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Friends and Neighbors,
COVID-19 Updates
From the Oregon Health Authority
Sometimes it can be a little hard to tell if you're coming down with the flu, COVID-19, or the common cold. Compare signs of allergies, a cold, flu, and COVID-19 using this chart: https://bit.ly/373fygJ
 Getting a flu shot is one simple thing people can do to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy this fall and winter. It’s more important than ever as we continue to fight COVID-19.
While getting a flu shot won’t protect you from COVID-19, it’s a safe and effective way to prevent the flu. Plus it helps essential workers stay healthy and it preserves medical resources for patients with COVID-19.
Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot, especially people with chronic health conditions, older adults, pregnant women, health care workers and children.
The flu vaccine may take up to two weeks to become effective, so getting it earlier in the season is ideal.
Follow this link to find a vaccine location near you.
 Planning Ahead for a COVID-19 Vaccine
From the Oregon Health Authority
Latest Modeling Projections
From the Oregon Health Authority
Friday, we released our latest update to the modeling projections, which show that COVID-19 has continued to spread in Oregon over the past several weeks and has the potential to continue to keep increasing in its spread: http://ow.ly/RdV050BUO33
The model examined three scenarios:
The first scenario is where transmission continues at its current level for the next several weeks, new infections and cases will increase substantially. The model suggests new infections would increase to 2,200 from 1,300 and daily reported cases will increase to 570. Hospitalizations from COVID-19 would increase to 40 a day. The reproductive rate would remain at 1.15
The next scenario assumes a 5-percentage point increase in transmission. Daily infections would increase to 3,400 and 740 daily reported cases. Hospitalizations would increase to 48 per day. The reproductive rate would be 1.30.
The most optimistic scenario assumes a drop in transmission by 10 percentage points. That would result in 1,400 daily infections amounting to about 290 daily reported cases. Hospitalizations would drop to 20 per day. The reproduction rate would drop to 0.88.
This new modeling suggests we still have a long way to go in stopping the spread. As our case counts rise, we continue to urge Oregonians to take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This means that Halloween and other times of gathering must look different this year.
 Small Business Grant Opportunity
Small Businesses in Hillsboro Can Apply for Grants This Week Through Micro Enterprise Services Organization
From the City of Hillsboro
Apply for up to $25,000 in emergency grant funding.
Small businesses and nonprofits in the City of Hillsboro can apply to receive between $2,500 and $25,000 in emergency grant funding this week. Grant awards will be sent out as early as the week of November 9.
Applications will be accepted from Tuesday, October 20, at 8 am through Monday, October 26, at 5 pm on the Micro Enterprise Service Organization (MESO) website.
The emergency support is funded by the Federal CARES Act through Business Oregon, the State of Oregon’s Economic Development Agency, to help offset some of the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visit here for more information.
DMV Updates
The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles continues to make adjustments and set targets to improve services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are highlights of recent progress in several areas.
From the Oregon Department of Transportation
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Field Offices: Appointments are outperforming 2019 volumes, indicating that we have begun addressing the backlog of driver-related transactions
- Appointments topped 24,000 last week, above the 2019 weekly average of ~14,000
- Selected field offices have begun a pilot project to test walk-in services
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Knowledge and Drive Tests: Continue to improve with the installation of additional knowledge test machines and additional drive test examiners
- DMV plans to resume drive tests at select field offices by Oct. 31st
- DMV is executing an emergency rulemaking to increase the cap on the number of drive tests a 3rd party examiner can conduct in one day, from 16 to 20
- 37 additional knowledge test machines, originally planned for installation by March of 2021, are now planned for installation by the end of 2020
- Physical barriers have been installed between knowledge test machines in field offices, allowing for greater use
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Vehicle titles and Call Centers: Continue to struggle due to sustained high levels of phone calls, and limited bandwidth for processing title transactions. Additional personnel is being hired for both service areas this month, and through the end of the year.
- The first team of phone agents have been hired, and began answering calls this week
Community Outreach
New Artist Relief Program to Provide $1.25 Million in Relief to Oregon Artists
From the Oregon Arts Commission
NEW: Artist Relief Program application now live!
Oregon artists may now apply to a new Artist Relief Program created by the Oregon Arts Commission in partnership with Oregon Community Foundation and the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation. Awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 will be distributed until the program fund, totaling just over $1.25 million, is depleted.
“Without our artists, there would be no art in Oregon,” said Brian Rogers, executive director of the Oregon Arts Commission. “We feel strongly that, in addition to the significant relief we were able to provide to arts and cultural organizations through federal CARES Act funds allocated to the National Endowment for the Arts and the Oregon Cultural Trust, we need to offer relief funding to struggling Oregon artists as well.
“We are extremely grateful to The Oregon Community Foundation and the Miller Foundation for joining us in that effort.”
The program supports professional artists from specific disciplines who have experienced or anticipate experiencing loss of revenue of $1,000 or more between March 1 and Dec. 31, 2020.
Read the full release, with links to the guidelines and application: https://bit.ly/31kuQtE
Artists from underserved communities, including (but not limited to) rural communities and communities of color, as well as artists with disabilities, are especially encouraged to apply.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Washington County Family Caregiver's Conference
From Washington County Health and Human Services Dept.
Just like every other conference this fall, Washington County’s Family Caregiver Conference will take place virtually for health and safety reasons. Instead of a one-day conference like the past 16 years, the Heart, Humor and Hope Family Caregiver Virtual Learning Series will be offered in separate workshops over several weeks in November, which is National Family Caregivers Month.
“Of course, we are disappointed we can’t hold our traditional in-person conference this year,” said Shannon Baggerman, program coordinator with the Washington County Disability, Aging and Veteran Services Family Caregiving Program. “However, we hope this year’s format might allow caregivers who normally wouldn’t be able to spare an entire day to benefit from attending some of the workshops.”
The workshops are intended for unpaid family and friend caregivers. The sessions will take place over Zoom. The topics, languages, dates and times are:
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The Dementia Dance: Taking care of you and your care partner during COVID-19
Tuesday, November 3, 12:30-2 p.m. (English)
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Family Caregivers’ Challenges and Coping Strategies: Keeping silent can hurt the relationship and delay recovery
Thursday, November 5, 10-11:30 a.m. (Vietnamese), 1-2:30 p.m. (Cantonese), 3-4:30 p.m. (Korean)
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Tips for Tough Conversations: Family communication, needing help at home, driving concerns
Tuesday, November 10, 2-3:30 p.m. (English)
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Developing Emotional Intelligence: The path to effective communication
Thursday, November 12, 10-11:30 a.m. (Spanish)
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Honoring Your Loved One
Tuesday, November 17, 2-3:30 p.m. (English)
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What’s So Funny: The importance of humor in caregiving
Thursday, November 19, 10-11:30 a.m. (English)
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Creative Engagement at Home
Tuesday, November 24, 2-3:30 p.m. (English)
All workshops are free. Registration is required. Visit www.co.washington.or.us/HHS/DAVS to register or call 503-846-3090 for more information.
Additional Resources
House District 30 Links
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
Be good to yourself and each other. ❤
Onward & 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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