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Note from Erika With the holiday season upon us, I hope you’ll continue taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family against COVID-19 and the flu so that we can all enjoy healthy and happy gatherings this year-end holiday season. Whether you’re celebrating the Winter Solstice, Festivus, Christmas, Kwanzaa or any of the other holidays significant to you at this time of year, my team and I wish you joyous ones and look forward to a healthier and happier New Year. Included in this newsletter are updates about food service assistance that is available, reminders from MDHHS about flu vaccinations and COVID boosters, utility shut-off protection information, and tips for combatting the winter blues that I hope you find useful. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to my office by replying to this email or by calling (517) 373-7800.
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SERVICE TO ADDRESS HUNGER IN MICHIGAN, LOWER COSTS FOR FAMILIES
On Monday, Dec. 6, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced the launch of MI Benefits Center, an innovative approach to assist Michiganders in applying for much-needed food assistance, connecting families to benefits, and lowering the cost for Michigan families.
The MI Benefits Center will have a team of highly trained benefits specialists providing personalized phone-based application assistance to remove barriers that prevent some Michiganders from accessing food support that is critical to their health and vitality. With funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and philanthropic organizations, in the next year, the MI Benefits Center will invest up to $1.2 million to support Michiganders. Recently, the MI Benefits Center began mailing letters to older adults and others who are likely eligible for food assistance benefits but who are not enrolled in the program. The letters will direct individuals to call a toll-free phone number for free assistance or to apply directly at Michigan.gov/MIBridges. When people who receive the letter call into the MI Benefits Center, they will talk to a benefits outreach specialist who will screen them for benefits, offer to assist with the collection of required application documents, and submit applications on their behalf. This personalized attention may help relieve pressure for people who struggle with the application, streamline the process and increase the success rate of those applications.
MICHIGANDERS URGED TO GET TESTED, VACCINATED, BOOSTED, DOWNLOAD THE MI COVID ALERT APP The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is reminding Michiganders to get their booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Booster doses are available six months after the primary Pfizer or Moderna series, and two months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Michiganders aged 16 and 17 are now eligible to receive a Pfizer booster, and those over 18 can choose which booster they prefer. It takes about two weeks to receive full protection after the booster dose, meaning critical extra protection will be available before Dec. 31. The COVID-19 booster dose may be given with other vaccines, including the flu vaccine, at the same time. Michiganders should bring their COVID-19 vaccine card or immunization record with them when getting their booster dose, which are available at any vaccine provider. Downloadable immunization records are accessible free of charge at the Michigan Immunization Portal. If you do not have records in the portal, contact your health care provider or local health department. Find a booster at VaccineFinder.org.
Even if fully vaccinated and boosted, we are all encouraged to still wear a mask when indoors in public (other than when eating or drinking) or in settings where the vaccination status of others is unknown. Given the more contagious nature of the most-recent Omicron variant, people are urged to utilize KN95/KN94 masks instead of cloth masks. That notwithstanding, any well-fitting mask worn over the nose and mouth will offer better protection and limit transmission than no mask at all.
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We also strongly encourage Michigan residents to download the free, anonymous MI COVID Alert app at the App Store or Google Play. It will notify you if you’ve been exposed and allow you to anonymously alert other app users if you have received a COVID-19 positive diagnosis. Learn more here. The MI COVID Alert app is just one more tool in our toolboxes to help us during this pandemic. COVID-19 rapid tests are widely available at most commercial pharmacies and online retailers to help you determine your COVID-19 status. Per Pres. Biden’s announcement, the Administration will be increasing testing sites in critical areas as well as providing 500,000,000 rapid tests available for all Americans beginning in January. One will be able to enter “Covid Test Near Me” on Google Search to find free, rapid tests. Note, if you do receive a positive rapid test (also known as an antigen test), you are encouraged to get a PCR test as well. As with any positive test result, you should follow CDC recommendations and self-isolate/quarantine and continue to test every few days until you receive a negative test even if you are not experiencing any symptoms. We are all in this together and need to pull together to protect ourselves, our households, our families, and our communities so that we can get through the pandemic. We know the basics: masks, hygiene, good ventilation, separating where and when possible, vaccinations and boosters for those eligible and testing if you’ve been exposed or are showing symptoms.
SHUT-OFF PROTECTIONS, RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO STAY WARM THIS WINTER Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, the Michigan Public Service Commission, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and other state agencies are working to save people money and help keep the heat on this winter as temperatures drop by reminding Michigan families worried about paying for home heating that there are shut-off protections, financial assistance, and other resources available this season. Need help? Here are ways to get help staying warm:
For more information, check out the MPSC’s tip sheet on home energy assistance and shut-off protections.
MDHHS OFFERS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO COMBAT WINTERBLUES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON As Michigan enters a second holiday season during the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) officials are offering tips and resources to help Michiganders cope with seasonal blues that are common at this time of year. MDHHS offers the following tips for those suffering from winter blues:
For a free, confidential conversation with a trained Stay Well crisis counselor, dial 888-535-6136 and press “8” at the prompt. The phone line is open 24/7 for any Michigan resident. Visit Michigan.gov/StayWell to locate the nearest community mental health services program office, register for a virtual support group or access helpful brochures and recorded webinars. Michigan residents with serious mental illness or substance use challenges wishing to speak with someone who understands these issues can call the Michigan Warmline at 888-PEER-753 (888-733-7753). The service is available from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. |
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If you or a loved one is concerned about suicide, call 800-273-8255 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
COMMUNITY UPDATE All American Holiday Decorating Contest There is still time vote for your favorite! Westland is hosting their “All American Holiday Decorating Contest”! You can nominate yourself or a neighbor in one of three categories:
The contest runs until Friday, December 24th and nominees should include a picture alongside their submission. Winners will be announced and given special recognition at the Westland City Council meeting on January 3, 2022. |
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