Good News Report - September 2020 • Limited Visitation Allowed at Long-Term Care Facilities (Sept. 2) • Visitation Expanded for Long-Term Care Facilities (Sept. 24) • Emergency Benefits for Hurricane Laura • Emergency SNAP Benefits Extended • SNAP resources • Postpartum Care Services • Redesigned Mental Health Resources Website • $45M for Mental Health Services • $125M Substance Use Disorder Treatment Grant • $104 Opioid Crisis Grant • Study of COVID-19 Impact on Minorities • San Antonio State Hospital Construction • San Antonio State Hospital Virtual Job Fair
Limited Visitation Allowed at Long-Term Care Facilities
'So good to see you!': Emotional reunions as senior homes welcome visitors again Robert Price KABB - San Antonio TV September 2, 2020
Families Reunited With Loved Ones At North Texas Assisted Living Facility For First Time In Months Nicole Nielsen KTVT-TV Dallas/Fort Worth September 2, 2020
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Ending the coronavirus isolation: Families reconnect in San Antonio for in-person visits at long-term care centers Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje San Antonio Express-News September 3, 2020
'I wish I could hug you' | Tearful reunions as a San Antonio nursing home welcomes visitors again, with coronavirus guidelines Jaleesa Irizarry KENS-TV San Antonio September 3, 2020
‘It’s so good to see you’: Visits at Texas assisted living facilities resume after months apart Emily Foxhall Houston Chronicle September 7, 2020
Visitation Expanded for Long-Term Care Facilities
Texas will allow visitations at nursing homes, other long-term care facilities with active COVID-19 cases Shawn Mulcahy Texas Tribune September 17, 2020
HHSC to allow designated essential family caregivers to expand visitation at long-term care facilities Adrienne DeMoss KBTX-TV Bryan-College Station September 17, 2020
Visitations to be expanded at Texas nursing homes, assisted living facilities Brittany Ford KEYE-TV Austin September 17, 2020
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Families to be allowed into Texas nursing homes, but state hasn’t set all the rules yet Allie Morris Dallas Morning News September 17, 2020
The most vulnerable in Texas finally get to see their families Yami Virgin KABB - San Antonio TV September 17, 2020
Texas allows nursing home visits again; concerned families with loved ones inside Keenan Willard KFOX 14 El Paso September 17, 2020
What nursing home visits will look like in Texas following Gov. Greg Abbott’s new guidance Fares Sabawi KSAT-TV San Antonio September 18, 2020
Families, Providers Prepare for New Visitation Options at Long-Term Care Facilities Diana Zoga KXAS-TV - Dallas/Fort Worth September 20, 2020
Families Rejoice Over New Senior Facility COVID-19 Guidelines Carlos Garcia Spectrum News San Antonio September 20, 2020
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How will nursing homes + assisted living centers handle visitations with Texas reopening during COVID-19 pandemic? Laura Hensley KENS-TV San Antonio September 19, 2020
Emotional reunions during 1st nursing home visits in Tyler since COVID-19 pandemic David Lippman KYTX-TV Tyler September 10, 2020
Tyler nursing facility resumes in-person visitation between residents, family members Arthur Clayborn KLTV-TV Tyler September 10, 2020
Commentary: ‘Happy to be here’: A visit brings back memories of an elderly mom who had a ‘big, big life’ in San Antonio Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje San Antonio Express-News September 11, 2020
Texas Elder Care Visitation Rules Relaxed Terri Langford KUT News September 21, 2020
Texas nursing homes, assisted living communities prepare to welcome visitors for the first time in six months Melissa Correa KHOU - Houston September 21, 2020
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Assisted living facilities in El Paso prepare to expand visitation Adriana Candelaria KFOX 14 El Paso September 23, 2020
Lubbock nursing homes reach list of facilities approved for expanded visitation Melanie Camacho KCBD-TV Lubbock September 23, 2020
Area nursing homes, long term care facilities reopen to visitors Hannah Hall and Drake Lawson KWTX-TV Waco September 24, 2020
Families eager to visit loved ones as new Texas nursing home guidelines begin Lynnanne Nguyen KDFW-TV September 24, 2020
