COVID-19 Partner Update October 19, 2020: Campus Guidebook – Slowing the Spread at US Colleges and Universities October 2020

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

COVID-19 Partner Update October 19, 2020: Campus Guidebook – Slowing the Spread at US Colleges and Universities

 

 

Please join our weekly partner call for updates on the COVID-19 response, including new resources for the private sector and the general public.   Date: Monday, October 19, 2020 Time: 3:00— 4:00 p.m. ET   CDC Speakers Dr. Cliff McDonald, Acting Chief Medical Officer for the CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response Dr. Greta Massetti, Lead, JCC Mitigations and Risk Working Group and Lead, CDC Community Interventions and Critical Populations Task Force Dr. Lisa C. Barrios, Lead, School Fieldwork Unit, State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support Task Force LCDR Samantha Morgan, Deputy for Partnerships and Risk Management, CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response (Moderator) Dr. Cliff McDonald, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Greta Massetti, Lead, JCC Mitigations and Risk Working Group and Lead, CDC Community Interventions and Critical Populations Task Force, and Dr. Lisa C. Barrios, Lead, School Fieldwork Unit, State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support Task Force will present. LCDR Samantha Morgan, Deputy, Policy Unit Partnerships & Risk Management Team will moderate. Dr. McDonald will share updates on CDC’s COVID-19 response, including the latest scientific information and what everyone should know about protecting themselves and others. In addition, Dr. Massetti and Dr. Barrios will review CDC COVID-19 guidance for Institutions of Higher Education in the presentation Campus Guidebook – Slowing the Spread at US Colleges and Universities. Please submit your questions by 10/14 so that we can group similar questions and answer as many as possible. Please email eocevent337@cdc.gov with "Partner Call 10/19" in the subject line.   Register in advance for this webinar: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_QU7luOvCTdeFwXYWfCDVqw The call will be recorded and posted with previous Partner Update webinars here.  Received this invite from a friend? Subscribe to CDC's COVID-19 Partner Updates here.

 

*This call is not for media. For those who have media questions, please contact CDC media relations at (404)639-3286, or send an email to media@cdc.gov.

Training: Health Literacy for Public Health Professionals October 2020

This online, CDC TRAIN course educates health professionals about public health literacy and their role in providing health information and services and promoting health literacy. The course uses a 508-compliant template, knowledge checks, scenario-based interactions, video clips and a post-test to engage learners. This course offers continuing education (CE) credits. 

Learn More

Violence: Domestic and Sexual Violence Training. October 2020

 

Training: Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault

Tribal Forensic Healthcare offers training on IPV and sexual assault screening and examination to staff working in HHS Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal and urban indian healthcare facilities.

• Intimate Partner Violence Examiner, October 26-December 7
• Adult/Adolescent Sexual Assault Examiner, November 17-January 26, 2021
• Pediatric Sexual Assault Examiner, November 24-February 2, 2021
• Intimate Partner Violence Screening, On-demand

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Training: Sexual Violence Training for Community Health Workers/Promotoras

This online course, offered by the Arizona Rural Women's Health Network and the Western Region Public Health Training Center, provides an introduction to some basic knowledge and skills useful in assisting and responding to victims of sexual violence. This course offers a certificate of completion and continuing education contact hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES). 

Learn More

Weekly Series for Tribal Schools as they Reopen Amidst COVID-19 October 2020

The National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC webinar will address re-opening issues such as self-care for teachers, mental health and the health and safety of students and teachers. 

October 15, 22 and 29, 3:00 pm ET. 

Register

Disaster Assistance for SUAs and Tribal Organizations. October 2020

The HHS Administration for Community Living (ACL) will provide disaster reimbursement and assistance funds to State Units on Aging (SUAs) and federally recognized Tribal Organizations located in a declared disaster site. 

Application period runs to September 7, 2021.

