The Delaware County Weekly
Bringing Delco news and information directly to our residents!
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Delaware County Recognizes February as Black History Month | |
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Delaware County Council recognized February as Black History Month in Delaware County during its Feb. 2 public meeting.
Each February, Americans observe Black History Month, which was founded by Carter G. Woodson, the son of former slaves, and the “Father of Black History,” to celebrate the achievements of African Americans and recognize the central role they had in shaping U.S. history.
Delaware County is fortunate to have numerous members of the community, schools, organizations, and faith-based groups who work to educate, celebrate, and promote black history and culture through education and the arts.
“County Council is proud to recognize the accomplishments of African Americans throughout our history, who have helped move our country toward a more equal and just society,” said Delaware County Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. “This month, we celebrate the men and women, across the nation and here in Delaware County, who struggled and sacrificed to guarantee freedom and rights for the children and grandchildren of the future.”
The contributions of African Americans and their endeavors to learn and thrive throughout history and make unforgettable marks in our Nation as artists, scientists, educators, business people, influential thinkers, members of the faith community, athletes, and political and governmental leaders, reflects the greatness of our country.
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Pennsylvania Department of Health deploys Healthcare Strike Team to Crozer Health facilities | | |
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The Pennsylvania Department of Health has deployed a Healthcare Strike Team to Crozer Health facilities. The team includes registered nurses and respiratory therapists.
Thank you to the State and PEMA for assisting Crozer during this critical time. The nationwide nursing shortage and surge in COVID-19 cases has been extremely challenging for healthcare facilities and the State’s assistance in deploying the Strike Team will ensure that Crozer can continue to care for and treat our residents.
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Council also once again commends the County’s Medical Reserve Corps which has been assisting four local hospitals, serving in both medical and non-medical roles including assisting nurses, providing patient comfort, sanitizing medical equipment, and assisting healthcare staff. | |
Western Philadelphia Suburbs Trail Summit to be Held Virtually on Feb. 12 | |
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The 10th annual Western Suburbs Trail Summit will be held as a webinar on Saturday, February 12, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
The summit, co-sponsored by the Friends of Haverford Trails, the Haverford Township Parks and Recreation Department, with support from the DelCo Trails Alliance will focus on trails and on-street bicycling/pedestrian improvements and opportunities for walkers and cyclers throughout the area.
Presenters include the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer, Delaware County Open Space and Trails Manager Steven Beckley, and updates on trails and open space from officials from Upper Darby, Newtown Township, Haverford Township, Thornbury Township, the City of Chester, and Radnor Townships.
During the summit, presenters will review progress, identify opportunities to improve walking and biking, and prioritize and help plan continuing trail connections in the community.
The free summit is open to all residents and organizations interesting in learning more about trails and open space in Delco. Trail maps and past trail summit presentations can be found on the Friends of the Havertown Trails website.
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Emergency Rental Assistance Program Resumes In-Person Assisted Intake Events in February | |
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DELCO Emergency Rental Assistance (DELCO ERA) helps renters who suffered disruption and loss of income during or due to the COVID-19 pandemic with rent and utility assistance.
Since April 2021, DELCO ERA allocated $67.7 million in Emergency Rental Assistance funding, which has helped 5,150 low-income renters stay in their homes.
In-Person assisted application intake events, canceled in January due to COVID, resume in February. In-person sessions will be held in Upper Darby, 20 South 69th St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 5, 12, 19, and 26. Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, call (484) 729-4200 or email at info@delco-era.com.
Note: In-person intakes are for those without access to a computer, need help scanning & uploading documents, need language services, or simply prefer in-person assistance.
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Mercy Fitzgerald Test Site Extended through February 28; Testing available 7 days per Week | | |
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The high-volume drive-thru COVID-19 testing facility at Mercy Fitzgerald, operated under the direction of the Health and Human Services’ Increasing Community Access to Testing Team (ICATT), in coordination with the County of Delaware and Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, will remain in operation through February 28, operating seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
This site, in combination with the high-volume PCR & Rapid Test site, operated 6 days of week, by Personic at the Delaware County Emergency Services Training Center in Sharon Hill, provides County residents with two free, easily accessible, high-volume sites.