Abbott’s loosened restrictions on nursing home visitors in effect. Here is what you need to know. Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli KPRC-TV Houston September 24, 2020
Gov. Greg Abbott expands visitation at nursing home facilities KTRK-TV Houston September 27, 2020
Essential Caregivers Allowed to Visit Long-Term Care Facilities Sophia Beausoleil KXAS-TV - Dallas/Fort Worth September 28, 2020
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Emergency Benefits for Hurricane Laura
Federal approval received to replace SNAP benefits destroyed by hurricane in 8 counties KTRE-TV Lufkin September 15, 2020
SNAP replacement benefits approved for East Texas Tyler Morning Telegraph September 16, 2020
Emergency SNAP Benefits Extended
Abbott, HHSC Announce Extension Of Emergency SNAP Benefits For The Month Of September Staff San Marcos Corridor News
Emergency SNAP benefits extended through September for Texans Mary Claire Patton KSAT-TV San Antonio
Gov. Abbott, HHSC extend Emergency SNAP benefits for September Adrienne DeMoss KBTX-TV Bryan-College Station
SNAP Benefits extended for September in Texas Staff KXII-TV – McKinney
Gov. Abbott extends emergency SNAP food benefits for month of September Brittany Taylor KPRC-TV Houston September 1, 2020
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SNAP benefits extended for September Plainview Daily Herald September 2, 2020
Texas announces extension of emergency SNAP benefits Port Arthur News September 2, 2020
SNAP resources
Where to find resources during the pandemic Nicole Caan and Mario Leal KENS-TV San Antonio September 3, 2020
How to apply for food stamps, or SNAP benefits, in Texas Mary Claire Patton KSAT-TV San Antonio September 24, 2020
Postpartum Care Services
Texas HHS launches Enhanced Postpartum Care services Staff KVEO-TV Rio Grande Valley
HHSC launches enhanced postpartum care services Plainview Daily Herald September 4, 2020
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Redesigned Mental Health Resources Website
Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council Launches Redesigned Mental Health Resources Website Big Spring Herald September 18, 2020
New State website available for Texans who need help with mental health during COVID-19 pandemic Hannah Rucker KVUE-TV Austin September 20, 2020
$45M for Mental Health Services
Texas Health & Human Services awards $45 million for community mental health services Sue Necessary KETK-TV Tyler September 10, 2020
Texas to award millions in grant money to organizations that provide mental health services Elizabeth Wiley WFAA - Dallas/Fort Worth September 10, 2020
Hale County awarded Community Mental Health Services grant KAMC-TV Lubbock September 10, 2020
$45 million grant to provide mental health services Tamlyn Cochran KFDA-TV Amarillo September 11, 2020
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$125M Substance Use Disorder Treatment Grant
Texas Health and Human Services Commission awards $125 million in grants for substance use disorder treatment Michael Fulford KVEO-TV Rio Grande Valley September 21, 2020
Lubbock, Plainview organizations awarded grants for substance abuse disorder treatment Everything Lubbock September 21, 2020
$104M Opioid Crisis Grant
Texas awarded two-year, $104 million federal grant to address the opioid crisis Alice Echo News Journal September 24, 2020
Texas awarded two-year, $104 million federal grant to address the opioid crisis Nueces County Record Star September 24, 2020
Texas Receives $104 Million Federal Grant to Fight Opioid Epidemic Kim Roberts The Texan September 29, 2020
Study of COVID-19 Impact on Minorities
Texas studying COVID-19’s uneven impact on communities of color Cindy George Texas Medical Center News September 2, 2020
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San Antonio State Hospital Construction
Construction begins on $357 million state hospital in San Antonio Laura Garcia San Antonio Express-News September 4, 2020
$357 Million Hospital Coming To South Side San Antonio In 2021 Brian Kirkpatrick Texas Public Radio September 9, 2020
Construction of $357M Texas psychiatric hospital begins Alia Paavola Becker's Hospital Review September 9, 2020
San Antonio State Hospital Virtual Job Fair
San Antonio State Hospital looking to fill more than 100 job positions WOAI - San Antonio September 4, 2020
About 125 positions up for grabs in hospital’s virtual job fair KSAT-TV San Antonio September 8, 2020
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