April 24, 2020 Vol. 124 No. 17
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
VOL. 124 - NO. 17 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, APRIL 24, 2020 $.35 A COPY New Map Launched With Baker-Polito Administration Announces COVID-19 Testi ng Sites Extension of School and Non-Emergency Child Care In the City of Boston Program Closures, Continued Steps To The City is Partnering with Community Health Support COVID-19 Response Centers to Increase Access to Testi ng New Measures Include Deferred Student Loan Payments, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Public Health Commission Updated Remote Learning Guidance and Enacting Legislation (BPHC) recently launched a new mapping tool to help Boston resi- To Protect Residents from Evictions and Foreclosures dents fi nd locations offering COVID-19 testing. The City of Boston is partnering with community health centers to increase access to The Baker-Polito Adminis- testing, particularly in neighborhoods experiencing higher rates tration announced new actions of COVID-19. to support the ongoing COVID- “Every community deserves full access to COVID-19 testing. We 19 response, including extend- will continue to work to expand access to testing for all residents ing the closure of all public and across Boston, particularly our hardest hit communities,” said private schools through the end Mayor Walsh, “Access to neighborhood-based testing will help us of the school year, and the clo- quickly identify cases, and get people the care and support needed sure of all non-emergency child to recover and prevent the further spread of COVID-19.” care programs until June 29, According to the latest data (Wednesday, April 22nd) from the 2020. The Administration also Boston Public Health Commission, Hyde Park had 413 reported announced further support for cases of COVID-19, Mattapan had 298, Dorchester had 1,274, students and families impacted East Boston had 410, Roxbury had 335, Roslindale had 302, and by COVID-19. based programs in the coming STEM Networks, DESE has the South End had 372. Schools and Non-Emergency months. established online STEM edu- The map is available on: boston.gov/coronavirus and bphc. Child Care Programs: Governor • To support families of essen- cation resources to provide org/coronavirus. Residents are asked to call ahead for pre- Charlie Baker issued an emer- tial workers and families with continued support for remote screening and to schedule an appointment. Residents can gency order extending the clo- children who have special needs, learning opportunities. This click on the interactive map to fi nd the testing center with hours, sure of all public and private EEC and Care.com have part- includes virtual STEM learning address and contact information. It will be updated as new sites schools through the end of the nered to assist currently unem- opportunities for both students become available for testing. school year, and the closure of ployed child care workers and and teachers, and is accessible all non-emergency childcare provide skilled in-home care. at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/ Codman Square Health Center, 637 Washington Street, programs until June 29, 2020 Care.com is offering both eli- covid19/stem/. Dorchester, MA 02124, 617-822-8271 in an effort to prevent the fur- gible families and child care No-Interest Student Loan The Dimock Center, 55 Dimock Street, Roxbury, MA 02119, ther spread of COVID-19 in the workers free 90-day premium Program: The Massachusetts 617-442-8800 Commonwealth. memberships. Department of Higher Education (Continued on Page 2) • This order expands the • Complementing the existing (DHE) is deferring scheduled March 25th order suspend- partnership between WGBH and repayments for its No-Interest ing normal educational opera- DESE, EEC is launching further Loan Program for a duration of tions at schools and non-emer- collaboration with WGBH to four months to support relief News Briefs gency child care programs. The provide resources and activities efforts during the COVID-19 Department of Early Education for parents with young children. public health emergency. These by Sal Giarratani and Care (EEC) established Remote Learning Resources: deferments will help approxi- a process to approve Exempt The Department of Elementary mately 12,000 students that Before this Virus is Over ... Emergency Child Care Programs and Secondary Education participate in the $5 million pro- to serve families of fi rst respond- Before the coronavirus even landed on our shores (DESE) will issue updated guide- gram annually funded through ers, medical personnel and 22 percent of Americans age 13 and older had anxiety lines for schools to support the repayment of loans. essential workers. disorders. Want to bet when we move forward into remote learning efforts through • All no-interest loan accounts • Emergency Child Care pro- the post-COVID-19 era that the percentage will rise the duration of the school year, currently in repayment will auto- grams approved by EEC will signifi cantly? I see diagnosis of O.C.D. increasing big including expanded STEM learn- matically