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On July 23, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter announced that Oakland County has achieved the state and national goal of 70 percent COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Those who are not vaccinated are encouraged talk to their doctors, nurses, friends, or family members who have received the vaccine, as nearly all new infections and deaths are in individuals who are unvaccinated.
This 70 percent milestone means Oakland County’s $50 gift card incentive has come to an end.
Any Oakland County resident who received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine between June 24 and July 23 is still eligible to apply for the gift card incentive at www.OaklandCountyVaccine.com, and all requests must be submitted by August 6, 2021.
The county is turning its attention to immunizing college students against COVID-19 for the fall semester, and it will announce details soon related to on-campus vaccination clinics for students returning later this summer.
The Health Division continues to hold daily COVID-19 vaccine clinics from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in Pontiac and in Southfield, as well as at other community events and destinations. For more information, go to www.OaklandCountyVaccine.com. Those who do not have access to the internet may call the Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. for more information related to vaccines.
The Oakland Together Lifeline Pilot Program is making a difference in the lives of some of Oakland County’s most vulnerable residents.
The program, which the Board of Commissioners launched in partnership with American House Senior Living Communities, the county’s information technology department and the Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA 1-B), has paired senior residents with Amazon Echo Show devices to help them see and speak with those who may not be able to visit. Since its start, more than 60 residents have received devices and training to use them for a variety of tasks.
Oakland County and American House used federal CARES Act funding to purchase 100 Amazon Echo Show devices in late 2020, and residents at two American House communities in both Rochester Hills and Troy volunteered to receive the device and training on how to use it. Because many senior communities limited or did not allow visitors during the pandemic, older adults have been uniquely vulnerable and more isolated from their friends and families than other populations. American House is considering extending the pilot program to additional facilities in Oakland County.
This June, the Oakland Together Lifeline Program received a 2021 National Association of Counties Achievement Award in the Information Technology category.
The Oakland County Board of Commissioners YouTube channel has moved.
The Board of Commissioners page, which streams standing committee and full Board meetings when they are live, can be found at https://bit.ly/YouTubeBOC.
Those who would like to receive YouTube notifications for Board updates can subscribe to the new Board page.
Nearly $4 million in rent, mortgage, and utility assistance is available for qualified Oakland County residents whose payments are overdue because of hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oakland County Neighborhood and Housing Development Division is currently accepting applications for this one-time grant at www.oakgov.com/RMU until all funds are gone.
The Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the Oakland County Executive have allocated $3.9 million in CARES Act money in this third round of rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to cover late gas, water, or electric bills or mortgage, rent, or association fees that are in arrears. To qualify, applicants must be a legal resident of Oakland County with a State of Michigan ID or license; have a household income less than 80 percent of the area median income, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); have an inability to pay due to a temporary job loss, reduced work hours, or other income hardship that have been caused by COVID-19; and have not received assistance from any other source for the same activity and period of time as requested through this program. In addition, the bills must be connected to the applicant’s primary residence, and the applicant’s landlord or mortgage company must agree to participate in the program.
Oakland County Neighborhood and Housing Development Division will review applications on a first come, first served, first qualified basis. Applications are also available in Spanish, Hindi, Arabic, and Simplified Chinese and can be requested by contacting Oakland County Neighborhood & Housing Development Division at 248-858-0730 or OCHousingRelief@oakgov.com. It can be completed online at www.oakgov.com/RMU. Applicants who do not have a computer or access to the Internet may pick up a hard copy of the application throughout the county, or an application can be requested by contacting Oakland County Neighborhood & Housing Development Division at 248-858-0730 or OCHousingRelief@oakgov.com.
For more information, visit www.oakgov.com/RMU or call 248-858-0730.
A new 24/7 mental health crisis support line is now available in Oakland County.
The Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL) is a 24/7 phone, text, and chat line for people in crisis or distress who don’t know where to turn. It is also a warmline, which connects individuals with certified peer support specialists and/or recovery coaches who have lived experiences of behavioral health issues, trauma or personal crises, and are trained to support and empower the callers.
Trained crisis specialists from Common Ground serve as mental health first responders, answering calls or texts to 844-44MICAL (844-446-4225) and chats via MiCAL's website. The pilot has launched in Oakland County and the Upper Peninsula, and a statewide, regional rollout is planned by fall of 2022.
Oakland County Health Division’s Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP) encourages residents to participate in Senior Market Days this summer.
On Senior Market Days, residents 60 years and older will receive a $5 coupon for produce, which are distributed on a first come, first served basis. For 2021, Senior Market Days will be hosted:
- September 1, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Oak Park Farmers Market (Oak Park High School Parking Lot, 13701 Oak Park Blvd., Oak Park)
- September 9, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Oakland County Farmers Market (2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford)
In addition to $5 coupons for produce, the events will include a variety of activities for families and seniors, including Tai-Chi, Oakland County Parks inflatables, raffles, and prizes. The market days have been made possible in part by Beaumont Health, Trinity Health, and Henry Ford Health System. The events will adhere to all Michigan Department of Health and Humans Services COVID-19 safety guidelines.
For more information, visit www.oakgov.com/health, @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter, or contact Jessica Williams at williamsjr@oakgov.com or (248) 563-7792.
The Oakland County Board of Commissioners website, Facebook page and commissioner newsletters are three great ways for residents to stay engaged with the Board.
By visiting www.oakgov.com/boc, constituents can watch Board and committee meetings and access the latest news, meeting calendars, information about each commissioner and more. Constituents can also sign up for their commissioner’s newsletter by clicking “Sign Up for my Newsletter” on the commissioner’s county website. They can find their commissioner by visiting www.oakgov.com/boc. In addition, those interested can “Like” @oakgov.boc on Facebook to see the Board’s latest press releases, learn about events going on around the county and more.
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