Bird Business, Shaking Things Up (in more ways than one), Resource Round-up 3/18

Counselor Corner  /  News & Events a bald eagle flies high overhead. in a clear blue sky.

On Tuesday, a BALD EAGLE was flying around the school – what a treat! There is a woodpecker that likes the tree outside the office and a family of crows has built a nest in the park. I hope they keep it hidden from the red-tailed hawk that also frequents “the forest.”

Another year, another unexpectedly extended Spring Break. I am so excited for our return to in-person instruction! You won’t be able to see my grin under my mask, but it’ll be there 😊. It isn’t a perfect solution and I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but I’m hopeful that it is a sign of progress towards a future full of possibility. As the day approaches, please keep an eye our Hybrid (and CDL) Information page for updates and information. I don’t know about you, but I feel like a well used glitter jar – thoroughly shaken as plans change and change again. I’ve been using my 🌬️Breathing Tool🌬️ and my 🗑️Garbage Can Tool🗑️ a lot.

Speaking of shaking things up, this week’s story is a bit longer (and less complete than usual). Shaking Things Up, by Susan Hood, tells the story of 14 extraordinary young women and is also illustrated by an assortment of amazing female artists. An opportunity to dig a little deeper and learn something new during our applied learning time. What did you learn?

I was also shaken this week by the terrorist attack in Georgia targeting Asian women. APANO has an article with some links to ways you can support efforts in Georgia. Locally, Project Lotus is doing some incredible youth-led work. If you’re talking with your children about this event, I like this article (well, I hate that I have it bookmarked, but it is a helpful tool). Remember to:

  • Reassure children that they are safe.
  • Make time to talk
  • Be developmentally appropriate
  • Monitor emotional state
  • Minimize media exposure
  • Keep as normal of a routine as possible

I recognize the irony of suggesting you keep a normal routine when we’ve just picked everyone’s up and given it a good shake. Take care of your self, too! These are wild times. Wishing you peace and plenty of fun during spring break 💚

Resource Round-Up

  •  Worried about a large past-due bill? PGE may be able to match your payments. Learn how at https://portlandgeneral.com/pge-payment-matching. See flyer.
  • COVID-19 Vaccine 
  • Vaccine Eligibility in Oregon. On March 11, President Biden announced that all adult Americans will be eligible to get the vaccine no later than May 1. 
  • Multnomah County Health Clinics Vaccine Pilot Program. The Multnomah County Community Health Center is participating in two vaccine pilot programs for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). More on the HRSA program is here. What this means in practice:
    • We continue to prioritize direct outreach to the highest risk groups: elderly patients, people with disabilities, people from the BIPOC communities, and people with health conditions that put them at higher risk. Those patients are being contacted directly by our staff to schedule appointments first.
    • When we have vaccinated the highest-priority group, we can then broaden outreach to the next set of patients — for example, those who are younger but whose occupation puts them at a higher risk. We can shift to these groups even if they are not yet eligible for the general public vaccination program. 
    • If there are open appointment slots on the day of a vaccine clinic, we can more quickly pivot to offer the vaccine to any of our established patients to ensure no doses are wasted and they are prioritized for those who would otherwise face barriers to getting vaccinated.
    • To become a Multnomah County Health Department patient, please call 503-988-5558.
  • Oregon Health Authority Hosting Covid-19 Vaccine Information Session in Arabic.  The Zoom session will be held on   Tuesday March 30, 5:00-7:00 pm. Please share the following links broadly with the community. Flyers are available in Arabic and English . Register HERE. 
  • Let’s Talk Vaccines: Doctors Without Borders Spring 2021 Webinar Series. Join Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for a three-part webinar series exploring our work on immunization.  MSF has nearly 50 years of experience vaccinating against common diseases like measles or pneumonia, or fighting newer threats like Ebola and COVID-19. Events run approximately 45 minutes. Register HERE.  View past events in this series HERE. 
  • Information on Johnson & Johnson Vaccine. A flyer about the J&J  vaccine can be found HERE. 
  • Listening Sessions on Area Plan on Aging. Multnomah County Aging, Disability and Veterans Services will be hosting two Community Listening Sessions next week, March 23, 2021 5:30-7:30PM and March 25, 2021 9:30-11:30AM, for the purpose of presenting their Draft Area Plan to the community for comment and feedback. Learn more and register here .
  • Free Beaverton Renters’ Rights Workshop in Spanish. Join Metropolitan Family Services and Community Alliance of Tenants in a free renters’ rights workshop. Tuesday, March 23, 2021 5:00 PM  6:30 PM. We will cover updates on Eviction Moratorium, how to request repairs from your landlord, Fair Housing law and more! Register HERE. 
    • Únase a Metropolitan Family Services y la Alianza Comunitaria de Inquilinxs en un taller gratuito sobre derechos de inquilinxs. ¡Cubriremos actualizaciones sobre la Moratoria de desalojo, cómo solicitar reparaciones a su arrendador, la ley de Vivienda Justa y más! Registrese.
  • OHA will have a COVID-19 and Vaccine Education Session for Arabic-speaking communities on March 30th. Click here for the English flyer. Click here for the Arabic flyer. (PDFs attached)
  • LCSNW created a video about the COVID-19 vaccines in Russian. Click here to view it.
  • Eviction Moratorium Information Tool Kits in different languages. Click here.
  • Translated Videos and Flyers about the Vaccine. 
  • Urban League of Portland is hosting a COVID-19 Vaccine Community Conversation on March 26th from 4-5:30pm For more information: contact Lamar Tillman, Community Health Program Manager, healthevent@ulpdx.org.
  • PHI is offering a webinar, “Partnering with Communities to Navigate Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines” on March 25th. (Click here for more information and registration)
  • PGE has a payment matching program. (click here for more information)
  • Wonderful guides in different languages on Basic Psychosocial Skills for COVID-19 Responders. (click here) 
  • Portland Community College is offering beginning, intermediate, and advanced ESL classes online.  The Spring term begins Monday, March 29th. They also offer fee waivers for Levels 1-5 for anyone who receives public benefits like food stamps, OHP, or for those who lost their job/working reduced hours due to COVID-19.
  • The information series, Who We Are, from LCSNW and Cascadia is back! Our first virtual event will be a film screening and panel discussion on April 12, 2021 about refugee and immigrant youth and education after resettlement. (Click here for more information)
  • Engaging Public Sector Stakeholders to Prepare for Welcoming More Refugees, webinar on April 7th. (Click here for more information and to register.)
  • Catholic Charities and Medical Teams International are offering their next free dental clinic for uninsured folks on Friday March 26th and Saturday March 27th from 9am to 2pm. These clinics will take place at St. Paul Lutheran Church at 3880 SE Brooklyn St. Portland. Please contact Kat Kelley with any questions and/or to get folks registered. 971-409-7265 or kkelley@ccoregon.org