Learn More

Youth Employment Landscape. October 27, 2020 1:00 - 2:15pm ET

 

What helps young people feel ready for the world of work?  How do young people describe the connections they need?  What kind of support do young people find most helpful?   Across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic has decimated an already fragile youth employment landscape.   In grappling with how best to support young people during this time, youth-supporting programs, employers, and policymakers can benefit from better understanding the experiences and perspectives of young people themselves—how their identities shape their work trajectories; what eases or thwarts their employment journeys; and what makes them feel ready for, connected to, and supported in the world of work.  During this webinar, we will explore findings from our new qualitative study on youth employment, outlined in the forthcoming report, Finding a Way Forward: Young People’s Experiences Navigating the World of Work. The report examines questions about work and careers from the perspectives of 65 young people aged 16-28 who participate in one of five exemplary workforce development programs. In this virtual conversation: Young people will share how the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing systemic barriers like racism and discrimination have affected their career journeys and how they’re overcoming these obstacles Young people will reflect on the value of connecting with networks outside their own circles and what it means to be their true selves in the workplace. Program leaders will share specific strategies for how they’re connecting young people to opportunities during this unprecedented time. Invited speakers include staff and youth leaders from the following programs: Per Scholas - Dallas, TX iJAG - Des Moines, IA YouthBuild - Compton, CA Join us on Tuesday, October 27 from 1:00-2:15pm ET for this important and timely conversation!     REGISTER HERE

Final FCC Petition Filing. LULAC, Hispanic Federation, and National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association

 

October 12, 2020
Hon. Ajit Pai, Chairman
Hon. Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner
Hon. Michael O’Rielly, Commissioner
Hon. Brendan Carr, Commissioner
Hon. Geoffrey Starks, Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554

RE: Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, WC Docket No. 17-84

Dear Chairman Pai and Commissioners:

Our respective organizations have long advocated for digital inclusion and policies that ensure that

Latino and economically disadvantaged communities are able to benefit from the wide range of

opportunities offered by broadband access. While we do not speak to the legal arguments set forth in

the NCTA Petition in the above-referenced matter, we strongly support efforts to expand broadband

deployment in rural areas and encourage the FCC promptly to consider the NCTA Petition in order to

ensure that broadband is being delivered to rural areas in an equitable and time efficient manner.

While U.S. broadband networks have performed reasonably well during the pandemic, the pandemic

has exposed certain remaining and persistent gaps in the digital divide, especially in rural areas. Now

more than ever, access to reliable, high-speed internet is a necessity, as Americans have turned to the

internet for a range of digital services during the pandemic, including online learning, remote work, andtelehealth. Unfortunately, reports have shown that the vast majority of Americans lacking access to

high-speed internet live in rural areas.1 This includes communities of color which (on average) make up 20 percent of these rural communities.

Indeed, low-income Latino and Black individuals make up a significant portion of the millions of

households across the country that lack access to broadband, a disparity that is only further worsened

by the disproportionate economic impact COVID-19 has had on these communities in the form of temporary and permanent job loss.2 Hispanic and black Americans have been hit the hardest, with 61%

and 44% respectively reporting a job or wage loss due to Covid-19, compared with 38% of whites. High rates of unemployment in communities of color have only intensified the need for broadband access in rural communities, along with other emerging digital needs related to online schooling and access to telehealth services. The federal government and the FCC should take the steps needed to bridge this exacerbated digital divide.

In addition to providing financial resources where appropriate, these steps by Congress and the FCC

should include removing unnecessary legal, regulatory, and economic barriers to broadband

deployment and investment. Given the expansive geographic nature of most rural areas, eliminating

infrastructure barriers is critical and necessary to delivering broadband connectivity to rural households

and businesses.

COVID-19 has exposed the gaps that still exist in delivering high-speed internet to all Americans,

especially in rural areas. We hope that you will stand with us to expand opportunities by encouraging

broadband buildout and connecting as many rural communities as possible to the internet. There has

never been a more urgent time to ensure that rural unserved communities gain access to broadband as

soon as possible, including the millions of rural Hispanic and communities of color that have too often

been left behind.

We encourage timely review of the NCTA Petition in order to ensure that any barriers to rural

broadband deployment and investment are removed.

