2/3/2021 House District 30 Newsletter

Friends and Neighbors,

Rep. Sollman

Friends and Neighbors,

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

From the Oregon Health Authority

Next week: Oregonians age 80 and above eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

Older adults age 65 and above will become eligible to get a vaccine over the following 3 weeks. Here’s information for you to help reduce confusion and frustration as we work together to support Oregon seniors at a time when vaccines remain in critically short supply in the United States and here in Oregon.

Older adults will have different ways to get vaccine information

Vaccines are scarce. In coming weeks, we know there will be more seniors who want to get vaccinated than there will be vaccines available to them. While we can’t give every older adult an appointment as soon as they want one, we can give them different ways to get linked to vaccine information and events. Here are some of the options that will be available to all seniors on February 8:

  • oregon.gov web tool: This tool will allow people to determine if they are eligible for a vaccine and register to get email alerts or text notifications about vaccine events in their area. The Get Vaccinated Oregon tool will be open to all Oregonians and information will be available in 11 languages.
    • The oregon.gov URL is not yet live! We will notify you when the URL goes live in coming days.
  • 211: Older Oregonians can also text ORCOVID to 898211 to get text/SMS updates (English and Spanish only) or email ORCOVID@211info.org. If they can’t get their COVID-19 vaccine question answered on the website, by text, or by email, they can call 211 or 1-866-698-6155, which is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, including holidays. Please be aware that wait times may be long due to high call volumes. There is an option to get a call back rather than wait on hold (in English and Spanish). Free interpretation is available for all other languages. TTY: Dial 711 or call 1-866-698-6155.
  • vaccine.oregon.gov: OHA’s vaccination website features facts about COVID-19 vaccines and hosts links to county websites and a statewide calendar of public vaccination clinics.
  • Nursing home, independent living centers and other facilities: Pharmacy partners are vaccinating residents and staff at senior residences and care facilities. Residents (or family members) can ask their facility operator when their residence is scheduled for a vaccination clinic.

Every senior will be able get a vaccine, but most seniors will not be able to get immunized for many weeks

There are more than 750,000 people aged 65 or older. While Oregon has already vaccinated more than 100,000 people aged 60 and older, state health officials estimate it take until mid-April to vaccinate more than 7 in 10 Oregon seniors.

All seniors will be eligible to get vaccinated by the end of February

Here are dates for when Oregonians age 65 and older can start getting vaccinated:

Vaccine Graphic

You can help make the vaccination process better for Oregon seniors

Since the start of the pandemic, Oregon has prioritized protecting seniors. While every COVID-19 fatality is tragic, Oregon has the second lowest COVID-19 infection rate among seniors, and the third-lowest death rate among seniors, in the nation.

Your partnership has helped save lives. We are committed to sharing information with you as we continue to roll-out Oregon’s vaccination program. We hope you will keep seniors, family members and caregivers stay informed, stay patient and keep safe as we work together to vaccinate every older Oregonian.

The Federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program  

Oregon is participating in a Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program with CVS, Walgreens and Consonus pharmacy for vaccination of long-term care residents and staff. These pharmacy partners are providing on-site vaccination clinics in partnership with long-term care and congregate care settings throughout Oregon. The vaccines are being delivered directly to the pharmacies, which are connecting with each facility to set up on-site vaccination clinics.

The deadline for eligible facilities to enroll in the program was November 6, 2020. In early December, Oregon met CDC deadlines to submit additional information on more than 2,000 providers, primarily adult group homes to enroll. CDC locked all data on December 10, 2020 and federal pharmacy partners began to reach out to enrolled facilities in Oregon.

The CDC enrolled a total of 1,469 facilities and smaller care settings in Oregon serving a variety of populations who rely on long-term care including older adults; adults with physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities; and individuals receiving behavioral health services. Most of these settings have oversight by Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS).

The CDC structured the program to roll out in two parts:

  • Part A: All nursing facilities, launched Dec. 21
  • Part B: All other registered LTC facilities, launched Jan. 18

To date, the federal pharmacy partners in Oregon are operating two weeks ahead of the CDC’s implementation timeline and 57% of all facilities enrolled in the program have completed a first clinic. Walgreens, CVS and Consonus will complete first clinics for all enrolled federal pharmacy partnership sites by February 15. 

For additional detail  on the partnership’s progress in Oregon see the CDC dashboard: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations-ltc

Oregon Programs Not Enrolled in the Federal Program

A significant portion of facilities were not enrolled in the federal program. We cannot speak for the CDC as to why these sites were not enrolled.

The state maintains a list of licensed facilities that were not enrolled in the federal program; OHA has shared the list with Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs) and Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) to develop alternate vaccination plans.

