​Pontiac, Michigan – Celebrate Welcoming Week with Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter at Rahma Worldwide in Beverly Hills, Michigan on Friday, September 17 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Welcoming Week is marked by in-person events with songs, dance, and food from around the world.

“Welcoming Week is a time to come together to celebrate the wonderful things that each of our different cultures and backgrounds bring to the community,” Coulter said.

Some featured entertainment at the Welcoming Week celebration will include:

• A yo-yo demonstration by the Association of Chinese Americans
• A Native American dance performance
• An oud player (an oud is a stringed instrument much like the lute)
• The Beans and Cornbread food truck serving free meals

Oakland County Health Division will also host a walk-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic on site for individuals 12 years old and older.

In addition, there will be multiple refugee assistance agencies on hand to assist foreign-born residents who may have questions or needs. Agencies such as Oakland County Workforce Development, Rahma Worldwide, Centro Multicultural La Familia, Samaritas, the Office of Global Michigan, and many others. Since Coulter became county executive in 2019, his administration has made it a priority to ensure all are welcome in Oakland County.

“This year, Welcoming Week comes at an especially opportune time as thousands of people are fleeing Afghanistan,” Coulter said. “We have a responsibility as a country to help them resettle and Oakland County stands ready to accept those who have been caught up in these tragic world events.”

The Welcoming Week event is free and open to all. Rahma Worldwide is located at 31333 Southfield. Rd. in Beverly Hills. Welcoming Week runs from September 10 – 19. For more information, click here.

Welcoming Week 2021 FINAL 091321.pdf

​Pontiac, Michigan – Applications are now open for non-profit organizations to apply for a share of $10 million in Oakland Together Mental Health and Wellbeing Non-profit Grants aimed to help increase capacity to meet the growing demand for mental health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be a webinar for non-profits Friday, September 17, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. to answer questions about the application process and grant program. Click here to register for the webinar.

“One of the ongoing effects we’re seeing from the COVID-19 pandemic is people struggling to improve their mental health and getting access to timely care,” County Executive Dave Coulter said. “These grants will help non-profit organizations that work in the realm of mental and behavioral health expand their ability to provide resources to our residents.”

There will be three types of grants awarded to non-profit organizations to support mental or behavioral health services offered only to Oakland County residents:

• Operational grants from $50,000 to $99,999 to maintain or enhance mental and/or behavioral health services because of increased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Expansion grants from $100,000 to $249,999 to expand or implement new mental and/or behavioral health services because of increased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Community grants from $250,000 to $500,000 may be awarded to non-profit organizations with an annual operating budget of at least $4 million which need funds to maintain or expand mental and/or behavioral health services because of increased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United Way for Southeastern Michigan will administer the grant program.

“Everyone should have access to mental and behavioral health services when they need them. The ongoing stress and trauma of this pandemic have only caused an increase in demand,” said Dr. Darienne Hudson, president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “We are proud to partner with Oakland County to ensure a high-quality grant opportunity for the tireless non-profit service providers who work to meet this need every day. We continue to stand ready to partner to ensure our community is resilient through this crisis.”

To be eligible for any of the grants, an applicant must:

• Be based in Oakland County or providing services to Oakland County residents.
• Be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in good standing with both the State of Michigan and Internal Revenue Service.
• Be a provider of evidence-based mental and/or behavioral health services and those services must be delivered by professionals licensed by and in good standing with the State of Michigan.

All funds from the Oakland Together Mental Health and Wellbeing Non-profit Grants must be spent during the period from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022. Funds awarded through the grants cannot support services that have already received federal, state, county, foundation, or philanthropic reimbursements. To apply, click here.

Apply for $10 Million Non-Profit Mental Health Grants FINAL 091321.pdf

Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County is holding COVID-19 vaccine clinics at two community events this week: Senior Market Day at Oakland County Farmers Market Thursday and Berkley Art Bash Saturday. Oakland County Health Division nurses will administer doses from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the farmers market located at 2350 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford and 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Saturday on 12 Mile Road in Berkley. For more information, go to OaklandCountyVaccine.com.

The Health Division is also offering school-based clinics to school-age students this week. The county will hold a walk-in clinic at the Troy School District Service Building on Thursday, September 9 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at 4420 Livernois Rd. On Friday, September 10, there will be another clinic at the Rochester Community Schools Administration Building at 601 W. University Dr. from 3:00-6:00 p.m.

Over 49,000 Oakland County residents 12-19 years old have not received the COVID-19 vaccine. The county’s seven-day case average is 182 cases per day or 1,274 new cases per week as of September 7.

The Oakland County Health Division is holding daily vaccine clinics from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at both its North Oakland Health Center in Pontiac and South Oakland Health Center in Southfield in addition to pop-up clinics in the community. Click on OaklandCountyVaccine.com to locate the nearest Health Division vaccine clinic. Those who do not have access to the Internet may call the Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. for more information.

The following is an update on progress vaccinating Oakland County residents, according to the State of Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard as of September 7, 2021:

Total eligible residents 16 and older: 1,029,737

• Number of residents 16 and older who have received first dose: 749,810
• Number of residents 16 and older who have completed vaccination: 696,908
• Vaccine coverage for residents 16 and older: 72.8 percent

Total eligible residents 12 and older: 1,091,389

• Number of residents 12 and older who have received first dose: 782,541
• Number of residents 12 years and older who have completed vaccination: 725,595
• Vaccine coverage for residents 12 and older: 71.7 percent

Total eligible senior residents 65 and older: 217,676

• Number of senior residents who have received first dose: 188,022
• Number of senior residents who have completed vaccination: 179,360
• Vaccine coverage for senior residents: 86.4 percent

Total doses distributed within Oakland County: 1,534,875

• Total doses administered within Oakland County: 1,452,738
• Percentage of doses administered within Oakland County: 94.6%

Total third doses administered in Region 2 North (Oakland, Macomb, and St. Clair counties): 12,224