County Health Division Update On Vaccine Clinics And Doses

County Health Division Update On Vaccine Clinics And Doses

by | Mar 23, 2021 | Regional News

Oakland County Health Division COVID-19 Update On Vaccine Clinics And Doses For The Week Of March 23-29

Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County Health Division will conduct 16 COVID-19 vaccine clinics by appointment only the week of Tuesday, March 23 – Monday, March 29 in the following communities: Holly, Madison Heights, Novi, Pontiac, Rochester, Southfield, Waterford, and West Bloomfield. In addition, the Health Division will administer COVID-19 vaccine at four long-term care centers. To date, 30 long-term care centers have received a first and second doses of vaccine. The county also is redistributing vaccine to 28 providers this week.

The State of Michigan distributed 26,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Oakland County Health Division this week, including 2,340 Pfizer doses from FEMA. The Health Division will administer the FEMA doses, provided as part of the establishment of Ford Field as a regional vaccination site, in Waterford and Pontiac to residents who live in areas with a higher Social Vulnerability Index. Here is the breakdown by manufacturer, excluding the FEMA doses:

Johnson & Johnson

1st Dose                 0
2nd Dose                0
Total Doses            0

Moderna

1st Dose              400
2nd Dose          2,600
Total Doses      3,000

Pfizer

1st Dose         11,700
2nd Dose          9,360
Total Doses    21,060

Meanwhile, Oakland County’s Save Your Spot list is down to just over 238,000 registrations, down from a peak of about 600,000. The following is an update on progress vaccinating Oakland County residents, according to the State of Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard as of

March 21, 2021:

  • Total eligible residents: 1,029,737
    • Number of residents who have received first dose: 310,684
    • Number of residents who have completed vaccination: 172,904
    • Vaccine coverage: 30.2%
  • Total eligible senior residents 65 and older: 217,676
    • Number of senior residents who have received first dose: 143,738
    • Number of senior residents who have completed vaccination: 87,847
    • Vaccine coverage for senior residents: 66.0%
  • Total doses distributed by state within Oakland County: 468,015
    • Total doses administered within Oakland County: 480,466
    • Percentage of doses administered within Oakland County: N/A
improving safety of youth in Michigan’s institutions

improving safety of youth in Michigan’s institutions

by | Mar 23, 2021 | Regional News

MDHHS banner with logo no names

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 23, 2021 

CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112, wheatonb@michigan.gov   

Focus on improving safety of youth in Michigan’s child-caring institutions and juvenile justice facilities will continue 

Committee wraps up work after setting stage for improvements 

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan youth who are under state care and supervision in child-caring institutions and juvenile justice facilities will be safer because of the work of a diverse group of child welfare stakeholders that is holding its last meeting today.

The group’s accomplishments include revising Michigan licensing rules to eliminate the use of physical restraints and seclusion in child-caring institutions, and creating a statewide Youth Advisory Board made up of children who have experienced the child welfare system.

The Child-Caring Institution Steering Committee formed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) began meeting in September 2020 in response to a report from national experts recommending improved oversight of safety and quality of care to children receiving residential services – including a move towards restraint-free programs. Former MDHHS Children’s Services Agency executive director JooYeun Chang requested the review following the tragic death of a youth in May 2020 due to improper and unnecessary restraint in a licensed facility.

“MDHHS remains dedicated to improving safety and quality of care in Michigan’s child-caring institutions and reducing reliance on congregate care,” said Stacie Bladen, interim Children’s Services Agency executive director and co-chair of the steering committee. Members and workgroup participants moved the state closer to eliminating coercive interventions in residential programs and improving positive long-term outcomes for children and their families.

The proposed licensing rules – if approved following a public hearing – will permanently ban restraint and seclusion in child-caring institutions. They will take the place of temporary emergency rules that are in place until July.

The statewide Youth Advisory Board will be critical in reviewing and recommending changes in policy and practice to better support youth and families in the child welfare system.

The board began meeting this month, led by Brandi McKenzie, MDHHS Youth in Transition analyst, and Christine Hansen, Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative coordinator.