The state’s goal is to ensure all Oregonians have access to the COVID-19 vaccine whether or not their facility or home successfully enrolled in the federal pharmacy partnership program. We’ve provided more information to address your questions about smaller settings, such as adult foster homes, below.

We are working together to connect eligible Oregonians in long-term care settings  ̶  including adult foster homes and other small group settings  ̶  that are NOT included in the CDC pharmacy partnership program to vaccination clinics.

ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD):

The federal pharmacy partnership is the primary vaccine delivery pathway for Oregon’s 688 nursing, assisted living and residential care facilities. As of Friday, Jan. 29, OHA and ODHS had identified 18 assisted living facilities and residential care facilities that needed vaccination clinics and we are connecting them to LPHAs and state vaccination options.

There are 172 adult foster homes licensed by APD that are enrolled in the federal pharmacy partnership program; Oregon has a total of 1,406 adult foster homes licensed by APD.

APD and its Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) are assisting unenrolled adult foster homes to connect to clinic opportunities in the following ways:  

  • Provided the list of facilities not enrolled to Oregon’s LPHAs and CCOs and asked them to connect and support vaccination services for AFHs in their area.
  • Continue to work with each LPHA and CCO to assess where additional support is needed from the state.

In partnership with OHA, APD is also coordinating connections between adult foster homes and mobile vaccine clinics operated through state pharmacy partnerships. This effort prioritizes adult foster homes serving residents who require a high level of care and would unlikely be able to access a community clinic opportunity.

To monitor the effectiveness of this support, APD/AAA district office staff will track whether adult foster homes in their communities connected to a clinic ODHS expects to have additional information on this effort mid-February.

ODHS Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS):

ODDS sent the names and information for all I/DD adult group homes and I/DD foster homes to the CDC to be enrolled in the federal program. To date, 347 I/DD adult group homes were accepted into the program and 1,719 licensed Group Homes and Adult Foster Homes for Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled (I/DD) individuals were not enrolled in the program. 

To ensure all individuals with I/DD in group homes and foster homes, along with their support staff, are vaccinated, ODDS and OHA have taken multiple steps for those not accepted into the federal program:

  • Case management entities (Community Developmental Disabilities Programs and Brokerages) that provide direct service planning to people with I/DD have reached out to all people on their caseloads, along with their caregivers, and given them options and resources for attending vaccinations clinics held by Local Public Health Authorities.
  • Statewide CCO program coordinated by OHA, CCOs have been connected with every CDDP and Brokerage in Oregon to arrange vaccines for the I/DD population. If people with I/DD in congregate care settings cannot leave their homes to attend a clinic, CCOs have been directed to work with the case manager to set up vaccinations for people in their homes.

OHA’s Behavioral Health Services (BHS):  

Forty of the state’s 333 licensed facilities are enrolled in the program. Unenrolled settings are being given the following options to receive the vaccine, including:

  • Contacting the local public health authority: Providers can contact LPHAs to access vaccine services with the LPHA and other community resources. LPHAs will provide both doses and will report updated vaccine data to OHA.
  • Register as a vaccine provider: Agencies who can provide 100 or more vaccines per site can register to receive a shipment and store/administer the vaccine. These providers can bill as normal and will administer both doses.
  • OHA state options and contracts: OHA will identify resources, such as pharmacies and other state contractors, to provide vaccinations for behavioral health programs.
  • Other community resources: Agencies can access community resources such as OHSU, state-sponsored clinics, hospital clinics, primary care providers, or pharmacies.

The state OHA HSD BH license team will continue to provide oversight and survey providers to ensure vaccination needs have been met.

State Pharmacy Partnership

The state is working to identify pharmacy partners to assist in vaccination efforts. To date, Genoa and Safeway have provided mobile vaccine clinics to congregate care sites that were not enrolled in the federal pharmacy partnership.

Pharmacies serving as state partners to date include: Safeway, Fred Meyer, Bimart, Costco, and Genoa. We continue to identify partners that can assist LPHAs to provide an opportunity to receive vaccine to Oregonians found in the highest risk groups.

At this time, these relationships with pharmacies are focused on serving populations in Phase 1a that were not enrolled in the federal pharmacy program.

COVID-19 Updates

Guidance Updates

On Friday January 29th, the Governor’s office eased COVID-19 restrictions for Oregon’s counties in the Extreme Risk category (the state’s highest risk level). Washington County currently falls into this category. While indoor dining remains prohibited in these counties, other indoor activities are now allowed. Indoor recreation and entertainment facilities with more than 500 square feet are permitted a maximum capacity of 6 people (not including employees), with a minimum of 25 feet physical distancing between households. Under this guidance most health/fitness facilities and gyms, indoor pools, theaters, museums and aquariums would be allowed to partially reopen. For indoor spaces under 500 square feet the ratio is 1:1; one customer and one employee. 

