Massachusetts Public Health Association

Action for Equity in Health

PRESS ADVISORY
March 19, 2020

Contact: Maddie Ribble, MA Public Health Association: 617-697-2107, mribble@mapublichealth.org

Emergency Task Force to Call for Immediate Action from Gov. Baker, Attorney General Healey, and the Legislature to Address Equity in the Face of Epidemic

WHEN and WHERE:

Friday, March 20, 2020
9:00am via Zoom
Register here

WHAT:

The Emergency Task Force on Coronavirus & Equity will call for urgent action from Governor Baker, Attorney General Healey, and the Legislature on four state policy priorities to address the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus outbreak on communities already experiencing marginalization, including low-wage workers, immigrants, and people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

The Task Force, convened by the Massachusetts Public Health Association on March 17th, is calling on Governor Baker, Attorney General Healey & the Legislature to:

• Ensure Immigrants Have Safe Access to Testing & Treatment
• Ensure Everyone Has Access to Safe Quarantine
• Pass Emergency Paid Sick Time
• Enact a Moratorium on Evictions, Foreclosures & Termination of Public Benefits

86 organizations have endorsed the call to action, including leading civil rights, grassroots, public health, medical, labor, and social service organizations.

WHO:

Speakers will include:

• Carlene Pavlos, Executive Director, Massachusetts Public Health Association
• Sandro Galea, Co-Chair, Emergency Task Force on Coronavirus & Equity; Dean, Boston University School of Public Health
• Cheryl Bartlett, Co-Chair, Emergency Task Force on Coronavirus & Equity; CEO, Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, former commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
• Karen Chen, Executive Director, Chinese Progressive Association
• Joyce Tavon, Director of Programs & Planning, Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance
• Pablo Ruiz, Deputy Director, SEIU State Council & Co-Chair of Raise Up Massachusetts Grassroots Committee
• Lisa Owens, Executive Director, City Life/Vida Urbana

Please register now to join us for this important event!

Endorsers of the call to action include:

• 1199SEIU MA
• 1Shot Couriers Inc.
• About Fresh
• ACLU of MA
• Action for Boston Community Development
• Allston Brighton Health Collaborative
• American Federation of Teachers MA
• Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
• Boston Center for Independent Living
• Boston University School of Public Health
• Brazilian Worker Center Inc.
• Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation
• Central West Justice Center
• Children’s HealthWatch
• Chinese Progressive Association
• Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association
• Clean Plate Law
• Coalition for Social Justice
• Collaborative for Educational Services
• Conservation Law Foundation
• DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement
• Environmental League of MA
• Fallon Health
• Greater Boston Food Bank
• Greater Boston Interfaith Organization
• Greater Lowell Health Alliance of CHNA 10
• Greater New Bedford Community Health Center
• Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
• Health Care For All
• Health Leads
• Health Resources in Action
• Healthcare & Human Service Consulting Group
• Hildreth Institute
• Homes for Families
• Jamaica Plain Progressives
• Jane Doe Inc., the MA Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
• Jetpac
• Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action
• Lawrence CommunityWorks
• Lawyers for Civil Rights
• MA Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• MA Association for Community Action
• MA Association of Community Development Corporations
• MA Association of Community Health Workers
• MA Association of Health Boards
• MA Budget and Policy Center
• MA Coalition for the Homeless
• MA Communities Action Network
• MA Councils on Aging
• MA Food System Collaborative
• MA Health & Hospital Association
• MA Housing & Shelter Alliance
• MA Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition
• MA Jobs with Justice
• MA Law Reform Institute
• MA League of Community Health Centers
• MA Public Health Association
• MA Teachers Association
• MA Voter Table
• MassCOSH (MA Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health)
• Material Aid and Advocacy Program
• Mill City Grows
• MLPB (f/k/a Medical-Legal Partnership | Boston)
• National Association of Social Workers, MA Chapter
• Neighbor to Neighbor MA
• New England United 4 Justice
• One Fair Wage
• Progressive MA
• Project Bread
• Public Health Institute of Western MA
• SEIU 32BJ
• SEIU 888
• SEIU Local 509
• Sierra Club MA
• Stavros Center for Independent Living
• Sustainable CAPE – Center for Agricultural Preservation & Education
• The Food Bank of Western MA
• The Latino Health Insurance Program, Inc.
• The Open Door
• Three Pyramids Minority Coalition
• Toxics Action Center
• TSNE
• Tufts Health Plan
• Western MA Health Equity Network
• Western MA Network to End Homelessness
• Worcester County Food Bank, Inc
• Worcester Interfaith

Please register now to join us for this important event!

This is an (AFC) Program, also known as Adult Foster Care. This is a  program designed to help people on MassHealth age 16 or older who cannot safely live alone due to medical, physical, cognitive or behavioral health difficulties. Caregiver Homes provides financial assistance to live-in caregivers and support to consumers through a professional team (Registered Nurse and Care Coordinator) to maintain patient’s care at home.

Caregiver Homes, would like to inform you that in order to stay connected with families through this time of social distancing, we utilize our tech-enabled platform to maintain daily communication and calm guidance.  Vela is a secure communication app that connects individuals, caregivers, and health professionals in real-time to streamline how care is delivered. Caregiver Homes reduces your patients’ exposure to COVID-19 through virtual education, medication reminders, and care coordination.

