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North Adams COA January Newsletter
Adams COA January Newsletter
Williamstown COA Facebook Page for Calendar & Updates
Child Care of the Berkshires January Calendar
North Adams Public Library Calendar
Milne Library Calendar
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED::
2024 Williams College Winter Basketball Clinic through Special Olympics MA
Basketball clinic for athletes ages 5 through 18 at Williams College. Both Traditional Athletes and Unified Partners are welcome! A traditional athlete is an individual diagnosed with an intellectual disability. A Unified Partner is an individual not diagnosed with an intellectual disability. The program will run on Sunday mornings from 11 am to 12:30 pm in the Chandler Gymnasium on the following dates: January 7th, January 14th and January 21st.
Register here: https://www.specialolympicsma.org/play-sports/find-sports-programs-near-you?*=williams
If you do not receive a confirmation email after registering, please contact Ops@SpecialOlympicsMA.org
The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission is working with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute on a long-term plan to improve internet and electronic device access, affordability, and digital literacy. We identified your organization as either one currently providing residents digital support, or a trusted community resource positioned to do so.
We would like to know your interest in expanding your work or starting new programs. Please take this short survey about your capacity to provide digital services and what you need to bolster your work in these areas.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/digitaldivideBerkshires
BRTA Service will be FREE from November 24 through December 31, 2023.
Open Enrollment is now through January 23, 2023. Now is the time Massachusetts individuals and families can apply and enroll in health and dental coverage and see if you qualify for free or lower-cost coverage like MassHealth, ConnectorCare plans, or a tax credit. If you or someone you know is looking for public health insurance options such as coverage through MassHealth of Massachusetts Health Connector we may be able to help. MassHealth not only provides health insurance coverage but may also provide “Premium Assistance” to qualifying individuals who are enrolled in employer plans. Ecu-Health Care provides a free public service and is available to assist with applications, annual reviews and renewals, plan selection and enrollment, submission of requests for information or just general information. Give us a call at 663-8711 to schedule an appointment with one of our Health Coverage Counselors. The Ecu-Health Care staff wishes you and your families all the best during this holiday season.
Social Service’s Funding Opportunity
The City of North Adams is soliciting proposals from not-for-profit social service agencies and licensed providers to provide funding for their agency services that will be part of its upcoming FY’24 CDBG program year. This will be for a 12-month program with total moneys available at $40,000.
Project RFP packets are available at its Office of Community Development (OCD), Bid # NA-2023-017, City Hall on Monday, November 13, 2023, or viewed on the website of www.northadams-ma.gov. Proposals must be received no later than 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at the OCD (Room 107) in City Hall - 10 Main Street, North Adams. This project is contingent upon funding from the City’s FY’2024 Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, pursuant to Title I of the Housing & Community Development Act of 1974, which is anticipated on or about 7/1/2024.
Any questions concerning the proposed project should be directed to Michael Nuvallie, Director of the OCD, at 413-662-3000 (x-3227) or emailed at ocd@northadams-ma.gov.
Child Care of the Berkshires is conducting their Share the Warmth Winter Coat Drive. New or gently used children's winter coats can be dropped off at the clothing exchange, lower level, 210 State Street, North Adams. More info: 413-664-4821
Remedy Hall, a new charitable organization in Williamstown, MA., offering basic life necessities to those in need, free of charge. The “shop” will open on November 1 in room B4 of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main Street.
Remedy Hall plans to offer non-food necessities, such as personal hygiene items, winter clothing (hats, scarves, mittens, jackets), kitchenware, towels, blankets, etc. We will also stock tents and sleeping bags for those in the most dire of situations. We welcome tangible donations from the community.
If we don’t have something that satisfies an urgent need, we will work to find it.
Starting November 1st our hours are 1 to 5 Monday through Friday (subjectto expand as we get going). For those with urgent need, we are always available and can be reached through phone/text and Facebook messenger. 413-884-3051.
Join your neighbors, and start with a no-cost Mass Save Home Energy Assessment. You may be eligible for:
- No-cost energy-saving products
- Programmable thermostats, high-efficiency faucet aerators and showerheads, and advanced power strips
- Discounts on high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment and appliances
- No-cost air sealing
- 100% off for rental units and moderate income
- households
- 75-100% off approved insulation upgrades
If you or your tenants qualify as low-income, you may be eligible for
additional benefits through your Community Action Program (CAP)
agency. There are also benefits for 5+ unit buildings. Learn more on
the website below. Get your energy assessment today:
masssave.com/berkshires , (413) 613-4937
Beginning September 25, every U.S. household can again place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home. Before You Throw Out "Expired" Tests: Check to see if your COVID-19 tests' expiration dates have been extended.
SEEKING PARTICIPANTS:In this research study, supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, we are interested in learning how parents pass on anxiety to their kids and whether a smartphone app can help parents develop healthier mental habits and feel less anxious.