Oregon Counties Have New Outdoor Dining Guidance

From the Oregon Health Authority

Outdoor dining guidance is now updated for Oregon counties. As of Friday, Jan. 29, restaurants, bars, distilleries and tasting rooms in all Oregon counties may allow the following:

  • Outdoor structures that have a temporary or fixed cover, like an awning or roof, as long as there is at least 50% of the square footage of its sides open for airflow. The enclosed sides may not be adjacent (next to) each other.

See the illustration below for an example of a structure that meets the outdoor dining requirements. Read the full guidance.

Outdoor dining graphic

Oregon OSHA’s Proposal on Rules Addressing the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency in All Oregon Workplaces

From Oregon OSHA

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in line with Oregon Health Authority guidelines, the hearings will be held virtually. Oregon OSHA offices remain closed to the public.

Virtual Public Hearings Scheduled for:

After registering for a webinar, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. In order to ensure as many people as possible are able to testify, Oregon OSHA reserves the right to restrict testimony to no more than 5 minutes.

Rule summary:

This rule protects workers throughout the state in the context of the current public health emergency, which has not abated as might have been expected in 2020. Oregon OSHA adopted a temporary rule on November 6, 2020 that is set to expire on May 4, 2021. The temporary rule included significant public discussion that was used to refine the rule through multiple drafts. As the temporary rule is set to expire, the public emergency remains a significant concern in Oregon and it is necessary to extend most of the provisions from the temporary rule. In replacing the temporary rule with a permanent rule, some provisions were expanded as more information became available in relation to the transmission of the virus. If Oregon OSHA does not pursue permanent rulemaking for this continuing pandemic, workers will be less than fully protected and subject to the uncertainties of public health guidance rather than the relative clarity of a rule designed specifically to address Oregon workplaces. It is expected that this rule will be repealed once it is no longer necessary to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please visit our web site osha.oregon.gov Click ‘Rules and laws’ in the Common resources column and view our proposed rules, or select other rule activity from this page.

Please click here for a direct link to the proposed rulemaking documents, including text of changes from the temporary rule to the permanent rule.

When does this happen: Adoption tentatively will be in May 2021.

To get a copy: 

  • Our web site – osha.oregon.gov Rules and laws, then, Proposed rules. 
  • Or call 503-947-7449.

To comment: 

  • Department of Consumer and Business Services/Oregon OSHA, PO BOX 14480, Salem OR 97309-0405
  • E-mail – tech.web@oregon.gov
  • Fax – 503-947-7461

Comment period closes: April 2, 2021

Education Update

Facebook Live Q and A: What will school look like this spring? Today at 1:30pm

From the Oregon Health Authority

We know parents have many questions about what school might look like this spring. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is hosting a Facebook Live event on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 1:30 p.m. Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill and OHA Deputy State Health Officer and Epidemiologist, Dr. Thomas Jeanne will answer your school-related questions. Join in English or Spanish.

Liberty High School Lacrosse Update

Liberty Lacrosse

House District 30 - 2021 Legislative Session Concepts

In order to provide information and updates on the policies that I am working on for the 2021 Session, this is a continuation of that series.

HB 2592: Extended Producer Responsibility

HB 2592 is a bill that seeks to incentivize producers to reduce their use of packaging and build products that are less hazardous, built to last, and are easy to recycle or reuse. To create that incentive, producers are responsible for all waste costs associated with their products, including waste collection, transportation and management, and litter clean-up costs. Fees charged to producers are adjusted based on how long a product is designed to last, how easy it is to recycle or reuse and how hazardous it is.

This policy will help continue Oregon on its path to addressing the climate crisis, the rising impact of pollution, and the continuing impacts of China’s waste import ban on America’s recycling system. Extended producer responsibility is a proven approach to reducing waste and will improve our recycling system, because as long as individuals, governments, and future generations bear the costs of waste, the producers who design and make the products we buy, have no incentive to change.

Read the following article from OPB discussing HB 2592 here.

This week, I participated in a nationwide event with other legislators across the country that are introducing similar policies. You can watch a recording here: NCEL Press Event: Addressing Plastic Pollution.

NCEL Event Graphic

Break Up With Plastics Virtual Event

Friday, February 12th at 12:00pm. Join Environment Oregon, Oceana and Surfrider Foundation, along with myself, State Rep Sheri Schouten, OSPIRGOspirg Students and more to learn how you can break up with plastics and how to support these policies in the legislature. Visit here for more information.

