July 23, 2020
Today, OHA announced the launch of a new program to fund work by Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to help respond to COVID-19 in culturally and linguistically responsive ways in communities across the state.
OHA will provide 173 CBOs with $9.4 million in CARES Act funds. The CBOs are contracted to help with three specific areas, though not all organizations were contracted to carry out work in all areas.
- Outreach and community engagement;
- Contact tracing together with local public health authorities; and
- Providing people with social services/wraparound supports.
The organizations are in every county in the state, with deep ties to the communities they serve. Grants range from $9,500 to $352,200 for the first three months of funding (July 1-September 30, 2020) and depend on the type and scope of work the organization has agreed to carry out. Additional CBOs may be funded as applications come in to OHA.
OHA recognizes the impact longstanding health inequities, rooted in systemic racism and oppression, are having on COVID-19 infections in Oregon. CBOs are key to preventing and mitigating COVID-19 in communities that are most impacted. With COVID-19 disproportionately affecting communities of color, including high infection rates among Latinx, Black and Pacific Islanders, among others, the need for this program was substantial.
“Today, we’re taking a step forward in addressing the inequities COVID-19 has laid bare,” said Patrick Allen, OHA director. “These CBOs are trusted messengers in their communities who have been trying to provide support with existing resources. This partnership with OHA and local public health authorities will give CBOs the resources they need to increase their outreach and add much-needed capacity for an equitable statewide response.”
A full list of the CBOs and additional information about the program is available at healthoregon.org/communityengagement.
The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) benefit is expected to end on July 25. FPUC is an extra $600 per week you would get if you are getting unemployment benefits for that week. It was created as part of the federal CARES Act.
Learn more about FPUC and other unemployment benefits at unemployment.oregon.gov.
The Oregon Employment Department addressed the expiration of the benefit in its “Question of the day”:
Governor Kate Brown today announced the release of draft guidance for early learning and child care programs across the state following this week’s meeting of the Healthy Early Learners Council. The guidance, which was developed by the Oregon Health Authority and the Early Learning Division with significant input from parents and child care providers, was reviewed by the Council on Tuesday and is now open for public comment through Sunday, July 26. Once finalized, the guidance will apply statewide to early care and education programs serving children from birth through age 12 in child care, preschool/pre-kindergarten, and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education programs.
People who wish to provide comments on the draft guidance may do so by following the links below. All feedback must be received by the end of day Sunday, July 26. The finalized guidance is expected to be released by August 14. A copy of the draft guidance is available in English and Spanish here. Feedback on the draft guidance may be submitted in English here or in Spanish here.
COVID-19 has claimed two more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 273, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.
Oregon Health Authority reported 331 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 15,713.
The new cases are in the following counties: Clackamas (18), Columbia (3), Coos (3), Crook (1), Deschutes (18), Douglas (13), Hood River (1), Jackson (8), Jefferson (3), Josephine (3), Klamath (13), Lake (1), Lane (12), Lincoln (5), Linn (3), Malheur (10), Marion (39), Morrow (4), Multnomah (77), Polk (13), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (39), Wasco (6), Washington (33), and Yamhill (4).
Oregon’s 272nd COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old man in Umatilla County who tested positive on June 29 and died on July 16 at Good Shepherd Health Care System. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 273rd COVID-19 death is a 79-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on July 8 and died on July 21 at Salem Hospital. She had underlying conditions.
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