Friday Focus – The Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

Maryland Department of Human Services sent this bulletin at 08/28/2020 06:08 PM EDT

Emergency Paid Sick Leave, Expanded FMLA, Advanced Sick Leave

In response to the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, Congress passed legislation titled the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). FFCRA provides employees who are unable to report to work or telework with additional sick leave and expanded Family and Medical Leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

Expanded Family and Medical Leave

Expanded FMLA offers employees up to 12 weeks of protected leave when an employee is unable to work in order to care for the employee’s child if the child’s school or childcare provider or facility is closed or unavailable due to certain reasons associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency. The 12 weeks is offset by any leave previously used in the past 12 months under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Emergency Paid Sick Leave

Provides up to 80 hours (10 days) of Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) for employees who are impacted by COVID-19 because of a mandated quarantine or isolation, or if caring for an individual impacted by COVID-19. Employees will be paid either 100% of their salary, or 2/3 of their salary depending on the qualifying reason for absence associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Advanced Sick Leave

The Advanced Sick Leave Policy allows employees to use advanced sick leave as a result of a flu-like illness for the employee or that of an immediate family member if the employee has exhausted all earned sick, annual, and personal leave, compensatory time earned, and any other available paid time off and makes a request for advanced sick leave. An employee who has been granted leave under the Policy must agree to repay the advanced sick leave at a rate of 50% of earned sick leave, as it is earned upon the employee's return-to-work.

To speak with an HR representative and/or submit requests for any of these options, please contact Dorothy Kennedy, BCDSS' Office of Human Resources at dorothy.kennedy@maryland.gov.

For more details regarding FFCRA, please refer to the attached flyer. To read Frequently Asked Questions about FFCRA from DBM's website, click here.

August marks back to school time! Whether students will return for virtual learning at home or in-person instruction, all are required to be up to date on their immunizations for the new school year.

National Immunization Awareness Month exists to remind parents and adults about the importance of immunizations to protect their children from communicable diseases. Vaccines exist for over 20 preventable diseases including flu, measles, and polio. All school children/students must have an up-to-date copy of their immunization record to be enrolled into a licensed daycare or school.

Vaccination should not be delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you know of parents or families who lack medical insurance and are in need of getting their children immunized, please refer them to the Baltimore City Health Department's TIKE ("To Immunize Kids Everywhere") clinic program. The program now offers reduced immunization services during the COVID-19 pandemic by appointment only. For more information about school immunizations during COVID-19, including additional resources for immunization services, please visit Baltimore City Public School's website.

Kudos to the Assistant Deputy Director of Communications, Monica Byrd! The following expressions were sent on behalf of Monica and the Office of Communications by the Resources and Support Unit:

"We are so grateful for the amazing work of the Office of Communications. In addition to all your department has done to keep our staff and community informed and calm during this pandemic, you have gone above and beyond to support the programs. A special thank you to Monica Byrd for the exceptional job she did in assisting with a big project for Resources and Support."

Also being acknowledged in this week's Staff Spotlight is Ashley Aubas of CPS/Safety! Here is what Ms. Wesley Ingram, Team Administrator of CPS/Safety, had to say about Ashley's work ethic:

I want to send a special shout out to one of my staff, Ashley Aubas for continuously going above and beyond! Over the weekend, Ms. Aubas received a call from one of her customers who was trying to get a protective order but was not being treated fairly or appropriately due to having a language barrier. The customer kept being redirected and told to call 911. No one would take the time to listen or help. Ms. Aubas, on a Saturday, stopped what she was doing to go to the court and assist the customer. Ms. Aubas took the time to contact the interpreter services so that her customer could receive the proper assistance needed to ensure the safety of the family. This shows true empathy and dedication to the work that we do!

Many thanks to the Resources and Support Unit and Ms. Ingram for their submissions! To nominate a staff person you admire for a future Staff Spotlight, please send an email to bcdss.communications@maryland.gov.

CCBC Grads2Careers Program

The CCBC Grads2Careers (G2C) program helps recent high school graduates connect with free job training and find employment in their careers of interest. G2C offers several different tracks in the biotechnology, construction, healthcare, medical front office, hospitality, information technology, distribution and logistics, and land surveying fields.

Baltimore City youth between 18-21 years of age who are recent graduates are invited to attend a G2C information session to learn more about the program and start the career path of their choice.

Water, Electric, Gas Bill Free Legal Clinic

The Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center is offering free legal advice to individuals and families in need of assistance due to overdue utility bills. Their goal is to ensure that all Marylanders have equal access to the legal system regardless of their socio-economic status. Please share the flyer below with families in need of assistance.

August 31-Day Step Challenge

Congratulations to Sherdina Wood for being the highest earning stepper for the August Step Challange three weeks straight! Sherdina obtained 84,148 steps and the group obtained 101,308 steps collectively. Keep up the great work!

Would you like to join the 31-Day Step Challenge? It's not too late to register! Click here to begin your path to wellness.

"Service is the rent that you pay for room on this earth."

Shirley Chislom, American Politician

Warm regards,

Randi Walters, PhD
Director

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Baltimore City Department of Social Services 1910 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21213