be placed in a defer- continue operating. Currently time with all the endless hand washing we have been ing, and will prepare recom- ment from April 2020 through there are 523 emergency child doing lately. mendations to strengthen sum- July 2020. This deferment will care programs statewide serv- mer learning opportunities for not count toward the program’s Living the Life of a Cat We Are ing families of essential work- students. permissible 36 months of avail- Over the years, I have had many cats as pets. Back ers. Weekly attendance aver- • DESE has launched a able deferment. in my childhood growing up in the South End and ages about 2,500 children in Remote Learning Essentials • If a payment has already lower Roxbury, these pets were also work animals these programs across the initiative, focused on addressing been made for April, that pay- defending household members from rodents who Commonwealth. access to tools, Internet con- ment will be applied to the sometimes would make unexpected appearances in • EEC will continue to pay nectivity, and educator training outstanding balance and not our apartments. subsidies to child care providers necessary to enhance remote refunded. While accounts are in For the past ten years, I have an adopted cat named based on their pre-COVID-19 learning during school closures. deferment, borrowers who wish “Nica” and she spends her days staying inside, isolat- enrollment, in order to support • The department is conduct- to continue monthly payments ing, practicing social distancing except when she’s the workforce. ing a survey of school districts may do so, without incurring hungry and cleaning herself. OMG!!! I have become a • The order does not apply to to identify barriers that inhibit late fees until July 31, 2020. house cat now ontop of everything else. residential special education effective remote learning, includ- • Accounts currently 120 Dr. Anthony Fauci recently stated how our life will schools. ing challenges around inequi- days past due will not be placed change after the coronavirus crisis ends, he said, “I Read the Orders on line at: table access to technology. into collections until August don’t think we should ever shake hands ever again.” * K-12 School Order Line: • An advisory group of admin- 2020, and regular credit bureau Even if what he says turns out to be true, does he have www.mass.gov/doc/april- istrators, educators, parents, reporting will resume at the end to say it out loud? Aren’t we already scared without 21-2020-school-closure-exten- students and business leaders of August. him adding to our woes? sion-order will engage external partners to Eviction and Foreclosure Stop Blaming the People of China, * Child Care Program Link: mobilize resources for schools, Protections: Governor Baker Blame Their Leaders www.mass.gov/doc/april- including philanthropic gifts and signed legislation into law to pro- The coronavirus began in a wet marketplace in 21-2020-childcare-programs- in-kind contributions. tect homeowners and tenants Wuhan, China, but the blame for this global pandemic closure-extension • DESE will also solicit input from eviction and foreclosure. is not the fault of the Chinese people. The blame goes Child Care Program from national and local educa- An Act providing for a moratorium to China’s political leaders and the Chinese Communist Resources: The Department tion vendors regarding the poten- on evictions and foreclosures Party for the cover-up and misinformation. Had the of Early Education and Care is tial to create a statewide online during the COVID-19 emergency government been forthcoming with its own citizens, reviewing its regulations and education platform for districts ensures housing stability for funding programs to develop to opt into and customize. residents and families, and can (Continued on Page 7) new approaches to incremen- STEM Learning: In partner- be read in its entirety at: https:// tally restore child care capacity ship with EEC, DHE, the STEM malegislature.gov/Bills/191/ for family child care and center- Advisory Council and Regional H4647. PAGE 2 POST-GAZETTE, APRIL 24, 2020 • COVID-19 Testing Sites (Continued from Page 1) DotHouse Health, 1353 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02122, 617-740-2292 Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center, 632 Blue Hill Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02121, 617-825-3400 Mattapan Community Health Center, 1575 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02126, 617-296-0061 Whittier Street Health Center, 1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA 02120, 617-427-1000 East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, 10 Gove Street, NEPTUNE East Boston, MA 02128, 617-569-5800 in that city. In her youth, Cumaea was loved by Upham’s Corner Health Center, 415 Columbia Road, Apollo, who later granted her as many years of life Dorchester, MA 02125, 617-388-5007 as the grains of sand that she held in her hand. Bowdoin Street Health Center, 230 Bowdoin Street, Dorchester, She accepted, but forgot to request the youth to MA 02122, 617-754-0100 go along with her years.