1. Building access remains restricted
As our community begins the slow process of re-opening, the Lucas County Board of DD is urging everyone to continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines to include wearing a facial covering whenever in public. The majority of Board staff continue to work remotely but are accessible through email and the telephone.
There will be increased activity starting next week within the Board facilities as some staff will be scheduled back, but building access is still restricted to the public. Visiting a Board facility is still by invitation only. All visitors to the Board must first complete a self-screening health form.
2. Superintendent's June Family & Advocate Forum will be held virtually
There will be a Family & Advocate Forum on June 9, but it will be held virtually. In keeping with the social distancing guidelines, the Forum will be conducted using Zoom, an internet platform that is being used widely for meeting over the Internet. You may use your computer or smart phone to participate. Log on instructions will be included in the Friday Update for June 5.
3. ICF visitation will resume on June 8
Governor Mike DeWine announced that the state will allow in-person visitation to resume at intermediate care facilities (ICFs) starting Monday, June 8. However, all visits must take place outside, and facilities must adopt visitation policies that adhere to social distancing guidelines including:
- Screening for temperatures and symptom reporting for visitors;
- Scheduled hours and time limits for visits;
- Proper social distancing measures; and
- Face coverings.
4. Board's Annual Report to the Community
The Board's Annual Report to the Community will soon be published in several area newspapers. You can read it now by clicking this link. The Report identifies priorities, goals, and information on the Board's revenue and expenditures.
5. Job postings
Job seekers may want to periodically log onto the Employment Page on the Board of DD website where current job openings with the Board are posted.
Many providers in Lucas County are adding staff. We have up-to-date information on who is hiring on the welcome page of the Board of DD website. Use this link for the latest update.
Providers are also encouraged to post job openings with ohiomeansjobs.com. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities is working with the Department of Jobs and Family Services in a marketing campaign urging people to become Direct Service Professionals.
6. Donations being collected
A big thank you for the generosity shown in donations. The following items, though, are still requested:
-
- Toilet paper
- Hand Sanitizer
- Paper towels
- Cleaning supplies
- Clorox wipes
- Bleach
The times to drop off donations are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am and noon to 1:00 pm. Thank you for the tremendous support that has been shown. You make a difference!
7. Listen to our podcasts
A new episodes of the Board's podcast series was added this week. In this episode, Jennifer Wolfe, Provider Training Coordinator, who recently presented to the National Down Syndrome Society's Virtual Summit on the topic of dementia in the I/DD population. Jennifer is a member of the Lucas County Dementia Capable Coalition.
Monday, the podcast will feature a discussion with Margaret Zotkiewicz-Dramczyk, Community Work Incentives Counselor, on how she helps families understand those often complicated letters from Social Security and Medicaid.
These audio discussions focus on services and supports that address the Board's mission statement - improve LIFE so individuals with developmental disabilities reach their full potential - and on efforts to make our community more inclusive.
The Talk From the Board podcast is available on iTunes, Spotify, Breaker and on the Board of DD Website.
8. SIL Opens Applications for Virtual Summer Leadership Academy Session
Services for Independent Living (SIL) is now accepting applications for its Virtual Summer 2020 Leadership Academy “Immersion Session”. The Leadership Academy is a course designed to help people with disabilities gain skills needed to participate on nonprofit boards, community coalitions, task forces, and/or system change committees in a meaningful way. The goal of the academy is to increase the number of persons with disabilities prepared to engage in community leadership roles.
The Summer 2020 “Immersion Session” will begin on Monday, July 6, 2020 and end on Thursday, July 30, 2020. Classes will be held twice weekly on Monday and Thursday afternoons from 1 pm to 4 pm. All classes will be held virtually.
Download the application here.
9. Stimulus checks are being issued to SSI recipients with representative payees
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is issuing Economic Impact Payments (EIP) to approximately 1.4 million SSI recipients with representative payees and 10.4 million Social Security beneficiaries with representative payees.
The IRS will issue the EIPs via direct deposit and Direct Express starting today, May 22, to the same direct deposit account or Direct Express card as the recipient’s monthly Social Security or SSI payment. Paper check EIPs will be mailed starting May 27.
Visit www.ssa.gov/coronavirus/#reppayee to learn about EIPs and representative payees. You can find the eligibility requirements and other information about the EIPs at the IRS’ Economic Impact Payment Information Center.
10. City of Toledo creates COVID-19 Emergency Renter Assistance Fund
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz announced the creation of the City of Toledo COVID-19 Emergency Renter Assistance Fund.
“COVID-19 has caused unprecedented job loss and income reduction to low- and moderate-income families in Toledo,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. “Inability to pay rent threatens housing stability for all tenants and the continued financial viability of Toledo’s affordable housing. To address this challenge, the city is dedicating $1 million from the COVID-19 Community Development Block Grant funding and another $1 million from the COVID-19 Emergency Solutions Grant funding to establish the City of Toledo COVID-19 Emergency Renter Assistance Fund.”
The Emergency Renter Assistance Fund (ERAF) program will help provide stable housing for the most vulnerable Toledo families during this global crisis, the mayor said.
11. Worth Repeating
“There are times when you've got to play hurt, when you've got to block out the pain." -Shaq O'Neal
The Friday Update is published on Friday mornings by Lon Mitchell, Public Information Manager of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities. You may subscribe by sending your email address. You may also read the Friday Update on the Board website and on the mobile app