Biweekly Third District Update

County of Riverside California - External sent this bulletin at 01/19/2022 04:33 PM PST

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From the Desk of

Chuck Washington

Dear Third District Resident,

As we settle down from the excitement of the holidays, I want to remind everyone to continue being cautious. We are nearing the predicament we were in during the first surge roughly one year ago. Covid cases continue to rise, and we need to be careful to protect one another. I will continue to implore Riverside County residents to protect themselves and each other by staying home when possible, practicing social distancing and wearing face coverings. Hospitals and healthcare workers are straining under the burden of rising COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. An action as small as washing your hands frequently or canceling a social gathering can save lives. Out of kindness and consideration for our healthcare workers, first responders, essential workers, older adults and medically vulnerable individuals, please be safe.

Sincere regards,

Chuck Washington

Donate Blood and Help Save Lives

We are currently experiencing the worst blood shortage in over a decade, according to the American Red Cross. The dangerously low blood supply levels have forced some hospitals to defer patients from major surgery, including organ transplants.

Giving blood is a simple thing to do, but it makes a huge difference in the lives of so many. Your donation is desperately needed.

On Feb. 1, 2022 and March 9, 2022, Red Cross will be holding blood drives at the Temecula City Hall. Participants must make an appointment before donating and may do so by visiting TemeculaCA.gov/BloodDrive.

You may find other donation sites near you by visiting: redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive.

California Mortgage Relief Program

Are you or someone you know falling behind on your housing payments? Help is here for qualifying California homeowners.

The California Mortgage Relief Program is open to all eligible Californians who are currently experiencing pandemic-related hardships and have fallen behind on their housing payments. The program uses federal homeowner assistance funds to help homeowners get caught up on their housing payments. The program is free, and the funds do not need to be repaid.

For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit: https://camortgagerelief.org/.

Supervisor Seeks Applicants for Vacancies on Third District Boards, Committees and Commissions

Are you a dedicated individual interested in serving your community? Riverside County has numerous boards, committees and commissions comprised of appointed members of the public. These appointees serve in an advisory capacity and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.

Applications are currently being accepted for low-income sector representatives on the Community Action Commission (CAC). Low-income commissioners are low-income individuals or representatives of the low-income community. Commissioners assure participation of low-income individuals in the development, planning, implementation and evaluation of Community Action Partnership (CAP) programs to alleviate poverty and promote self-sufficiency. For more information and to apply, click here.

Supervisor Washington is invariably seeking residents to represent the Third District who are willing to work hard to better their community. To view a complete list of vacant positions, visit: https://bit.ly/3ulcchU.

Trauma Intervention Program Volunteers Needed

Modern-day good Samaritans needed! Trauma Intervention Program, Inc. (TIP) is recruiting caring volunteers willing to be trained as crisis responders to provide support to victims of traumatic events. No experience is necessary.

TIP volunteers will be called to emergency scenes by emergency response personnel to:

Comfort families after the death or sudden illness of a loved one
Support family members after the suicide of a loved one

Help emotionally traumatized victims of accidents
Provide emotional and practical support to those who have been robbed, burglarized, or assaulted
Help disoriented older persons
Help those emotionally shaken by any crisis event

To view the upcoming volunteer training schedule and to register, visit: https://bit.ly/3nneFGZ.

Scams Target Senior Population, Part 10

Taken from “CARE: When Trust is a Weapon,” by the County of Riverside Department of Public Social Services

As the population of older adults in Riverside County increases, we see more and more scammers trying to trick the elderly community. This article is part ten of a series on fraud that targets older adults. This week’s article focuses on Money Mule Scams.

A money mule is a person who receives money, that has been acquired illegally, and sends or transfers the money on behalf of another person. Money mules often are unaware they have been targeted and that they may be participating in money laundering.

A person typically becomes involved as a money mule through romance, lottery or work-from-home scams. The victims of these scams have been tricked into sending money until they are unable to send anymore. The scammer then offers the opportunity to “earn” back the money by receiving cash in the mail or allowing the use of his/her bank account. The victim is then allowed to keep a small portion of the money and is required to send the remainder to another potential money mule, which eventually gets to the scammer.

If you believe you are being targeted by a money mule scammer, report it to your local law enforcement immediately.

EXTENSION: Nominations for First 5 Champion for Children

The First 5 Riverside County Champion for Children Award nomination period has been extended to Feb. 18, 2022.

The award was created to honor and bring awareness to people and organizations whose leadership and advocacy embody the vision of First 5 Riverside. The next Champion for Children will be awarded up to $1,000 to support a community event.

For more information about the award, visit https://bit.ly/3E1Q3Jy and to access the fillable nomination form, visit https://bit.ly/3yBzgM1.

Updated COVID-19 Protocols

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has extended the statewide indoor masking requirement one month, through Feb. 15, 2022.

Masks must be worn in all indoor public settings regardless of vaccination status. Exemptions to this order are provided by the CDPH and can be accessed here. The State will continue to monitor the situation and will reassess after Feb. 15, 2022.

To view the full COVID-19 update for face coverings, visit: https://bit.ly/3tl6NJW.

Riverside County COVID-19 Update

As of Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, Riverside County’s COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 residents is 257.3, and our positivity rate is 35.4 percent.

Help keep our community and your family safe by getting your COVID-19 vaccine. The County of Riverside is vaccinating residents ages five and up. Vaccination clinics provide first and second doses, additional doses for those with immunosuppressed health and Pfizer booster doses for all individuals 12 and older who completed a Moderna or Pfizer primary series at least five months ago, or a Johnson & Johnson primary series at least two months ago. At this time, only the Pfizer booster dose is authorized and recommended for adolescents ages 12-17. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster doses are available to those 18 and older who have also completed their primary COVID-19 vaccination.

To make an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, call 2-1-1 or visit www.ruhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine. You can also schedule an appointment at a Community Health Center by calling 800-945-6171. If you are unable to leave your home for medical reasons, you can be vaccinated from the comfort of your home by calling 833-422-4255 or visiting myturn.ca.gov.

If you recently tested positive for COVID-19 and are experiencing symptoms, you may be eligible for monoclonal antibody treatment. For more information, please call the RUHS Medical Center at 951-486-6520.

Daily updates on the county’s COVID-19 cases are posted at www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus and on Facebook at @countyriversidedepartmentofpublichealth and Twitter at @RivCoDoc. For state updates, visit www.cdph.ca.gov, and for national updates, visit www.cdc.gov.

As of Jan. 19, 2022, 7.2 percent of Riverside County residents are partially vaccinated (167,657 residents), 59.3 percent are fully vaccinated (1,382,201 residents), and 24.9 percent (523,716 residents) have received their additional dose/booster vaccine. To see a larger image with additional statistics, click on the picture above.

Contact Us

As always, the Riverside County Third District Supervisor’s Office is pleased to offer in-person services Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at our French Valley Office at the French Valley Airport (37600 Sky Canyon Drive, Murrieta) or by appointment at our Valle Vista Office inside the Valle Vista Sheriff’s Station (43950 Acacia Avenue, Hemet). Please contact our office before your visit by calling 951-955-1030 or emailing d3email@rivco.org. For regular Third District updates, visit our Facebook (@supervisorchuckwashington), Instagram (@supervisorchuckwashington), Twitter (@SupWashington) and website (SupervisorChuckWashington.com).

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To send a message to Supervisor Washington, please use this email address: d3email@rivco.org

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