 Dear BCDSS Team:
The senior leadership team and I were shaken to learn of the passing earlier today of BCDSS employee Esther Salisbury-Williams. Our deepest condolences go out to her family. Our thoughts are also with her supervisor, Erin Knuth, Esther’s closest co-workers and all those who had the privilege of calling her a co-worker or friend.
Esther joined BCDSS in 2007. As a caseworker in our Child Welfare Family Preservation unit, Esther helped strengthen families that were struggling with issues related to poverty and substance use. She helped develop plans to keep children safe at home by linking the families to needed services and resources.
We will share any additional information we receive from the family when it becomes available. In the meantime, please join me in keeping Esther and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
Census 2020
Need something to do at home while social distancing? Responding to the Census is a great way for us to support the gathering of data pertinent to our recovery from the COVID-19 public health crisis. Self-response is quick, easy, and can be done online, by phone, or by mail. If you haven't done so already, self-respond to the Census by visiting my2020census.gov, calling 1-844-330-2020 (English) or 1-844-468-2020 (Spanish), or mail your census response to:
U.S. Census Bureau National Processing Center
1201 E. 10th Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47132
SNAP Emergency Allotment
To further support vulnerable Marylanders during COVID-19, USDA has approved DHS to issue SNAP emergency allotments to eligible SNAP households for the months of April and May 2020. The infographic below can be shared with customers to help them understand how the upcoming SNAP emergency allotment will be distributed.
Customers interested in applying for SNAP benefits can visit https://mydhrbenefits.dhr.state.md.us/ or call the DHS Customer Call Center at 1-800-332-6347.
Maryland Office of People's Counsel
Utility and Internet Reconnections
On March 16, Governor Hogan announced an Executive Order prohibiting the termination of public services including electric, gas, water, telephone, cable, and internet services. Many utility companies have made a voluntary commitment to work with currently off-service customers to reconnect their services.
Maryland's Office of People’s Counsel (OPC) is keeping track of any problems customers may experience with a reconnection request. If you encounter a customer experiencing problems with utility reconnections during the State of Emergency, please contact OPC by sending an email to DLInfo_OPC@maryland.gov with the name of the utility, a description of the reasons given for the denial, and contact information.
Customers experiencing utility connection issues can also follow the instructions below to receive assistance:
If electric, gas, private water or landline (wired phone) services are currently off due to non-payment:
1) Contact the provider to try and negotiate an immediate re-connection and payment plan for the past due bill on the account. Utilities will not reconnect if the termination was due to a hazardous situation or safety concern.
2) If the provider will not negotiate an immediate re connection, contact OPC at DLinfo_opc@maryland.gov.
If cable television, internet, wireless cell phone, or residential water/gas/electric (when the utility is in the landlord’s name) services are currently off due to non-payment:
1) Contact the provider to try and negotiate an immediate re-connection and a payment plan for the past due bill on the account.
2) If the provider will not negotiate an immediate re-connection, contact the Office of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division Hotline at 410-528-8662/888-743-0023. Customers can also make a complaint online to the Office of the Attorney General at http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/CPD/Complaint.aspx.
12 Smart Ways to Keep Kids Busy While School's Out
 If you don't have childcare, keeping kids occupied when school is out can be a challenge. This can be especially difficult for parents trying to balance working from home with engaging their youth in distance learning, or simply trying to keep them preoccupied if they aren't of school age. Are you in need of ideas on how to keep your children from being bored while at home? Click here to learn 12 creative ways to keep children busy while schools are out of session.
Baltimore Child Abuse Center's Butterfly Campaign
 Last week, the Baltimore City Child Abuse Center (BCAC) released a video inviting community members to participate in a Butterfly Campaign to show their support of BCAC and Child Abuse Prevention Month. Children who visit BCAC have the option of coloring wooden butterflies to serve as a symbol of hope and to remind them of how strong and brave they are. Once colored, they can either take their butterflies home to remind them of their resilience or have them displayed in BCAC's office.
You are invited to show your support of BCAC and Child Abuse Prevention Month by creating your own butterfly to hang in your home! Once created, please tag BCAC in a photo of your butterfly on Facebook or Twitter or email your creation to training@bcaci.org.
Click here to view BCAC's Facebook Live video offering more details about their Butterfly Campaign.
COVID-19 Updates from Baltimore City Leadership
For your information, I’ve attached the most recent update from Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young on city government’s response to COVID-19.
Warm regards,
Randi Walters, PhD
Director
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