During these challenging times, many members of our BCDSS team have gone above and beyond their roles to advance the well-being of our staff and the communities we serve, and of this we couldn't be more proud. Below are two examples of how our staff have gone the extra mile to assist their fellow colleagues and vulnerable residents in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DAO General Services

Over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, Baltimore City IT pulled together as many staff who were available to unload and store 500 monitors at 1510 Guilford.  DAO arranged for a truck and two men (Maurice and Antwain) to make numerous trips between the warehouse and 1510 Guilford all day long on Tuesday and for another hour or so on Wednesday.  

On both days, Maurice and Antwain went above and beyond to try to make it as easy as possible for BC-IT to make their delivery, and it wasn't lost on any one of BC-IT's team members. BC-IT remarked about how helpful Maurice and Antwain were - even jumping down off the truck to try and wrangle carts through the narrow single doorway of the building. 

Maurice and Antwain did not have to do any of this, but they did it anyway. These are times when we all have to work harder and under more difficult circumstances, and Maurice and Antwain clearly demonstrated the dedicated, loyal employees they are by going above and beyond what was requested of them.  

BC-IT are incredibly grateful for their hard work and assistance and feel fortunate to have them as part of their extended support team!

Adult Services

Baltimore City Adult Services would like to acknowledge the work of Dorothy Mack, Shawniece Smith, Saturnia Bushrod, and Tawanda Wilkens for their commitment to their clients in the In-Home Aide Services Program (IHAS). Ms. Mack is a Registered Nurse who has served for over 15 years. In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, these ladies currently serve on the front lines by conducting nursing assessments and providing personal care services to vulnerable adults of Baltimore City. 

Special acknowledgement also goes to Shawniece Smith for using her personal vehicle to pick up her co-worker, Ms. Bushrod, to ensure she doesn't have to use public transportation during this pandemic. Ms. Mack, Ms. Smith, Ms. Bushrod and Ms. Wilkens all work well as a team to maximize their work days and to ensure that they are able to service all of their identified clients. Thank you again to this group of dedicated workers and to the entire staff in IHAS, your efforts have not gone unnoticed!

Submitted by Ann Macedo and Sean Bloodsworth. Thanks Ann and Sean!

We are extremely grateful for the compassion and kindness shown by our entire workforce as we work together to overcome the COVID-19 health emergency. To recognize a fellow colleague for going above and beyond during this time, please send an email to bcdss.communications@maryland.gov.

Food Access for Older Adults

Below is an infographic created by the Baltimore City Health Department to help older residents who are unable to travel to access food. Please feel free to share this information with older adults in need and their caregivers.

Face Masks

On April 15th, Governor Hogan announced an Executive Order ordering that face masks be worn while inside any retail establishment, including grocery stores, pharmacies or convenience stores, or while riding on any public transit. Below is an infographic from Maryland's COVID-19 website with recommendations on how to obtain and safely wear face masks at this time. 

Do you need help creating or obtaining a face mask? Please click here to view CDC recommendations on how to make a face mask cloth covering. 

IT Corner

Requesting VPN Access

Over the past few weeks we have had to make some changes to our daily routine. Adjusting to our new normal will definitely take some getting use to. Please note that we are taking steps to streamline the VPN/DUO process, which is an integral part of you being able to do your job remotely. 

Moving forward, please direct all requests for VPN/DUO access to your Security Monitor. This will be the same person you would go to for CHESSIE, CARES, or Active Directory Password access. Your Security Monitor will then submit your requests to be processed. Requests that do not come from a Security Monitor will not be processed. Please click here for a list of Security Monitors.  

How to See Your Doctor Without Stepping Outside

Keeping up with routine doctor visits is an important step to staying healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. But doctor visits don't always have to be done in-person, especially now when hospital and medical clinic visits should be reserved only for emergency situations.

Virtual care visits or "telehealth" is now offered by medical care professionals as a convenient and cost-efficient way to receive medical care. Through this service, patients are connected to their providers through secure video or phone calls using the patient’s mobile phone or computer.

But how do virtual care visits work? When should they be used? And how much do they cost? Click here to read an article that explains the when, why and how of visiting a doctor by means of telehealth.

#WearBlue - Child Abuse Prevention Month

Kudos to our staff still wearing blue in support of Child Abuse Prevention Month! Everyone plays a vital role in promoting the social and emotional well-being of children and families in our communities. We appreciate you!

From top to bottom: Angela Taylor, Ready By 21; James Becker, Legal Services; Angela Jackson, Olubunmi Eniola, Amesha Smith, Ready By 21

Youth Open Mic Poetry Night

Saturday, April 18th

6-8 PM

Youth are invited to participate in an open mic night hosted by Lady Brion on Instragram Live - @ladybspeaks

#WeAreinThisTogether #HopkinsConnects

• Eligible to any students, age 19 or under.
• Poem must be original: completely thought up and produced by the youth entering.
• Poem can be on any topic. No explicit language.
• Family-appropriate content. 

Youth can sign-up before the event at openmic@jhu.edu or sign-up during the event.

Presented in partnership with Baltimore City Health Department, Mayor’s Office of Children and Families, and Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System.

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