Recovery Coach Program 111 Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 508-693-7900 x451 More information Island Health Care Community Health Center 245 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Rd, Edgartown, MA 02539 508-964-0940 More information

Health Imperatives Services Island Elderly Housing Information

Thank you to our Funders

Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and the Islands (CACCI) Island Health, Inc.  Martha's Vineyard Community Foundation  Martha's Vineyard Hospital Massachusetts Health Connector SNAP Community Outreach Partner Grant, USDA via UMASS Medical South Shore Community Action Council  Towns of Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, West Tisbury

Our Community Partners and Affiliates

Martha's Vineyard Hospital Dukes County Health Council Healthy Aging MV Community Action of Cape Cod & Islands, Inc Island Health Inc.

Dukes County Health and Human Services (508) 696-3844 socialservices@dukescounty.org https://www.dukescounty.org/social-services Please share this newsletter with your friends.

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