Sincerely,

Sindy Benavides                     Frankie Miranda            Rudy Arredondo

Chief Executive Officer           President & CEO             President & CEO

LULAC                                    Hispanic Federation         Latinos Farmers & Ranchers

-----------------------------------

1 Rural Health Research Gateway, Disparities in Preventive Care by Race and Ethnicity Among Rural Adults -https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/projects/100002425#:~:text=Currently%2C%201%20in%205%20rural,Preven

tion%20(James%20et%20al. “Currently, 1 in 5 rural residents is a person of color or American Indian, adding up to

nearly 10 million rural residents who are black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, or mixed-race.” Id.

2 According to recent findings by the Pew Research Center, “job and wage losses due to COVID-19 have hit Hispanic
adults the hardest.” Pew Research Center, Financial and health impacts of COVID-19 vary widely by race and
ethnicity, May, 5, 2020 - https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/05/05/financial-and-health-impacts-ofcovid-
19-vary-widely-by-race-and-ethnicity/. Pew reports that 61% of Hispanic Americans reported a job or wage
loss in their household due to the coronavirus outbreak, compared with 38% of white adults and 44% of black
Americans. Id

Actions start at the lowest Level. What about in your community? D.C. Ward Commissioner Testimony to City Council on Environmental Concerns of Residents. October 2020

 

Salim Adofo Commissioner Single Member District 8C07 Official Testimony to the Council of the District of Columbia Committee on Committee on Facilities and Procurement Public Facilities Environmental Safety Amendment Act of 2020   The Public Facilities Environmental Safety Amendment Act of 2020 is a very important issue for the residents of the District of Columbia, especially for our underserved communities.  African American, Latin, immigrant and other underserved communities are often subjected to environmental racism. Environmental racism is the enforcement of regulations and laws, the deliberate targeting of communities of color for toxic waste facilities, excluding people of color from leadership of the ecology movements and the official sanctioning of the life-threatening presence of poisons and pollutants in our communities.  Lead is one of such pollutants.    Research conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that high levels of lead can lead to developmental delays in children under the age of eight.  These studies suggest that there is no safe level of lead exposure for young children and no matter how small, these effects are enduring and possibly permanent. This is of extreme importance to the residents of the District of Columbia.    In 2016, 64 public schools in the District of Columbia had a water source test positive for a level of lead at or above the federal action level. Per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 15 parts per billion (ppb) for lead in public water systems. This is of grave concern for Single Member District 8C07, because parents observed brown water in  Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, located in 8C07, according to CBS affiliate WUSA9. As stated earlier, high levels of lead can lead to developmental delays in children under the age of eight.  The grade levels for MLK Elementary School are Pre-Kindergarten to 5th Grade.    Research published by the Brookings Institute revealed that populations exposed to lead in their drinking water causes much higher homicide rates 20 years later, relative to similar communities where there was less exposure. Currently, the homicide rate in the District of Columbia is up thirteen percent, per the Metropolitan Police Department. Culminating all of this data and research one can logically conclude that having lead in the water of the residents of DC is one of the many factors that are contributing to an increasing homicide rate.  Therefore, the passing of this bill is not just a matter of passing another piece of legislation. This is a matter of the Council of the District of Columbia valualing Black Lives. This is a matter of addressing many societal ills that Single Member District 8C07 faces because of years of environmental neglect. Environmental justice is as much an issue as any other issue that adversely impacts African American communities. On behalf of the residents of Single Member District 8C07 we advise the council to pass the Public Facilities Environmental Safety Amendment Act of 2020, with the following recommendations:   1.     The Bill should include conditions regarding the impact of emergency hazards that may impact District-owned buildings such as extreme weather, fires, etc.   2.     The Bill should include a focus on buildings built before 1978 and the high probability that there may be lead exposure. The recommendation is to adjust the definition of “substantial renovation” to include the condition (caveat) requiring a building built before 1978 to be considered “substantial renovation” with any renovation (1%>)   3.     The Bill should incorporate aspects of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ensuring that all public meetings or public postings (i.e. the Department of General Services’ website) are accessible in all languages reflective of the impacted members of the community. Additionally, there should be provisions for ASL signers if a need is indicated. Website postings should have a reading application to support individuals with hearing impairments.   4.     In regards to assessments and testing, the Bill should require a neutral external contractor to conduct the assessment while DGS serves as the monitoring agency. This recommendation is to eliminate bias in testing. Fair contracting practices should be executed and made transparent to the public (e.g. transparent bidding process for potential contractors, the manner in which the assessment will be conducted, community monitoring and oversight of the assessment, and the eligibility of the contractor).   5.     Soil quality and air quality should be added to the list of conditions included in the assessment.   6.     In the instance that the assessment reveals environmental hazards, the recommendation is for public notification of the report findings within 3 business days as opposed to 5 business days.   7.     The Bill should require a detailed communication and outreach plan requiring robust and transparent strategies for multiple types of opportunities for community engagement (e.g. include social media engagement, automated phone calls, mailings, partnerships with Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners etc.)   8.     In regards to the DC Playground aspects of the Bill, a clear and consistent threshold for remediation should be determined as no level of lead exposure is safe.   9.     In the instance where a playground is found to have elevated lead levels in surfaces, turf, etc., accessibility to Blood Level Lead testing should be made free and available to children and youth (ages 1-18) who may have been exposed.   10. The “regulatory standards” in which synthetic fields and playgrounds are evaluated should be clear, transparent and research-based. Additionally “durable materials” should be clearly identified, available to the public and supported by credible research.   Salim Adofo Commissioner Single Member District 8C07 District of Columbia

