Commissioner Adrian Garcia is announcing the launch of the “Senior Care Facility Task Force” to ensure seniors, who are among the most at-risk during the Coronavirus pandemic, are not forgotten. The group will hold discussions with operators of Precinct 2 senior living facilities and will use this information to present a set of recommendations for how to navigate the current crisis and keep residents and facilities safe. The task force features experts from an array of sectors related to all aspects of crisis management and senior facility care.
The members include: Dr. Raouf R. Arafat (Former Director, City of Houston Office of Surveillance and Public Health Preparedness), Rosalinda Martinez(Associate State Director, Outreach and Advocacy at AARP), Claudia Aguirre (President and CEO, Baker-Ripley), and Michael Moore (Chief of Staff for former Houston Mayor Bill White, and point person for Mayor White for Houston’s response during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike).
“I am so proud to have some of the area’s brightest minds working with me on the Senior Facility Preparedness Task Force,” Commissioner Garcia said, “we are very concerned about our loved ones who are amongst the most vulnerable living in these residential facilities, as time and time again, we have seen that they can be hotspots for Coronavirus outbreaks. This task force hopes to establish a set of recommendations for the more than 150 locations in Precinct 2 that can then be applied county-wide.”
The members of this task force bring a wealth of experience and insight to senior programming, engagement, epidemic detection/response, and disaster response and recovery. The set of guidelines and recommendations produced by the task force could serve as a framework for other senior care facilities throughout Harris County.
With recent funding from the community and private foundations, such as the Leslie L. Alexander Foundation,Second Servings andHess Corporation are expanding the“Dinner’s On Us” program to provide take-home chef-prepared family meals toall Houstonians in need.
“Serving Houston’s hospitality workers is what inspired the Dinner’s On Us program,” Second Servings Founder Barbara Bronstein said. “However, we’re excited to expand the program to the entire community, thanks to the generous support we’ve received.”
Beginning Thursday, April 23, the “Dinner’s On Us” meals will be available to the public, exclusively on a drive-thru basis. Second Servings’ volunteers will distribute 10,000+ meals weekly, prepared by Hess Corporation’s Food Services team, every Tuesday and Thursday between 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the LAM Parking Lot located at 702 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston, TX, 77003. Distribution will continue for as long as funding allows, and volunteers will adhere to all recommended social distancing protocols.
Please visit secondservingshouston.org/dinnersonus if you would like to support this program financially or to volunteer. The “Dinner’s On Us” Program was created by Second Servings, in partnership with Hess Corporation, BHW Capital, Iberia Bank, ACME Party & Tent Rental, PREFCO Distribution LLC, LAM Parking Lot and Sysco Houston. High-res photos available HERE.
“Dinner’s On Us” Distribution Details
WHAT: Free frozen chef-prepared, family-sized meals for the publicbeginning Thursday, April 23
In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities has launched a food access program for people with disabilities. This program will deliver shelf-stable goods, fresh produce, as well as some basic home necessities for people with disabilities who are finding it difficult to independently secure these items.
“We understand that across our city there are food insecurities,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “I am proud that my office for people with disabilities has set up a program to ensure that Houstonians with disabilities are not left behind during these trying times. I am also grateful for the generous contributions of Walmart, Sam’s Club, the Houston Food Bank, and Metro. Without their support, this program would not be possible.”
“The COVID-19 emergency has disrupted everyone’s daily living routines,” said Gabe Cazares, Director of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. “This is especially true for people with disabilities who are facing additional barriers in our every-day activities. I am proud of our partnerships with major retailers and nonprofits in Houston who have made this initial food drop possible. And we welcome the participation of additional corporate and nonprofit partners to assist us in continuing this program for our disability community.”
To learn more about thee MOPD Food Access Program, including ways to contribute, please visit www.houstontx.gov/disabilities or call 832-394-0814.
Mayor Sylvester Turner and Council Member Abbie Kamin announced a city-wide domestic violence awareness initiative to reach vulnerable populations and provide resources for victims. Local law enforcement and the Houston Area Women’s Center are tracking a rise in domestic violence incidents linked to the crisis.
HPD saw an increase of 8.72% percent in domestic violence calls for service in March compared to February 2020. The Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC) and the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) are partnering with the City so survivors know service providers are open, ready to help and are taking COVID-19 precautions.
The Mayor also announced a $50,000 grant from Uber to provide ride services to victims of human trafficking and domestic violence who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19’s stay at home order. Uber’s grant expands Mayor Turner’s existing human trafficking COVID-19 response and will assist in launching the city’s new domestic violence response in light of increased reports.
