Starting March 12, indoor masking at schools is no longer mandated. However, the state and the county are strongly recommending indoor masking for students, teachers, and staff, regardless of vaccination status, until transmission is lower.

Individual school districts in LA County can choose to continue to require masking at schools and during school activities, along with other appropriate safety protections. At campuses where masking becomes optional, Public Health encourages that information about the importance of masking be shared with all members of the school community, and that schools support all teachers, staff, and students who prefer to keep wearing a mask.

Public Health also urges parents to fully vaccinate their eligible children, as the vaccines offer the strongest protection against the virus. Public Health data shows that unvaccinated children ages 12-17 were two and a half times more likely to be infected and five times more likely to be hospitalized when compared to those who were fully vaccinated.

To make it easier for children to get vaccinated, Public Health is working to make vaccines widely available at many school sites. To find a vaccination site near you, click here or call 833-540-0473 between 8:00am and 8:30pm 7 days a week for assistance with appointments. 

DPH continues to use community prevention strategies that can reduce risk for all of our residents, including workers’ rights in California. Your employer must have a plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. They must provide all workers with training on the COVID-19 prevention plan and their rights under the state’s Cal/OSHA rules.

Guidance is included for:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Testing
• Handwashing
• Paid Leave

To learn more, click here.

LA County COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall

In case you missed the LA County COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall this week, you can view the recording here.

The panel discussed post-surge plans, vaccinations/boosters, school guidance changes, and medications.

Vaccine Resources & Materials for Community Partners

Visit this page to view the latest COVID-19 vaccine updates, materials, flyers, social media posts, and event planning resources for community partners. Please use these communication materials to inform and educate your community about COVID-19 vaccines. For additional information about COVID-19 vaccines for the public, please visit our resource page.

Free COVID-19 Test Kits Mailed to You

Starting now, residents of the U.S. can place second orders of rapid at-home COVID-19 test kits. These kits will contain four (4) tests, just like the previous order through the Federal Government's At-Home Test Distribution Program.

How to place a second order: 

1. Go to www.covidtests.gov (Spanish, Simplified Chinese)
2. Click the blue button that says "order free at home tests"
3. Fill out the information with your residential address
4. Click the green button that says "check out now" 

Free COVID-19 Test Kits Available for Pick Up

Need a COVID-19 Vaccination Presentation?

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offers an array of presentations, including the Novel Coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccines.

If you would like to schedule a presentation for your organization, click here.

Let's Talk About Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders: A Therapeutic Perspective

Please Join The SGV Maternal Mental Health workgroup for the 1^st of a 2 part series geared towards providers, clinicians, CBO’s, and more on Thursday, March 31 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Speaker:  Anna King, LCSW, PMH-C (She/Her)

Anna King, LCSW, PMH-C, (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker and certified perinatal mental health specialist who uses an integrative, trauma-informed approach in her work grounded in reproductive and transformative justice. Her work centers on the embodied liberation of marginalized groups in reproductive spaces and is inspired by intersectional feminist and womanist theory. Anna serves as Clinical Training Specialist at Maternal Mental Health NOW, where she curates training events and curricula and facilitates live and pre-recorded online training to educate providers on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs).

Click on the flyer image to enlarge. Click here to register.

Rental Assistance Applications Closing Soon Deadline March 31

The California Emergency Rent Relief Program is still taking applications for assistance to pay rent and/or utilities through March 31, 2022. Eligible tenants and landlords are urged to apply immediately. Applications will no longer be accepted after March 31, 2022 at 5pm.

Residents in need of assistance for unpaid rent and utilities owed from April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022, can visit here to apply. For additional information, including eligibility and application help, call the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Call Center at 833-430-2122. Income-eligible applicants may qualify regardless of immigration status and will not be required to show proof of citizenship. Residents who are facing eviction should immediately contact stayhousedla.org to get legal assistance, find tenant workshops, and learn more about their rights.

For more information about how Federal, State, and County laws can protect tenants and property owners, call the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs’ Housing and Tenant Protections team at (800) 853-8222 or click here.

Breathe LA County's Guaranteed Income Program

Breathe is a guaranteed income project that will provide 1,000 eligible residents with $1,000 per month for three years. Application process begins March 31 until April 13.

To be eligible for this project, you must meet all of these requirements:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Have a household income that falls at or below 100% of the County’s Area Median Income (see Eligibility Map), for a single person household, or have a household income that falls at or below 120% of the County’s AMI for households with two or more persons (see Income Eligibility Table)
• Have been negatively financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

You can apply online, by phone or in person. Find in-person enrollment centers here.

To learn more, visit here.