This is a fully remote study. If eligible, parents will be able to earn up to $360 in compensation. Here are some of the questions we are interested in:
- How do parents and kids mental habits and anxiety relate to each other?
- Can a smartphone app help parents develop healthier mental habits?
- Can helping parents with mental habits positively impact their kids?
Participation in this study includes:
(1) Completing an initial set of interviews, cognitive tasks and surveys on your home computer, tablet, or smartphone (2-3 hours).
(2) Completing brief exercises and assessments on your smartphone up to 3 times per week for 4 weeks.
(3) A post-assessment with tasks and surveys.
(4) A brief follow-up assessment and comprehensive report of your responses.
People can reach out to this email (mclcarelabstudies@partners.org) or call 617-855-2036. The direct link to our screening survey (which details the study and assesses eligibility) is https://redcap.link/rnpwi9n0, if you'd like to include that as well.
NB EMS has a partnership with Berkshire Post Overdose Program (BPOP) to send teams out and provide outreach to those who have recently experienced an overdose and/or are at risk for future overdose.
Outreach:
- Wellness checks
- Overdose education and Narcan leave behind
- Linkage to recovery supports
- Harm Reduction
- Treatment resources
- Linkage to additional community resources
Services to be offered in the field include, but are not limited to:
• Naloxone leave-behind/ training
• Provide a written resource guide such as the BOAPC palm card
• Provide a wellness check, including wound care and other health needs that can be addressed in the field by EMTs and Paramedics
• Check-in on current use / recovery. This could include offering harm reduction supplies, such as clean needles or safer smoking supplies, and a “warm hand-off” to a treatment/ recovery provider if the person is interested.
• Create an “Overdose Safety Plan” for the person, potentially involving family, friends and/or others in the building
• For those who voluntarily disclose they are in treatment, discuss challenges they may be facing and provide direct support to help overcome them (ie connection to transportation, assistance with forms,
etc) as well as additional options to consider (ie other recovery options, connection to Sublocade, etc)
• Linkage for other needs, such as social workers, housing agencies, mental health services and/or domestic violence resources, along with other ways to get them out into the community
Communities serviced at this time: North Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, Williamstown, Hancock, New Ashford, Monroe and Rowe. Please return any referrals directly to aoneil@northadamsambulance.com or they can be dropped off at 10 Harris St North Adams Ma.
The Mass Department of Public Health’s Community Health Equity Survey (CHES) has just been launched. We need to make sure we have rural voices and experiences in the survey results too! We sincerely hope you will take the survey, and that as a trusted partner in public health, that you will help us spread the word about it.
Some ways you can help:
- Send a link to family, friends, and colleagues in Massachusetts
- Promote the survey on organizational mailing lists
- Post about survey on social media
- Post flyers about the survey in places like beauty/barber shops, food pantries, grocery stores
- Use staff or volunteers to identify and support survey takers
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Promote the survey in your email signature. Just add “Take the Community Health Equity Survey: mass.gov/HealthSurvey” to your email signature.
Berkshire United Way is collecting a list of opportunities that are teen friendly.
https://www.volunteerberkshireuw.org/manager/need/edit/?need_id=821940
To add to the list contact Brenda Petell (she/her/hers)
Director of Volunteer Engagement, M: 413-212-1431
Message from NB EMS: Know someone who recently overdosed? Have you overdosed recently? We can help! NB EMS, in partnership with the Berkshire Post Overdose Program, will outreach to anyone who has recently experienced an overdose and/or is at risk for future overdose. We can provide wellness checks, overdose education and naloxone kits, links to recovery support, harm reduction (including supplies), treatment resource, community engagement outlets, overdose safety plans.. Find out more: 413-398-9155 or aoneil@northadamsambulance.com
The Adams Theater is offering FREE student tickets and community passes to their 2023 season. Available upon request at info@adamstheater.org
Welcome North County Residents!
Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont would love to meet you. Our career center is open on Thursday from 9:00-4:00 p.m.
Drop in and meet Kelly Brennan, Director of Mission Services and learn how she can
help you get ready for a job, build your resume or coach you for your interview.
(You can also call 413-442-0061 x35 to arrange an appointment on another day)
Is there room in your home and heart for a foster child? There are over 7,000 children in the MA foster care system. The Department of Children and Families is actively recruiting foster parents for children in your community. We are searching for individuals or families with the love and patience to help foster children. You can be single, married, partnered, divorced or widowed. You can own your home or rent.
Our goal is to provide our foster children with a supportive and healing environment in a home in their own community until they can be reunited with their families or another plan can be made on their behalf. The rewards of providing daily care, guidance and acceptance are immeasurable.