“We cannot tolerate victims suffering in silence while home at the hands of their domestic abusers,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “I want to thank Uber for stepping forward and providing $50,000 in rides to ensure that they have a safe way to move around. I also want to thank HAWC and the HCDVCC who have worked tirelessly during this crisis.”
The city’s and coalition partners’ efforts include: Rolling out a social media campaign designed by HAWC and the HCDVCC featuring safety tips, hotline numbers, and videos by Houston Dash players.HAWC and HCDVCC launching a new website, www.nocovidabuse.org, which contains vital information and resources.Leveraging OEM’s messaging delivery systems to ensure people know the DV service providers are open and are able to help.Partnering with the Houston Food Bank to place DV resource flyers in distributed boxes and bags.HEB will assist with printing flyers for these distributions.Providing $50,000 in Uber rides for human trafficking and domestic violence victims as needed.The city is also helping to address the need for short-term hotel lodging for victims since shelters have to reduce their populations to allow for social distancing. “We may be apart, but victims of domestic violence are not alone. I am grateful to all of our community partners, and our law enforcement agencies, for working together with us to reach as many people as possible,” said Councilmember Abbie Kamin. “We also call on all residents to be aware, to be vigilant, and to help others in need by sharing this information. We will continue to do everything we can to make sure Houstonians are safe.”
“We want to build on our existing presence in Houston and do our small part to help during this challenging time,” said Uber’s Trevor Theunissen, Director Public Affairs. “This is part of our global commitment to provide 10 million free rides and food deliveries to healthcare workers, seniors, and people in need. We’re grateful for Mayor Turner’s leadership on this issue and will continue to work with more organizations to move whatever matters.”
If you are a victim of domestic violence, help is available at (713) 528-2121. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Fort Bend County, TX – County Judge KP George announced that the county has updated its website with all available race and ethnicity data for residents of Fort Bend County who have tested positive for COVID-19. The data will be updated daily when new reports are received.
“I am committed to transparency and that means releasing data about the novel coronavirus cases accurately and quickly,” said County Judge KP George. “I ask everyone of all ages, genders, races and areas in Fort Bend to help stop the spread of this virus in our county by social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks in public places.”
CURRENT DATA: The race and ethnicity COVID-19 breakdown as of today (4/21/20) is on the websites and shows this data: Of the confirmed cases with race and ethnicity reported, 34% are Black, 22% are Hispanic, 21% are Asian, 19% are White and 4% are other. The total deaths are 18 and of those, 9 were White, 4 were Hispanic, 3 were Asian and 2 were Black.
REPORTING METHODOLOGY: Fort Bend County receives reports of notifiable diseases from multiple sources, which include hospitals, doctors and laboratories. The reports have varying amounts of information on them. Up to now, Fort Bend has posted the data from the reports online for gender, age and zip code. The County did not initially report the race and ethnicity online because not all the reports have that information. However, due to the heightened national interest in race and ethnicity data, Fort Bend County has begun adding that information to its online hub daily.
REPORTING DETAILS: The county’s health department is working with various reporting sources to go backwards and capture as much of the race and ethnicity information as possible for all the reported cases. The additional case data will be updated on the website as it is received, with two caveats. There is a lag in reporting cases across the country so the information can be for older cases. Secondly, the data on the county website will likely never equal 100 percent of cases because some reports don’t include race and ethnicity.
To learn more about the health issues related to coronavirus (COVID-19) in Fort Bend County, please visit fbchealth.org/ncov
METROLift is partnering with the city of Houston, the Houston Food Bank, Walmart and Sam’s Club to make sure no family goes hungry during the COVID-19 crisis.
Today, the city announced the program to deliver groceries to those in need.Thanks to a $30,000 donation from Walmart, beginning Friday, April 24, METROLift will make 500 grocery deliveries each week. The agency is proud to support this worthy cause while the city and county’s “Stay Home” order remain in effect.Anyone interested in signing up, or learning more about the program can call 832-394-0814 or go to the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Website.
The Houston Food Bank is America’s largest food bank in distribution, leading hunger relief in 18 southeast Texas counties.
Governor Greg Abbott today provided an update on job openings in the Lone Star State and outlined resources for Texans seeking employment due to the economic effects of COVID-19. The Governor also announced that nearly 500,000 job openings are currently listed on WorkInTexas.com, a powerful online job matching and workforce solution system developed by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). This system provides fast access to a complete set of employment tools in one website where job seekers can browse job postings, find education and training, and complete resumes and state applications.