1909 Early Ethiopians in America. Immigrant Communities have a voice.

https://bawza.com/2013/12/12/early-ethiopians-in-america/ History Early Ethiopians in America By  Bawza Staff      December 12, 2013                By Andrew Laurence   If it were not for a photograph published in the April 2006 U.S. National Park Service Calendar, we may never know about a group of Ethiopians who came to America in 1909. The photographer, Augustus Sherman, was a Registry Clerk on Ellis Island, the port of entry for millions of immigrants to the U.S. He would often take pictures in his spare time of immigrants that had to stay over for medical clearance, further interrogation, or to be picked up by sponsors. The posed photograph depicts what may be an extended family of purported Borana Ethiopians in traditional dress waiting to be processed for immigration to the U.S. One can only guess what it would have been like for these rural southwest Ethiopian natives who would have had no knowledge of the outside world to comprehend what their future would hold for them. To make the long trek to the African coast and then a month long ocean journey by ship to the New World would have been beyond their imagination. Landing in New York with no understanding of America, the people, food, weather or way of life only adds to the mystery of what they might have been told about where they were going and what they will be doing.   As it turns out, the only reasonable explanation for these “exotic” Africans to have been brought to the American shores was to be exhibited in circuses and zoos according to Michael Weinstein in a review of the Sherman photographic exhibit at DePauw University. Another explanation has been given by the Ethiopian author Kadiro Amae Elemo in his book, The United States and Ethiopia: The Tragedy of Human Rights. Kadiro thinks it is possible that they came just years after Emperor Menilik’s army occupied the Borana country or that they were fleeing like others to the British colonies to escape the Abyssinian slave raids.   Although we can never be sure of how they got to the US, or what ever happened to these Ethiopian pioneers, we can see in this photograph a strong and proud people. Opposite of the typical image of the huddled masses, you see a dignified people, direct and indifferent to their surroundings.   It is hard to give the exact date of the first Ethiopian in the United States. In the 19th century, all of Africa was often referred to as Ethiopia and there are many references to Ethiopians in literature. For African Americans, the location of Ethiopia in the bible did much to signal salvation from slavery in America. In fact, in 1808, we have Ethiopian sea-fearers in New York City who were invited by African Americans to a segregated church service, The Ethiopians convinced the African Americans to start their own church celebrated today as Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, NY.   The first official Ethiopian delegation to the United States was in 1919 and visited New York City, Washington, DC, and Chicago . Known as the Abyssinian Mission, the members included; Dejazmatch Nadew,  Blaten Geta Hiruy Wolde-Selassie, Kantiba Gebru Desta, and Ato Sinkas. Some of the first Ethiopian students to come to the U.S. were in the 1920s; among them were Melaku Bayen, Worku Gobena and Beshawered Habtewold. They were handpicked by Atse Haile Selassie to be sent abroad for modern education. With their royal credentials, U.S. President Warren Harding enrolled them in his alma mater Muskingum College in Ohio.   By the mid 1930’s the number of Ethiopian college students began to rise, mostly coming from the Beirut-based American University. The Point Four program, administered by USAID, trained and educated about one thousand Ethiopians between 1951 and 1969 in all areas of endeavor to go back and use their new skills and knowledge for the progress of Ethiopia. With the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie 1 in 1974, many Ethiopians sought asylum in the US. After the fall of the military junta in the 1990s another wave of asylum seekers came to the US. In addition to Ethiopians who have brought their family members to America, there are the thousands of Ethiopians each year that win the Diversity Visa lottery and get to come to the US to become citizens.   Whenever you discover new information in your research you often have more questions asked than answered. Were these intrepid Ethiopian travelers degraded and disrespected in this unforgiving nation? We now can only wonder if the descendants of these immigrants are still amongst us. We hope that like others who came to these shores either by choice or against their will that they somehow were able to survive and thrive.   We should take inspiration and motivation from these early Ethiopians in America to make every effort ourselves to take advantage of the opportunities now available in the Diaspora. Whether in business or the arts, we do not face the kind of blatant discrimination that existed for these Ethiopians one hundred years ago in America. In addition, we need to document our family lives and community stories so that future generations will not be wondering whatever happened to us.