Our website is www.caregiverhomes.com

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Title: Outreach Worker – Expectant & Parenting Student Liaison
Location: Chelsea High

Reports to: Building Principal

About Chelsea Public Schools:

The Chelsea Public Schools (CPS) is a gateway school system that welcomes and educates all students and families. In CPS, we believe all children are capable of achieving their personal best by ensuring a safe and supportive environment for school and classroom environments. The school system educates over 6,300 students in 10 schools, including a pre-K-1st grade school, 4 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools. We believe that students learn best when they are engaged in meaningful relationships that fosters and promotes high expectations and risk taking. We are a district of multilingual students where languages are an asset to student development and growth. More information about CPS can be found on our website at www.chelseaschools.com/cps. 

Responsibilities:     

The Expectant and Parenting Student Liaison is responsible for supporting continued school attendance by transitioning students from 8^th to 9^th grade, supporting all Grade 9 students, and supporting expecting and parenting students in all grades. Responsibilities include the following:     

• Oversees various initiatives aimed at easing 8^th to 9^th grade transition, including but not limited to Intro to High School Week, Freshman Orientation, 8^th grade visits, 8^th grade student/parent nights, Grade 9 Quarterly Awards and End of Year Awards Night for 9^th
• Reviews and analyzes attendance reports/patterns for Grade 9 students. Facilitates attendance appeals.
• Enables freshmen to monitor academic progress, attendance, etc. by instructing students how to use “My Track” computer program.
• Serves expectant and parenting students from Grades 9-12 through pregnancy and subsequent return to school.
• Reviews and analyzes attendance reports/patterns for expectant/parenting students. Facilitates attendance appeals.
• Works with guidance, tutors and district Special Education to implement effective maternity leave home tutoring protocol.
• Meets regularly with young parents to improve academic outcomes and track progress toward graduation.
• Serves as resource and expert for services, including day care access, child support, financial assistance, etc.
• Strategically partners with the MGH School Based Health Center to coordinate academic, medical and mental health needs for students.
• Plans and runs expectant and parenting motherhood and fatherhood groups.
• Generates lists of at risk students; designs and implements strategic interventions to improve outcomes and decrease retention and dropout rates within the grade.
• Meets individually and in groups with students, families and community partners.
• Works with support staff including guidance counselors, social workers, deans, and special education staff to ensure equitable, strategic, and consistent services to students in need.
• Partners with Parent Liaisons at middle and high school levels to improve and leverage parent relationships.
• Advocates for accommodations with regard to attendance, academics, and services.
• Represents Chelsea High School on various city and regional planning and collaboration consortiums.
• Performs similar or related work as required.

Qualifications Required:

1. Bachelor’s Degree at minimum, preferably in social work, human services and/or education;
2. Spanish bilingual required;
3. Familiarity and experience working with at risk youth;
4. Understanding  and experience navigating systems of support for young parents;
5. Experience in the area of education and community outreach;
6. Skill in relating to and communicating with groups and individuals, i.e., administration, coaches, teachers, students, parents, and community members;
7. Technical knowledge and experience;
8. Ability to analyze and interpret data;
9. Strong organizational skills;
10. Must be able to conduct home visits,  and have vehicle available for use for home visits and CBO meetings;
11. Flexible schedule to attend evening meetings
12. Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Qualifications Preferred:

• DESE license in Social Work and/or Guidance Counseling
• 1-3 years of experience working in a similar position

APPLY

Chelsea Jewish Tours explore Chelsea’s rich Jewish immigrant history.  Discover how Chelsea’s Jewish heritage has helped shape and influence the city’s dynamic, diverse gateway ethos. Though the Jewish community no longer has a strong physical presence in the city, memories, stories, and signs of the community once known as  “little Jerusalem” are ubiquitous throughout Chelsea. You just have to know where to look!

On this walking tour, Ellen Rovner, PhD, will peel back layers of history for you, illustrating the distinctive and common narratives of Chelsea’s complex immigrant experiences. Carefully researched and deeply connected to the Chelsea community of today, Ellen’s walking tours are also personal, as she draws from her own roots in this city, and her four generations of family connections to Chelsea’s Jewish community.
The tours are FREE for Chelsea residents, and $18.00 for general visitors.  Each tour is unique, and may include visits to such Chelsea landmarks as the Walnut Street Synagogue, Temple Emmanuel, Dillon’s Russian Steam Bath, and, of course, Katz’s Bagels, birthplace of the pizza bagel.

The Chelsea Gateway Project/Chelsea Jewish Tours is partially supported by the Chelsea Cultural Council, a local program of the MA Cultural Council, and the Chelsea Community Fund.”

Full Calendar:

All tours start at 10:30 AM

Thursday, April 16
Sunday, April 26
Thursday, May 7
Sunday, June 14
Sunday, June 28
Sunday, September 13

Thursday, October 15

Tickets through EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/the-chelsea-gateway-project-16862720514

Project website: https://chelseajewishtours.wordpress.com/