Preparing to Return to School

Written by Susan Augusty on August 30, 2021. Posted in Children With Intensive Needs, Finding Help & Information, Healthy Living, Mental Health & Substance Abuse, Youth Development

A reminder and #repost from our partners @EveryMindInc

As summer winds down, we are prepping for a return to school and, for many, a return to in-person work at the office. Events in the news and the changing landscape of the pandemic have given us real reasons to feel an incredible range of mixed emotions. Excitement for our children to return to critical social settings. Anxiety for their safety. Relief for some normalcy. Yearning to provide our children with the tools they need to thrive.

EveryMind is here to support you and your children. Reach out to us for supportive listening and resources, including trainings to identify signs of mental health distress in your kids, yourself, and your loved ones.

Please share our hotline information with your children and teens. Many have anxieties about returning to school after nearly 18 months away, and we are here for them, too.

EveryMind Hotline Call or Text: 301.738.2255 Chat: Every-Mind.org/chat/

Covid -19 Vaccine information for Maryland

Written by Susan Augusty on January 25, 2021. Posted in Covid-19 Response, Emergency & Community Assistance, Finding Help & Information, Healthy Living

For a complete list of COVID-19 vaccination clinics, visit https://covidvax.maryland.gov/ MARYLAND IS IN PHASE 1C:

All licensed, registered and certified health care providers
Front line hospital staff
Nursing home residents and staff
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Assisted living, independent living, behavioral health and developmentally disabled group homes, and other congregate facilities
Law enforcement and firefighters, EMS
Education staff, including K-12 teachers, support staff and daycare providers
Correctional health care staff and officers
Public safety workers not covered in Phase 1A
Health care workers not covered in Phase 1A, including but not limited
to lab services, public health, vaccine manufacturing and other health care professions
Front line judiciary staff
Continuity of government
Food/agriculture production, critical manufacturing, U.S. Postal Service, public mass transit, grocery store employees
Veterinarians and support staff
Clergy and other essential support for houses of worship
Adults age 65 and older

If you are included in one of the groups listed above, you are currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

At this time, the federal government is giving the state approximately 10,000 doses/day for over 1.5 million people who are eligible. Supply is very limited.

Find a Vaccination Clinic Near You

If you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, enter your address, ZIP code or location here to find a vaccination clinic near you.

Montgomery County Food Access Center for Food Assistance Resources

Written by Susan Augusty on January 11, 2021. Posted in Covid-19 Response, Emergency & Community Assistance, Finding Help & Information, Healthy Living

The Montgomery County Food Access Center has a launched a dedicated webpage for food assistance requests

Residents looking for information on food assistance resources can now request help by completing a simple online form.

Available in seven languages (Amharic, Chinese, English, French, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese), the form is reviewed by a trained resource specialist, and residents receive a return phone call within one business day.

The specialist will determine a resident’s individual food needs and help them locate food assistance in their community. No Personally identifiable information is needed to get help.

Information is available about free food distribution sites, free meal and grocery delivery, SNAP (Food Stamps), local food assistance providers, and other resources in Montgomery County. Residents can also call 311 and ask for the Food Access Call Center to get help with their food needs.

The Food Access Call Center opened in June 2020 and has been working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to address the increasing need for food assistance across the County. As of mid-December, the Food Access Call Center has responded to more than 2,000 calls/referrals.

Covid -19 Vaccine information for Montgomery County

Written by Susan Augusty on January 11, 2021. Posted in Covid-19 Response, Emergency & Community Assistance, Finding Help & Information, Healthy Living

Current County Covid-19 Vaccination Data

Montgomery County’s has a new Vaccination Update page on its website that’s updated regularly. See it here. This is in addition to the county’s Covid-19 webpage, which is more comprehensive.

If you want to be kept right up to the minute, you can sign up to get COVID-19 vaccine updates by email or text here. Just provide your email or cell number, press ‘submit,’ and you’llon the list to get alerts automatically.

Important Update: MCPS to provide triple meal service on Fridays for All County Children and Students

Written by Susan Augusty on September 18, 2020. Posted in Covid-19 Response, Emergency & Community Assistance, Finding Help & Information, Healthy Living

Montgomery County Public Schools is providing curbside meal service at 74 school sites. Breakfast and lunch meals will be provided from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (double meals) and Friday (no meal service on Thursday). The district is increasing to a triple meal service on Fridays, beginning Sept. 18, to help address food insecurity for MCPS students over the weekend. The USDA has granted waivers which again permit meal distribution to all youth 18 and under. MCPS students over 18 will need to provide a student id to pick up meals. Student names will be required for meal pick up. All sites are outside, and we ask that you wear a facemask and practice physical/social distancing as you pick up meals. Menu information is available on the main Menu webpage. Allergens, nutrients and other information can be found on the Wellness & Nutrition webpage.

The district will also continue to partner with local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, county government agencies, and others to provide food and other critical resources to the community. Additionally, families are encouraged to visit Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Food Resource page for additional resources.

For sites and more information visit this MCPS webpage

Important Update: MCPS to Resume Free Meal Service for All County Children and Students

Written by Susan Augusty on September 8, 2020. Posted in Covid-19 Response, Emergency & Community Assistance, Finding Help & Information, Healthy Living

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the waivers that allow school systems to provide free meals to students during the summer months. MCPS will resume providing free breakfast and lunch to all county children and enrolled MCPS students. A student identification number will not be required, however, names will be taken for each child.