REPOST from September 2011. Open Meetings and the FOI

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Open Meetings and the FOI

So now you really want to get involved in how emergency management practices are being conducted in your jurisdiction using your subject matter expertise, and concern for your community.

            What public meetings am I able to attend?


             Can I be restricted from attending?


             What if I have question to put before the meeting, if 
              the meeting is open for question or comments?

The first two question will be answered by the information provided below hopefully.
The third question shall have to be answered in an upcoming blog.


    

http://www.openmeetinglaws.com/

If an informed citizenry is to meaningfully participate in government or at least understand why government acts affecting their daily lives are taken, the process of decision making as well as the end results must be conducted in full view of the governed.

Oklahoma Ass’n of Municipal Attorneys v. State, 577 P.2d 1310, 1313-14 (Okla. 1978)

The Open Meeting Law Reference for all 50 States
Open Meeting Laws 2d
by  Ann Taylor Schwing

The publication of Open Meetings Laws 2d is sponsored by
International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA)

Open meeting laws apply principally to public, collegial, deliberative bodies, that is, bodies that meet as a group for deliberation and decision making. A key consideration in determining whether an entity is subject to the law is the public nature of the work it does.

Additional considerations include the extent to which the entity is supported by public funds and the extent to which the entity has the power to bind the State or a political subdivision of the State. As a general rule, a public body cannot escape open meeting requirements by delegating duties or powers to other entities or persons.

Open meeting laws may be applied to private entities when necessary to further the public policies of the open meeting laws.

Examples include:

State Commissions	Local Governments
School Boards	Hospital Boards
Local Commissions	Committees
Nonprofit Organizations	Advisory Committees

Are you READY FOR ROUND TWO? How Small Business Are Preparing for a Potential Second COVID-19 Shutdown. October 2020

Are you ready for the upcoming COVID-19 combined with the annual flu season between October 2020 to May 2021 or even longer?

Community members, those within the public health and emergency management arena prepare to address the same failures and system stressors encountered during the initial onset of the COVID-19 crisis.  Failures not by design, but by stressors and trauma each of us individually, in the community, at work, and globally across the board.

