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Friends and Neighbors,
Governor Updates
Governor Kate Brown Announces COVID-19 Testing and Contact Tracing Plans for Reopening Oregon
On Friday, Governor Kate Brown introduced new plans for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, two foundational elements of her framework for reopening Oregon safely. Ensuring adequate testing capacity and contact tracing will allow Oregon’s health care system to effectively identify and treat new cases of COVID-19, trace contacts with new cases to identify those at risk for infection, and contain new outbreaks before community spread can occur.
Key elements of the testing plan include:
- Voluntary, widespread testing in partnership with OHSU
- Unified coordination between all hospital labs to optimize Oregon’s available testing capacity, acting as one statewide system which will allocate resources to meet the state’s testing needs in every region
- A focus on collecting data to serve at-risk communities
The plan also expands Oregon’s testing criteria, so that anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 can be tested within 48 to 72 hours. The plan sets the goal of being able to perform 30 tests per week for every 10,000 Oregonians.
Find more information on Oregon Health Authority's Reopening Oregon page
Executive Orders
On Friday, Governor Kate Brown announced Executive Order 20-24 extending the COVID-19 declaration of emergency (Executive Order 20-03) for an additional 60 days, through July 6, 2020. Read the full text here.
Federal Stimulus Checks
SSI and Veterans Affairs Benefit Recipients with Dependents: Register by May 5 if you receive SSI or VA benefits, have qualifying children under the age of 17 and didn’t file a tax return in 2018 or 2019. Use the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool to register to have $500 per child added to the $1,200 Economic Impact Payment you'll receive this year.
Haven't received your check yet? You can check on the status of it here. Paper checks were sent out beginning April 24 and will continue through the week of September 4th. The IRS will mail out about 5 million paper checks a week and in order according to adjusted gross income amount, with the lowest incomes receiving their checks first. Read more about when you can expect your check here.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
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Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. During May, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Each year they fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. |
You Are Not Alone
NAMI's "You are Not Alone" campaign features the lived experience of people affected by mental illness to fight stigma, inspire others and educate the broader public. Now more than ever before, it is important for the mental health community to come together and show the world that no one should ever feel alone. The campaign builds connection and increases awareness with the digital tools that make connection possible during a climate of physical distancing. Even in times of uncertainty, the NAMI community is always here, reminding everyone that you are not alone.
Throughout the month, they will feature personal stories from real people experiencing mental health conditions. You can submit your story at nami.org/yourstory. By reading about lived experience, they aim to make people feel less alone in their mental health journeys.
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Resources
Share how you stay connected by writing your personal story or sharing #NotAlone graphics and messages with your community.
Upcoming Webinar: Anxiety, worry and fear: Building resiliency in a time of COVID-19 With Nirmala Dhar, LCSW
May 6, 2020 at 1:00 PM
Stress, anxiety and depression are common reactions after a crisis or disaster. A pandemic such as the one we are experiencing evokes an extreme of uncertainty. COVID-19 outbreak means that life is changing for all of us. It can make you feel worried, fearful, anxious and lonely. There are many challenges that can cause fear and discomfort: financial concerns, loss of employment, loss of freedoms, isolation, managing children at home, fear of infection and death. These worries are real and okay to experience. There are simple things you can do help take care of your mental health and well-being. By understanding the neurobiology of anxiety and fear, we will look at our resiliency tool kit to downgrade and manage COVID-19 anxiety and fear.
Register here.
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4th-8th – National Teacher Day is May 5th
Teachers can leave a mark on our lives like no other. I have the most amazing memories of teachers that have personally inspired me to be a better person, that have guided me through a painful childhood and got me excited about learning. Mr. Glowacki was my 6th grade teacher at Gales Creek Elementary. His lessons brought history alive, as he connected with his students. I think I was in awe of him because he included his family in activities and he was one of the few positive male role models in my life. Mrs. Bailey at Neil Armstrong Junior High was an amazing choir teacher that encouraged me to love the stage and sing my heart out. Mr. Poff was a kind man who loved science. Mr. Johnson gave me my first part in a high school play, “The Mouse that Roared”. A good education is a game-changer. It opens doors for your future. My boys were so fortunate to have fantastic teachers at Tobias Elementary, Poynter Middle School and Liberty High School. I am a proud mom of two teachers, my son and his wife. I have to think that my son was inspired to be a Special Education Teacher partly because of the connection he had as a volunteer with the medically fragile class when he was a student at Tobias Elementary. I know that the COVID crisis has put an amazing amount of stress on our teachers. Distance Learning has not been smooth, nor has it been easy. The technology divide has been highlighted during this time. Not everyone has access to computers or the internet. Jeff Leo, Banks Superintendent, said that 15-20% of his students have zero access. Our teachers are doing what they can to reach their kids. I have been told…“I miss my students”. “I miss hearing their laughter when they hear a good joke”. “I miss seeing that look when the light bulb moment hits them and they just figured out a secret to a lesson.” Here is a personal thank you to teachers all across House District 30 and beyond for your hard work, determination and grit each and every day you connect with kids. Thank you for inspiring their young minds to learn, be engaged and explore the world around them. I know these are challenging times, but we will get through this together and so will your students, much to your credit for being a constant for them in a challenging world right now. Thank you for being there for your students and their families. ❤
Click on the picture below for some #unicornmagic with Barley the Hop thanking Educators!
#GivingTuesdayNow - Global Day of Unity
#GivingTuesday - as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. March's changes to tax laws, as a result of the CARES Act, now allow up to $300 in donations per individual to be deducted "above the line" on 2020 taxes. $600 per couple.
Please consider donating to the Hillsboro Schools Foundation. The organization is giving 100% of their donations right now to help get students connected to learning. Let's honor our teachers on this #NationalTeachersDay and donate to support their students in need. Donate here: https://hsfonline.org/
Donations are being matched by Sonic Drive-In on Donors Choose TODAY! Please consider donating to an AMAZING teacher project geared to engage their young learners. You can search for projects in your zip code and donate to a teacher helping their students stay engaged in learning today!
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Student Speak – this Thursday (register TODAY – space is limited)
Facilitated by my three high school interns, Olivia, Lily and Ryan, this is an opportunity for students to ask questions to Hillsboro SD Superintendent Mike Scott, school board members and legislators. Feel free to spread the word to students and share the flyer below. I am so proud of my high school interns and the work they are doing to organize and facilitate the conversation. Space is limited, reserve your spot TODAY. RSVP to attend here.
 Activities to do at Home
Try this Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt for some outdoor fun.
 Additional Resources
District Links
Federal Delegation Links
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
- Governor Brown’s Executive Order 20-11: places a temporary moratorium on residential evictions for nonpayment in light of the public health emergency caused by the spread of coronavirus in Oregon. The order is effective for 90 days.
- Governor Brown's Executive Order 20-13 strengthens Governor Brown's previous ban on residential evictions, and prohibits landlords from charging tenants late fees for nonpayment of rent during the moratorium.
- Community Action.org
- Oregon Food Bank
- Meals on Wheels
I know that the physical distancing has been hard. I know that not returning to our normal way of life is tough even for the toughest of us. Oregon’s COVID numbers have stayed low, much because of the “StayHomeSaveLives order by Governor Brown. We must be careful with our return plan. Too much, too soon can lead to a spike in cases and a loss of lives. We all want to beat this and together we can. Each of us plays a role in the recovery. Please wear a mask or facial covering when you are out and about. Think of it as saving one of your loved ones. I wear a mask for my 87 year old mom, who lives up the street from me.
 Be good to each other. Be good to yourself. We will get through this.
Onward and Upward,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-487, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
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