Steering Committee co-chair Sean de Four, chief executive officer of Southwest Solutions in Detroit, said providers remain committed to working with the state and stakeholders to safely and effectively support youth who have experienced trauma.

“This effort was a true partnership between the provider community, MDHHS and a wide variety of stakeholders on behalf of the children and families who require the intensive treatment provided by Michigan’s residential care settings,” he said. “We came together as a community committed to transforming our system, to ensure that tragedies like the one that brought us together never happen again. After six months of diligent effort, we are confident that the reforms developed by the workgroups will move us toward a radically improved system of residential care.”

Other reform measures from the steering committee include:

  • Creation of a caseworker visit tool. The tool is a guide based on feedback from youth who are placed in residential treatment facilities about how caseworkers can successfully engage youth. Overwhelmingly, youth report that they want a connection with their caseworker so they can talk about topics such as their families, their supports, their connections with community, themselves, and their plan for leaving residential care and returning to their community.
  • Changes to the state’s regulatory oversight to identify and resolve safety-related licensing violations more quickly. The MDHHS Division of Child Welfare Licensing has modified investigation criteria to ensure that safety-related allegations are given priority.
  • Development of a data dashboard for the state and providers to track progress and improve practices.
  • State-provided technical assistance to residential providers through a contract with the Building Bridge Initiative, which has already trained providers on strategies to eliminate the use of seclusion and restraint. Three voluntary webinars on aftercare, advisory boards and workforce development will be available to all providers.

“The Six Core Strategies© training through Building Bridges Initiative was pivotal for our agency in considering our areas of strength and our areas to develop more fully in supporting youth in residential programming, said Mary Muliett, chief executive officer of D.A. Blodgett – St. Johns, a child-caring institution. “The sessions spurred energy and thought from our whole team and was an amazing launching point towards creating an even stronger model for youth and their families. We are grateful for the department’s support in these efforts.”

The steering committee consisted of seven workgroups focused on intervention policy and practice, contract monitoring, licensing oversight, data reporting, caseworker policy and practice, youth and family engagement, and financial and organization structures.
Gilchrist Joins Members of Congress for Visit to Vaccination Site 

Gilchrist Joins Members of Congress for Visit to Vaccination Site 

by | Mar 22, 2021 | Regional News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 22, 2021

Contact: [email protected]

 

PHOTOS: Lt. Governor Gilchrist Joins Members of Congress for Visit to Community Vaccination Site at Ford Field Before March 24 Opening

 

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist visited Ford Field alongside members of Congress to observe the partnerships and logistics supporting Michigan’s first federal community vaccination site, which is expected to administer an additional 6,000 vaccines per day for eight weeks beginning on March 24.

 

“We continue to keep our foot on the gas to ensure that every Michigander who wants a vaccine can get one as quickly as possible,” said Lt. Governor Gilchrist. “The Ford Field community vaccine site is an opportunity to be a national leader in vaccine distribution by building upon the work that we’ve done to ensure equitable access to this safe and effective vaccine — and we thank our local, federal, hospital, and private sector partners for making it happen. We know the vaccine is the most effective way to get back to normal, so that we can all hug our families, get together again, and create economic opportunity going forward. It’s on all of us to stand tall by getting the vaccine when it is our turn.”

 

To date, Michigan has administered 3,412,372 vaccines, moving the state closer to its goal of equitably vaccinating at least 70% of Michiganders ages 16 and older as soon as possible. As part of these efforts, Michigan is working to administer 50,000 shots per day, partnering with organizations like Ford Field to create more opportunities for Michigan residents to receive a vaccine.

 

Ford Field will operate starting March 24 from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. seven days a week for eight weeks under the federal government’s vaccination pilot program. The site was selected according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention priority tool to help those hardest hit and most vulnerable. The Ford Field clinic has the capacity to administer 6,000 doses daily.

 

The vaccine will be offered at no cost and insurance is not required, nor will it be requested at the vaccination clinic. All Michigan residents currently eligible to receive the vaccine can register for an appointment if they qualify under the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The most recent vaccine prioritization guidance can be found on Michigan’s COVID-19 website.