If you are thinking about becoming a foster parent, we urge you to call us today! Your local recruiter can be reached at
(413)387-7192
1800-KIDS-508/ mass.gov/dcf
BCAC has also launched a community needs survey to get feedback to inform their program planning for the next three years.
Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC) would like your input.
Your responses will help us to design or modify our programs to better meet your needs and the needs of our community. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. The information you provide will be confidential and you will/cannot be identified. Your input will help us with our program planning for the next three years. To take the survey, please go to the link below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T6K8G9N.
MassHire is now hosted in a satellite office in North Adams every Tuesday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at 85 Main Street, Suite 2, North Adams, MA (within the BCAC Office) to offer nearby support to residents of North County by appointment. The following services are available:
· Career Planning
- Employment Counseling
- Local Job Listings – Updated Daily
- Job Search Assistance
- Online Job Application Assistance
- Labor Market Information
- Occupational Skills Training Information (Eligibility Applies)
And if a customer contacts us needing something that is not listed, we are more than happy to discuss accommodations.CALL TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TIME TODAY! REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Call MassHire Berkshire Career Center at (413) 499-2220 Ext. 110 to book an appointment time. Appointment duration: 30 Minutes
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development understands that our schools are often called upon to assist in connecting families to key resources such as housing, health services and access to food. To assist in helping to connect you with these resources I wanted to share the links to our Massachusetts Housing Resource Guide that is available in both English and Spanish. This guide is also available in hard copy by emailing ma_webmanager@hud.gov. The guide includes information on a number of different housing and homeless services that are available to assist families. All of this information and a fillable online form to request housing support is also available on the BCRHA website: https://bcrha.com
Housing Navigator MA,Inc. is a tech nonprofit that aims to connect housing, tech, and design. Working with owners and public sector partners, we’ve built a database of income-restricted rentals from all over the state. Our work aims to connect people to a place called home by expanding access to affordable rental housing in MA through our work with 40+ owners who list their properties with us.For more information or to explore the site please visit https://housingnavigatorma.org.
Mass Health has launched a new program called Mitigating the Cost of Housing Program (MATCH).The program will allow clients to receive funds to support moving into a new apartment. This would include all managed care plans (Berkshire Fallon, Tufts Together, CommonWealth Care Alliance, MBHP).
- Eligible families can receive up to $5500 per member in their family. This means a family of four could get as much as $22,000
- To qualify you must be entering the community:
- Renting an apartment that is not currently in your name (just moving in/new lease)
- This could include new members to the community
- People house sharing
- People just getting out of Rehab, Prison or a Psychiatric Hospitalization
- Homeless and moving into an apartment
For more information and to review eligibility criteria please visit Masshealth's MATCH website.
North Adams Public Schools is establishing a roster of volunteers for a variety of opportunities in grades PK-12. Volunteer opportunities will vary with regard to time commitment and age groups of students that volunteers will work with. Opportunities can be tailored to meet all interests of all parties and can be short-term or longer-term commitments. Even if you are only available for only a few hours a year, opportunities that are low-commitment but high-impact arise all the time! We will reach out as matching volunteer positions become available. We ask any interested parties to complete this form. If you have questions about the questionnaire or volunteering with NAPS, please email familysupports@napsk12.org.
The Massachusetts telehealth service for COVID-19 treatment can now be accessed by a telephone number (833-273-6330) in addition to the website below. The telehealth service can tell you if the COVID-19 pill is right for you, and the pills can be sent to your pharmacy or to your home for free.Please see this new flyer and share this new resource with your residents. Translated versions will be ready soon.
Easy, free care for COVID-19 (color.com)
COVID-19 In-Home Vaccination Program (info link below). This is for anyone who has difficulty getting to,or using a community vaccination location, for whatever reason. This program is available statewide, including the Islands. Ages 6 months and up. (What a great way to get an entire busy family with young kids vaccinated – or folks who have transportation issues- or homebound elders!) More Information. All vaccine types (Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, and J&J) and boosters are available. You can sign up for an appointment by phone at (833) 983-0485 or online.
COVID-19 In-Home Vaccination Program | Mass.gov
MassHire is now sitting at the BCAC office every Tuesdays (9am-3pm). They are offering help with job searches (not unemployment). People can make an appointment by calling 413-499-2220. They do also accept walk-ins. Masks are required.
DTA North Adams Satellite Office located at 45 Main Street in North Adams. Effective October 1, the North Adams Satellite Office will be open for business on Tuesdays from 8:45am – 5:00pm; the office will no longer be open on Thursdays, after October 1. The agency will have signs on the door to notify clients and will be updating the mass.gov website.Clients can continue to use the DTA Assistance line 877-382-2363, DTA Connect mobile app and DTAConnect.com for their DTA needs.
BCAC is seeking volunteer van drivers! For those interest in learning more of applying please contact Michelle Sylvester at (413) 418-3675 or email: msylvester@bcacinc.org
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