These sites are in addition to testing offered at the Delaware County Wellness Center in Yeadon on Mondays and the Keystone First Wellness Center on Wednesdays.
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Expansion of Watkins Avenue Senior Center COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics | | |
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Effective Sunday, February 6, the Delaware County Wellness Center in Yeadon will close indefinitely due to ongoing construction work required to expand and upgrade the site in anticipation of the site’s use for the future Delaware County Health Department.
In order to maintain robust vaccination capabilities, the COVID-19 Task Force will be expanding hours of operation at the Watkins Avenue Senior Center, providing free COVID-19 vaccinations on Tuesdays from Feb. 8 through Mar. 29, and on Fridays from Feb. 11 through April 1. Both walk-ins and appointments are available.
COVID-19 vaccinations continue to be offered on Wednesdays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Keystone First Wellness Center in Chester, in addition to ad hoc community-based vaccine clinics that the Task Force will continue to sponsor and support while the pandemic continues.
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Introducing COSA: The Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging | |
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COSA is the Department of County Government responsible for planning, coordinating and administering programs and services for the County's population 60 and older.
COSA offers a wide range of services to the County's older population, from senior centers to nursing home eligibility determination, legal services, senior centers, volunteer opportunities and so much more. COSA’s primary focus is helping older persons remain in their home as long as possible, even when eligible for nursing home care, through the provision of home and community-based services.
COSA is an information resource for persons of any age needing information on benefits and services available to older persons.
Anyone interested in determining eligibility for any of COSA’s programs and services can call COSA at (610) 490-1300 or visit their website to complete an online referral form.
COSA is also the county agency authorized by Act 1987-79, The Older Adults Protective Services Act, to investigate reports of abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment of persons age sixty and over. Reports of Need can be made anonymously and confidentiality is assured. Reports can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling COSA at (610) 490-1300.
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Delaware County's Medical Reserve Corps: An Unprecedented January & A Call for Volunteers | | |
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Delaware County's Medical Reserve Corps continues to provide invaluable, life-saving assistance to our hospitals, clinics, and community health sites as the surge associated with the Omicron variant challenges our health care system and health care workers to an unprecedented degree.
On behalf of the residents of Delaware County, we thank you!
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In January alone, over 700 volunteers gave over 2,600 hours of service, providing expertise and irreplaceable care seven days a week at over a dozen locations across the county.
The MRC has delivered critical support in the ER departments at Crozer-Keystone Medical Center in Upland, the Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill, Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, and at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Yeadon, and has helped ensure the large-scale dissemination of vaccine at multiple Community-based clinics, including the Delaware County Wellness Center in Yeadon, the Keystone First Wellness Center in Chester, at vaccine clinics at the Watkins Avenue Senior Center and Christ Lutheran Church in Upper Darby, the Ever Abundant Life Church in Darby, at MLK Day of Service clinics in Chester and at an employee booster drive at the Government Center in Media.
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Overall, the Delaware County COVID-19 Task Force—through the combined efforts of the MRC, County staff, and other health partners in the community—has now provided over 170,000 vaccine doses (including over 2,200 homebound vaccinations). The number of lives saved, and illnesses prevented, has been incalculable.
The MRC continues to look for new volunteers to step up and join those who have already answered the call. MRC volunteers are serving in both medical and non-medical roles including assisting nurses, providing patient comfort, sanitizing medical equipment, assisting healthcare staff in the hospital setting, and supporting vaccine and testing sites, reception centers and shelters.
The MRC is an affiliate of the Citizen Corps of Delaware County. To learn more, or to become an MRC volunteer, please visit the Citizen Corps website and click the “Volunteer” button.
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Our COVID-19 Update: February 2, 2022 | |
Delaware County’s Interim Physician Advisor Lisa O'Mahony, M.D. provides the the most recent Delaware County COVID-19 Task Force Update, addressing recent positive trends regarding Delco positivity rates, case counts, and hospitalizations. | | | | |