Meal service will continue at 74 sites. Beginning Tuesday, September 8, MCPS will reinstate the following mobile sites:

School Bus Service Sites:
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (double meals) and Friday at the following locations:

Pembridge/Amherst Apartments

Nob Hill Apartments

Woodmont Apartments

Forest Park Apartments

<.> MCPS will transition to a more traditional food service program this fall, starting on Monday, Aug. 31, the first day of the 2020-2021 school year. Breakfast and lunch meals will be provided to MCPS students at 74 meal sites. A student must be enrolled in an MCPS school to receive these meals. This curbside meal service will be provided from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (no meal service on Thursday). Students/families will need their student identification number in order to pick up a meal. Standard meal prices will be charged and students who receive Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) will continue to pay reduced rates. Payment will come from a student’s lunch account. Families can pick up meals at any of the 74 sites. MCPS is mailing this information home to all families, along with student ID numbers. The district will also continue to partner with local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, county government agencies and others to provide food and other critical resources to the community. Additionally, families are encouraged to visit Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Food Resource page for additional resources. Parents/guardians of enrolled MCPS students can click here to opt in for 2020 Fall Meal Curbside Service. Meals will be available at 74 sites around Montgomery County. For a list of meal sites, click here.

Meals Service Programs for MCPS Students

Written by Susan Augusty on September 3, 2020. Posted in Covid-19 Response, Emergency & Community Assistance, Finding Help & Information, Healthy Living

MCPS will transition to a more traditional food service program this fall, starting on Monday, Aug. 31, the first day of the 2020-2021 school year. Breakfast and lunch meals will be provided to MCPS students at 74 meal sites. A student must be enrolled in an MCPS school to receive these meals. This curbside meal service will be provided from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (no meal service on Thursday). Students/families will need their student identification number in order to pick up a meal. Standard meal prices will be charged and students who receive Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) will continue to pay reduced rates. Payment will come from a student’s lunch account. Families can pick up meals at any of the 74 sites. MCPS is mailing this information home to all families, along with student ID numbers. The district will also continue to partner with local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, county government agencies and others to provide food and other critical resources to the community. Additionally, families are encouraged to visit Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Food Resource page for additional resources. Parents/guardians of enrolled MCPS students can click here to opt in for 2020 Fall Meal Curbside Service. Meals will be available at 74 sites around Montgomery County. For a list of meal sites, click here.

Engaging Youth & Family Activities

Written by Susan Augusty on August 4, 2020. Posted in Covid-19 Response, Healthy Living, Youth Development

Montgomery County Recreation is offering outdoor programs and classes to promote active and healthy lifestyles this summer. Programs and activities are tailored to a variety of interests, skill levels and ages. Registration is now underway. Many programs are FREE!

To view available programs, visit our new Rec Outdoors webpage at mocorec.com > Activities & Programs > Rec Outdoors. Direct link: hhttps://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/activitiesandprograms/recoutdoors/index.html

Here are just a few examples of the programs you will see:

Ready, Set, Go, Ages Vary, Month of August, Two Locations: Bauer CRC and Upper County CRC, flyer.

Pop-ups (Rec w/o Walls), All Ages, Month of August, Six Locations: Damascus CRC, Mid-County CRC, Germantown CRC, East County CRC, Coffield CRC, North Potomac CRC, flyer.

Again, this is just a quick glance at some of our offerings, please visit mocorec.com to see our full line up!

Free Covid-19 Testing in Maryland

Written by Susan Augusty on May 20, 2020. Posted in Covid-19 Response, Emergency & Community Assistance, Finding Help & Information, Healthy Living

Governor Larry Hogan has expanded free coronavirus testing to those without symptoms starting Thursday, May 21, 2020.

The governor’s order allows people without symptoms but who may have been exposed to the virus to be tested without a doctor’s order at select state testing sites. It also calls on doctors to seek tests for such patients.

The appointment-free, drive-thru tests will be available at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd, Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093, starting Thursday, May 21, followed by sites at the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) – Glen Burnie, 721 E Ordnance Rd., Curtis Bay, MD 21226, and Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program VEIP Station, Hyattsville, 7401 Jefferson Ave, Hyattsville, MD, 20785 on Friday, May 22. The week of May 26 the state plans to begin testing at the Clinton VEIP station 7213 Old Alexandria Ferry Rd, Clinton, MD 20735.

Please see the Maryland Department of Health testing information on this website for more information.

Excel Beyond the Bell Goes Digital!

Written by Susan Augusty on May 12, 2020. Posted in Covid-19 Response, Early Care & Education, Finding Help & Information, Healthy Living, Youth Development

The Excel Beyond the Bell (EBB) Collaborative is now offering Online & Offline activities to keep the fun and learning going! The question has been asked, ‘what happens when out of school time is all the time?’
We are proud to announce that many of the organizations that partner to bring EBB to our Montgomery County school buildings, have partnered to help answer this question. The Collaboration Council is proud to coordinate this in support of youth and families as a part of our mission. How to Access Resources:
Our ultimate goal is to bring EBB fun wherever our youth are in the most accessible way! Please visit www.excelbeyondthebell.org on Mondays for weekly postings of resources including:

• Experiments • Projects • Creative ideas • Live activity links • SEL Resources

We hope that these activities will help keep our youth and their families moving, thinking, growing and having fun together. We also invite families to take a minute to visit www.infomontgomery.org to find even more information and resources during this time.
Supporting you as you “Stay Safe and Stay Home”
-The Excel Beyond the Bell Collaborative

View Available Resources H ere!