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Friends and Neighbors,
COVID-19 Updates
State Officials Remove Outdoor Mask Requirements and Launch New Test to Stay Protocol for Oregon Schools, Outdoor Face Coverings Become a Local School District Decision
Reduces need for quarantining students, keeping them in the classroom
Test to stay allows students to attend school in person as well as extracurricular activities (with certain restrictions), as long as they test negative. Test to stay allows students and staff to participate in in-person learning as safely as possible while lessening the burden of quarantine on students and their families, teachers and school administrators.
“We know the critical importance that school attendance has on student success,” ODE Director Colt Gill said. “Using test to stay as part of a layered set of protocols in schools will keep students and educators in classrooms, maximizing days spent in school learning, growing and thriving. It’s important to remember that if an individual is vaccinated and exposed to COVID-19, they do not have to take a COVID-19 test to stay in school or quarantine.”
How Test to Stay Works
- Test to stay is available only for unvaccinated asymptomatic individuals who were exposed in indoor and outdoor school settings where universal masking is fully in place. Indoors and outdoor exposures are reviewed for proximity and duration of exposure. Test to stay may not be used following extracurricular exposures because masking in these settings is optional and the risk of transmission within the cohort is greater. Similarly, test to stay may not be used following community or in-home exposures.
- Test to stay allows unvaccinated individuals to be tested twice during the 7 days following exposure. First, as soon as the exposure has been identified, with a second test occurring between days 5-7 following the exposure.
- Test to stay is a form of modified quarantine, which allows individuals to attend school during their 7-day quarantine period. However, individuals participating in test to stay are expected to maintain quarantine outside of classroom settings.
- Students and staff participating in test to stay may participate in school-related extracurricular activities during their 7-day quarantine period but must wear face coverings at all times during these activities.
The test to stay protocol is an option available to all Oregon schools to administer. Tests are offered at no cost to participants. Student participation requires the permission of a parent or guardian. Close contact students and staff have the option of following LPHA recommendation for length of quarantine if their family does not want to participate in test to stay.
The change in the outdoor face coverings rule means local school districts, charter schools and private schools will set local requirements for use of face coverings outdoors. Extended close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual outdoors could still lead to exposure requiring quarantine, so local decision-makers need to consider the best use of physical distancing, face covering and other protocols to prevent exposure and the impacts of quarantine on student learning.
Testing is one of several components aimed at reducing the chance of spreading COVID-19 in schools along with face coverings indoors, physical distancing, improved ventilation and vaccination of students and staff. Vaccines are the single most important factor in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Being vaccinated helps keep staff in front of students and, now that vaccines are available to everyone over the age of five, it also keeps students in class as well.
Last week I got my vaccine booster. I'm very happy to be going into the holiday season with this additional layer of protection, especially for being around my vaccinated 88-year young mom and my 1-year old grandson. Have questions? Talk to your doctor or visit: https://covidvaccine.oregon.gov/
Rental Assistance Updates
Please share with friends and neighbors.
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Employment Department Updates
From the Oregon Employment Department
Helping Oregonians Get Back to Work
Even with Oregon experiencing record low unemployment, the Oregon Employment Department and its WorkSource Oregon partners continue helping workers find good jobs and employers find talented employees. WorkSource Oregon centers are offering job fairs and employer meet-and-greets across the state.
Here are just a few highlights of upcoming WorkSource Oregon events:
- “Meet the Employer” events are scheduled this month in Albany, Salem and Woodburn.
- Hiring Events in Salem and Corvallis have in-person interviews being conducted from 3 – 5 m. Thursday November 18.
- A virtual business spotlight event is scheduled for 10-11 a.m. Tuesday November 23.
- A Veterans Job Fair is scheduled for Saturday December 4, in White City,
More information on these events and more are at WorkSourceOregon.org.