Continue to care for your mental and physical health, and for your family and those close to you.

Continue to care for those vulnerable in our communities.  Those less fortunate without the resources to survive and be sustainable.

Be prepared, be safe, stay healthy.

BEMA International

How Small Business Are Preparing for a Potential Second COVID-19 Shutdown by Sandra Beckwith         updated September 17, 2020 Take stock of what you've learned from the first coronavirus shutdown to help prevent problems and surprises during future crises. Should you expect a second small business shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic? It depends on whom you ask, but Robert Redfield, MD, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is concerned that trouble's ahead. In an August video interview with WebMD, Redfield said that, with COVID-19 still prevalent during the traditional flu season, this could be the "worst fall" the U.S. has ever seen. That's why many small businesses are anticipating another serious disruption to their operations. Here's what some are doing to reduce the type of trauma they experienced during the first shutdown. Learning From the First Shutdown Companies that were caught off guard during the first wave are vowing "never again." They're reviewing what they learned from that experience and using it to plan for the next one.  As business brokerage Hilton Smythe evaluates how well the firm navigated the country's first full lockdown, CEO Gareth Smyth is soliciting employee input, as well. "We actively asked for feedback and opinions from our employees and have encouraged them to play a part in developing our strategy moving forward," he says. After wellness products manufacturer NuLeaf Naturals experienced a distribution-chain disruption the first time, the company knew it needed to minimize future problems. "We are ramping up our e-commerce game so that we cansustain sales even if many of our retailers close during the lockdown," says Ian Kelly, NuLeaf's vice president of operations. Keeping Workers Remote Concerned about employee welfare in an ever-changing environment, some businesses still haven't returned employees to the workplace—and won't for a while. At training company Shapiro Negotiations Institute (SNI), both office workers and trainers who normally travel to client sites will continue to work from home indefinitely. For now, the company is offering only virtual training, even though that means turning down opportunities to present in-person in regions where the COVID-19 infection rate is low. "We feel that while we do somewhat limit ourselves, it is not only worth it to protect our team but, by having this mindset, we can continue to improve our online offerings," says Andres Lares, SNI's managing partner. Understanding Customer Behavior To keep staff employed as the situation has evolved in recent months, digital marketing agency 201 Creative LLC has been analyzing changing consumer behaviors and using what it discovers to serve clients better. That work will continue if a second shutdown occurs.  By leveraging tools such as Google Trends to identify what people are searching for, the firm is helping clients adapt their products and services to the current marketplace.  For example, using this approach for a local church, the agency discovered that "online sermon" spiked during the first lockdown. "In anticipation of a second shutdown, we've been working with this church to publish all of its sermons online," says Jared Bauman, CEO of 201 Creative. Staff at health products retail and review site Discuss Diets noticed that customers' health needs changed during the first shutdown when they were confined to home. The company is using that information to create an offshoot that will allow users to get customized suggestions. "We will essentially guide our customers through the process of setting up a health and wellness routine for their continued quarantine," says Rex Freiberger, Discuss Diets' CEO. Tightening Budgets and Spending You might have reduced spending during the first go-round, but eased up a bit when the situation improved. The potential for a second shutdown of small businesses means it's time to review finances again to identify what you can cut as well as where you should keep spending. Small business lender Clarify Capital is spending less on image advertising to focus on measurable inbound marketing tactics. "Being able to objectively measure the success of our marketing efforts is critical during a time of economic uncertainty," says Nishank Khanna, Clarify Capital's chief marketing officer. David Garcia, CEO of background check company ScoutLogic, keeps a close watch on receivables, determines which investments the company needs rather than wants, and ensures the firm has a line of credit for any short-term cash issues. "We have been growing and don't want to dial back any of the investments that are driving our success," Garcia says. By learning from their experiences the first time and using that information to plan for the future, companies are optimistic that a second shutdown will be less stressful than the first. https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/how-small-business-are-preparing-for-a-potential-second-covid-19-shutdown?cta&utm_medium=email&utm_sourc%E2%80%A6