 

The site will be managed by the state of Michigan with support from FEMA, Wayne County, the city of Detroit, Ford Field, Meijer, Henry Ford Health System, the Detroit Lions, and the Protect Michigan Commission.

 

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More Time to File Individual State Income Tax Returns

More Time to File Individual State Income Tax Returns

by | Mar 22, 2021 | Regional News

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Banner - headshot with bridge graphic

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 19, 2021

Contact: Ron Leix, [email protected]

 

Governor Whitmer Secures Bipartisan Support to Give Michiganders More Time to File Individual State Income Tax Returns

 Taxpayers Can Now File Tax Returns and Make Payments by May 17, 2021

LANSING, Mich. – State of Michigan individual income tax annual returns are now due on May 17, 2021, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.  

The new filing deadline comes after the Internal Revenue Service extended its deadline to the same date. For the benefit and convenience of taxpayers, both the beginning and end of income tax filing season are the same as the IRS.

“I’m happy to announce that we are giving Michiganders extra time on their taxes this year,” said Governor Whitmer. “This has been a difficult year for everyone, and by moving the income tax payment date, I hope families have the buffer they need to get their finances in order. I am grateful for the money going out to Michiganders under the American Rescue Plan and proud of the state-level pandemic relief we’ve delivered to families and small businesses.  Together, we’ll build our economy back better.”

“Taxpayers are trying to understand how the federal stimulus and the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting their taxes,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “We are continuously evaluating how we can assist taxpayers. Changing the state’s filing and payment deadlines can help individuals figure out their next steps as we navigate these extraordinary times.”

“Our members have been adamant to find relief everywhere we can for the people of the State of Michigan,” said Matt Hall, chairman of the House Tax Policy committee. “We have been prepared with legislation to extend the April 15 filing deadline this year and we’re grateful that Treasury and the administration are working to waive penalties and interest in the meantime.”

“Federal COVID-19 relief, including moving the due date for individual income tax returns to May 17, is vital to our recovery as a state,” said House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Twp. “We need to do everything we can to get relief to Michigan workers, small businesses, families and schools impacted most by the COVID-19 pandemic; extending the deadline to file taxes is a part of what is needed and the right thing to do.”

Under a Taxpayer Notice issued by the state Treasury Department, state individual income tax annual returns and payments are now due before 11:59 p.m. on May 17, 2021.

Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the May 17 deadline can request an extension to Oct. 15, 2021. Taxpayers requesting additional time to file should estimate their tax liability and pay any taxes owed by May 17, 2021, to avoid additional interest and penalties.

Because the extension is limited to the 2020 taxes, first quarter estimates for tax year 2021 remain due on April 15, 2021.

Taxpayers who are owed a refund are encouraged to file their state income tax returns so they can receive their refunds. More information about e-filing is available at www.michigan.gov/mifastfile.

Changes to city income tax deadlines require state legislation.

“It is imperative the Michigan Legislature quickly pass legislation extending the city tax deadline in our state to parallel the recent extension at the federal level,” Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) said. “Hardworking Detroiters and their families have disproportionately struggled in countless ways during the pandemic, and this small but significant gesture would go a long way toward ensuring all parties are accounted for this tax season.”

To learn more about Michigan’s taxes, go to www.michigan.gov/taxes or follow the state Treasury Department on Twitter at @MITreasury.
Michiganders can access Free Weekly Credit Reports 

Michiganders can access Free Weekly Credit Reports 

by | Mar 22, 2021 | Regional News

Attorney General Dana Nessel

Media Contact:

 Kelly Rossman-McKinney
(c) 517-512-9342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, March 22, 2021

AG Nessel Informs Michiganders of Free Weekly Access to Credit Reports

LANSING –  To encourage Michiganders to consistently monitor their credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today urged Michiganders to take advantage of the recently announced extension of  free weekly access from Experian, Equifax and Transunion. The FTC shared the news recently that at no cost, anyone can access their credit report weekly until April 20.  

In a time when there is a considerable amount of financial uncertainty for so many, Michiganders can get their free report online.