Out and About-Working for House District 30
Smart Cookie in the Hillsboro School District
Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of meeting Carnie Wilson, from the band Wilson Phillips, and her business partner and bestie, Tiffany Miller. They own Love Bites by Carnie in Sherwood. We started the day at Mooberry Elementary to celebrate the launch of their delicious “Smart Cookie” in the Hillsboro School District. Read more here. Later in the day, I was invited, along with my friend Annette Campista, to tour their business where the cookies are made. We talked about supporting local, women-owned business and really had a great visit. The business partners have been friends since 3rd grade, so there was plenty of laughter and fun.
Washington County Law Library
On Friday, I toured the Washington County Law Library in Hillsboro. Located across the street from the Washington County Courthouse, this library, and its knowledgeable staff, serve as a free resource to those needing information or access to the justice system. You can access online court case history, look up Oregon and Federal Law in their extensive book collection, or utilize their equipment for a virtual court hearing. While there, I learned that a staggering 80% of people in family court are self-represented and have no lawyer. The Law Library is vital in providing access to self-litigants. Law libraries are located in every county, but can look very different and not serve their residents at the same level and this strikes me as an issue of fairness, equity and justice. Learn more about the Washington County Law Library here. For hours, visit here.
Child Tax Credit
From the Oregon Department of Revenue
A series of frequently asked questions about the federal Child Tax Credit have been added to the Oregon Department of Revenue website. Go to our FAQ page at https://go.usa.gov/xMx7U and search Child Tax Credits to learn more.
Community Outreach
How To Avoid Getting Scammed During The Holidays
From Forbes.com
The holidays are a time for family and friends—but scammers will do everything they can to ruin your celebrations.
Scammers work year-round, but prey on the increase of online payments and web usage during the holidays, especially major shopping holidays such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Being scammed can often mean losing money that can’t be recovered—and more seriously, having your identity stolen. It’s a devastating and time-consuming misfortune to experience.
But you can help protect yourself by knowing what common scams during the holidays look like, and how to verify legitimate businesses.
Read the full article and find tips here.
USPS Informed Delivery
Did you know? You can digitally preview your mail and manage your packages scheduled to arrive soon with Informed Delivery by the United States Postal Service. This free service allows you to view greyscale images of the exterior, address side of letter-sized mailpieces and track packages in one convenient location.
Learn more and sign up here.
Washington County Expands Emergency Winter Shelter Capacity for Harsh Weather Months
From Washington County
With new Supportive Housing Services funding, Washington County has expanded the Emergency Winter Shelter program to 187 beds for the most vulnerable members of our community during the harsh winter months from November 15, 2021 to March 15, 2022. The program offers emergency shelter to families, medically fragile individuals, and adults experiencing homelessness through a combination of congregate, shared space shelter settings and hotel vouchers.
The Washington County Supportive Housing Services program is collaborating closely with community-based service providers to deliver these new shelter programs, including:
- Open Door HousingWorks, operating the Hillsboro winter shelter location;
- Just Compassion, operating the Beaverton and Tigard winter shelter locations;
- Family Promise of Washington County and Tualatin Valley administering hotel vouchers for families;
- Project Homeless Connect administering hotel vouchers; and
- Boys and Girls Aid providing shelter for youth.
People experiencing homelessness can sign up for winter shelter through Community Connect at 503-640-3263 or work with a housing case manager to get on the wait list. Guests of the emergency winter shelter program are connected to available housing resources including housing case managers and rent assistance to move people through shelters to stable housing as quickly as possible.
Read more here.
Additional Resources
House District 30 Links
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Food and Housing Assistance
Remember to shop local on Small Business Saturday this weekend. The Washington County Chamber of Commerce has published their 2021 Holiday Guide if you need some inspiration on local businesses or to discover something new!
I hope you all have a restful and peaceful Thanksgiving with your loved ones. I am grateful and honored to be in this position as your Representative and I wish you joy and rest over the holiday weekend.
Be good to yourself and each other. ❤
Onward & Upward,
 House District 30 lies on Kalapuya land. The Atfalati were the northernmost band of the Kalapuya that lived along the Tualatin River in present day Washington County. Many of the Atfalati descendants are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon today. The Indigenous Peoples of this land experienced a painful history of colonial violence, sickness and removal from their land. The Atfalati are the foundation of Oregon’s past and we will honor them well into our future.
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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