Break Up With Plastics Graphic

How To Engage in Oregon's Legislative Process

The Oregon State Legislature has compiled a wonderful source of information on its  Engagement page. The Oregon Legislature is accessible to all who reside in Oregon and this is a one stop shop to learn how you can get involved or interact. Visit the Oregon State Legislature here, or click on the graphic below for a wealth of information on topics such as bill processes, committee information, how to submit testimony and more.

Engagement

House District 30 Intern Updates

Olivia Vargas is a senior at Century High School and a high school intern in my office. In addition to being a member of the Hillsboro Youth Advisory Council and Co-President of Century's Latino Student Union, she is also the President of her school's Period: The Menstrual Movement chapter. She has written the following article for our newsletter to share more about this work.

Period: The Menstrual Movement is an international nonprofit organization that works to end period poverty and stigma through youth-fueled service, education, and advocacy. Period poverty is a global issue referring to the lack of access to safe, hygienic sanitary products, and/or the inability to manage periods with dignity, sometimes due to community stigma and sanction. While it is an issue unheard of by many, its impact is powerful; one in five teens in the United States has struggled to afford menstrual products, and eighty-four percent of teens have either missed or know someone who has missed school due to period poverty. Women and menstruators throughout the world suffer from the adversities of menstrual inequity, and my friends and I are trying to make a positive impact on it here in our own community.

I started a chapter of Period at Century High School this year — with the help of my friends, Kailey Lam and Lesly Rios Santos — because I believe that access to menstrual products should not be a barrier to anyone’s success, and I want to help get people the resources they need while educating the community so this issue can be eliminated in the future. We have virtual meetings with around twenty members twice a month where we plan and discuss different projects and initiatives we can implement in our community. So far, we have worked on a policy proposal to our school asking that it begin providing free menstrual products in all women’s and gender-neutral restrooms, and ensure that there are proper disposal receptacles in each stall. Next, we are looking into holding a drive to donate menstrual products to a local shelter, and researching other state and local policy ideas that may be impactful on period poverty.

The members of CHS Period are very passionate about social change and menstrual equity, and I am excited for the contributions we will be able to make to the movement as a chapter.

Period Graphic

Community Outreach

House District 30 Virtual Office Hours

Beginning this Friday, Feb. 5, from 11:00am-12:00pm, I will be holding HD 30 Virtual Office Hours. This is an opportunity for fellow House District 30 constituents to join me and my staff and stop by to ask a question or share a thought. Stay as long, or as little, as you like. We will hold office hours every Friday from 11:00-12:00 to meet with you virtually by Zoom. Use the link below to join.

Join Zoom Meeting

Ways To Help The Community

During my most recent Virtual Community Conversation, (watch here) held this past Saturday, I was touched by how many people were interested in learning of ways that they can help support others in our community that may be experiencing hardships due to the pandemic. Below is a list of local organizations you can donate to that are making a difference here in House District 30. Different organizations are accepting help in a variety of ways, whether by monetary or physical donations, or by volunteering time. Call or visit their website to learn more.

If you know of a local organization accepting donations or volunteers to help our community during the pandemic, feel free to let us know and we will include their information in an upcoming newsletter.

City of Hillsboro-Home Energy Score Survey Opportunity

From the City of Hillsboro

Like miles per gallon (MPG) for cars and trucks, a Home Energy Score (HES) provides homeowners and potential home buyers with information about the home’s energy use and cost. Distinct from a home inspection, which is focused on safety, or a free home audit, which is a basic review of efficiency opportunities, the HES calculates how efficiently a home uses energy and scores it on a scale of 1-10. The score report provides a list of suggested energy efficiency improvements to increase the home’s efficiency and reduce operating costs.

A Home Energy Score policy has been proposed in the City of Hillsboro. Home energy score policies have demonstrated effectiveness in increasing awareness of energy use, opportunities for efficiency measures, and reduced environmental impact from energy use. An open-ended survey has been posted on the City website at Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/EnergyScore to gain additional stakeholder input on a potential policy. The City of Hillsboro would be grateful to hear your feedback. The survey page includes general information and background, more specific answers to common questions (FAQ), and links to the most recent presentation and staff report to the City Council. The survey will be active through February 22, 2021.

Additional Resources

 House District 30 Links

Federal Delegation Links

Education Links

Utilities Assistance

Food and Housing Assistance

Self Care Graphic

Remember to continue to practice self-care during this continued period of stress and uncertainty. Taking care of our mental and physical health is so important to our overall well-being. Please utilize and share the resources below if you or someone you know is needing  some extra support.

Be good to yourself and each other. ❤

Onward & Upward,

Janeen

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