“The pandemic has brought with it financial hardship for so many Michiganders and people across the country. That is why it’s even more important for everyone to stay up-to-date on the contents of their credit reports.” said Nessel. “From being aware of potential fraudulent activity to knowing which creditors to contact for assistance, having access to these crucial financial documents is imperative to one’s financial health.”

As part of the consumer alert library available via the Attorney General’s webpage, Michiganders can reference the Free Annual Credit Reports: What Consumers Should Know alert anytime to better understand how to safely and securely access their three credit reports.  Additional details related to credit freezes and fraud alerts are available here.

  • Contact the companies you owe money to. Ask if they can postpone your payment, put you on a payment plan, or give you a temporary forbearance.
  • Check your credit report regularly to make sure it’s correct — especially any new payment arrangements or temporary forbearance. The CARES Act generally requires your creditors to report these accounts as current.
  • Fix any errors or mistakes that you spot on your credit report. Notify the credit reporting agencies directly. You can find out more by reading Disputing Errors on Credit Reports.

It is important to remember that your connection to consumer protection is just a click or phone call away. Consumer complaints can be filed online at the Attorney General’s website, or by calling 877-765-8388.

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the latest COVID relief bill, the American Rescue Plan

the latest COVID relief bill, the American Rescue Plan

by | Mar 22, 2021 | Regional News

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Greetings,

Last week we passed the latest COVID relief bill, the American Rescue Plan. This bill is already helping us ramp up vaccine distribution and recover from the economic devastation brought by the pandemic. Here’s how you can take advantage of all that’s included in this bill:

Getting your $1,400 stimulus check should be automatic if you received the first two stimulus payment accounts. Like previous direct payments, all individuals who make $75,000 or less will be receiving this round of direct payments. Check on your payment here. If you did not receive any of the last direct payments, but believe you should have, read this information about applying for a Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2020 taxes.

Register to get vaccinated. Vaccines are starting to be available at more and more places, and beginning April 5, all Michiganders over the age of 16 will be eligible for the vaccine. Here are some of the places you can register:

With your county health department:

At your local pharmacy:

Beginning March 24, vaccinations will be available at Ford Field in Detroit. This new mass vaccination site will be able to vaccinate 6,000 people a day, and is open to all Michiganders. Anyone can register now, regardless of whether you are currently eligible for the vaccine, and you will be contacted when you are able to make your appointment. Click here to register for vaccination at Ford Field, which is run through Meijer.

You can also receive your vaccination through Sparrow Hospital, which is administering the vaccine at Sparrow clinics, and even at a drive through location in Lansing. Click here to make an appointment through the Sparrow system.

Accessing unemployment benefits. Folks receiving unemployment have been getting an additional $300 a week that was passed as part of an earlier COVID relief bill. The American rescue Plan extends that additional $300 a week through September 6, 2021.

If you’ve already been receiving unemployment, there is likely no action required to continue receiving the additional $300 benefit, though you should keep an eye out for outreach from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. If you need to apply for unemployment, visit this page. If you are having trouble with unemployment, visit this page.

How to make sure you are taking advantage of lower healthcare costs: From now until May 15, we are in a special enrollment period, in which you can shop for healthcare on the Marketplace. Lower rates will kick in on April 1.

If you already have Marketplace health insurance, you can also access the lower prices. You will need to specifically re-select your plan or select a new plan on healthcare.gov after April 1 to take advantage of these new lower costs. Click here to learn more.

If you have been laid off, you can access subsidies to get COBRA health insurance through September.

Resources for renters. At the end of March, Michiganders who have experienced hardship and can benefit from rental assistance will be able to apply for Michigan’s COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program. Check this page at the end of the month to apply.

For small businesses and restaurants, there are a variety of new and continued programs to provide relief.

Restaurant owners can watch this roundtable discussion about newly created resources and loans.

  • Information about applying to the Paycheck Protection Program can be found here.
  • Information about Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) can be found here. These are loans for both small businesses and nonprofit organizations that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue.
  • Performance venues can access information about the Shuttered Venue Program here.
  • All small businesses owners should check out resources provided by the SBA and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

If you have additional questions — our office is here to help! Give us a call at 517-993-0510 or send us a message here.

-Office of Rep. Elissa Slotkin