The Governor presented different industries and certain employers that are hiring in each region of Texas and announced that many companies — including H-E-B, Amazon, and Randalls — are hiring statewide. Governor Abbott also discussed additional resources available through the 28 local workforce development boards located throughout the state of Texas. The local workforce solutions offices are also available to employers of all sizes who can receive assistance in recruiting, identifying, and hiring qualified individuals. These services are available to both employers and job seekers at no cost.
Job seekers can visit Texas Economic Development and Tourism’s Texas Jobs page for links to all 28 local workforce development boards. The webpage also contains additional COVID-19 resources for employers and job seekers alike.
“As we continue to slow the spread of COVID-19, we are also working to alleviate the severe economic devastation that has impacted so many Texans,” said Governor Abbott. “People are ready to get to work and earn a paycheck again, and the State of Texas is committed to connecting Texans with the many job opportunities that exist throughout the state. I thank the Texas Workforce Commission, our local workforce organizations, and businesses across the state who are working tirelessly to connect Texans with job openings during these challenging times.”
Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday named former Shell Oil Co. Chairman and President Marvin E. Odum as the city’s COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Czar.
In this role, Odum will work with business leaders, chambers of commerce, employee groups, and nonprofit organizations on a plan to safely and responsibly restart Houston’s economy. Odum will also work on strategies to address the challenges faced by the city’s vulnerable and at-risk populations, develop a plan to avoid the resurgence of community spread, and help the city prepare for a future pandemic or viral attack.
“Marvin is no stranger to working on disaster recovery, as he previously served as Houston’s Chief Recovery Officer after Hurricane Harvey,” Mayor Turner said. “From all sectors, he received rave reviews for the team he assembled, the task force he created, and the collaborations he forged. Marvin is the right person for the job.”
During his time as Houston’s Chief Recovery Officer, Odum was credited with working successfully with regional, state, and federal partners to secure funding for housing and reform policies. He broke new ground in disaster recovery and helped move Houston forward as a more resilient city.
“To be clear, this is about keeping people safe and getting people back to work and re-energizing our economy,” said Odum. “We have been charged with completing the plans that reflect the delicate balance between the need to return to work with the necessary vigilance required to keep people safe and healthy.”
Mayor Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo have had numerous conversations about the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 health crisis. Odum will work directly with the county’s designated representative to forge a cohesive strategy and a plan for Houston and Harris County.
“Over the past two months, we have aggressively worked to save lives and blunt the progression of coronavirus, and we see positive results, but the virus is not yet under control. Before we send people back to work and reopen businesses, we must also have robust, ubiquitous testing. We also must consider what happens if we reopen the economy, and we start to see an increase in the number of positive cases,” said Mayor Turner.
“You can expect that this plan with be gradual and phased, and I’m sure we all understand why things cannot immediately return to normal,” said Odum. “We will need the continued cooperation of all Houstonians to ensure this plan is successful, and we will provide more details as soon as possible.”
Odum served as Chairman/President of Shell Oil Company from 2008-16 and was a director/executive committee member of Royal Dutch Shell. In addition to working with and investing in several technology-based start-up companies, Odum is a board member of Europe-based Stena international and Stena Drilling, CEO of TerraLithium and Chairman of AAL LLC – focused on low carbon energy technologies. He is a board member of the National Urban League and MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the Dean’s Council for Harvard’s JFK School of Government, advisory board for University of Texas’s Cockrell School of Engineering and co-chair of the capital campaign for the University of Houston which has exceeded its goal of raising $1 billion.
In March 2020, BakerRipley honored Marvin and his wife, Mariloli, with the Alice Graham Baker Award for their work on Hurricane Harvey recovery and their commitment to help vulnerable communities.
Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas National Guard will be mobilizing more than 1,200 personnel as part of COVID-19 mobile testing teams (MTT). The 45 member teams will be mobilized in various parts of the state providing greater access to medical testing. The areas for these MTTs will be identified by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) with the first two of the 25 teams deployed to Fredericksburg and Floresville, Texas. The remaining 23 teams will be deployed to additional locations based on assessments made by DSHS.
“The State of Texas continues to expand our COVID-19 testing capacities and ensure that communities across the Lone Star State have access to the resources they need,” said Governor Abbott. “I am grateful for the dedication of our Guardsmen as they continue to serve their fellow Texans throughout the COVID-19 response.”
“COVID-19 testing is a crucial mission in our fight against this virus,” said Maj. Gen. Tracy R. Norris, adjutant general of Texas. “We are proud to support our partners TDEM and DSHS in bringing this critical capacity to areas in need of medical support.”
The teams will have 11 medical professionals and support staff, as well as 34 soldiers. Currently, the Texas National Guard has the capacity to test 150 people per day at each mobile testing team location.
The Texas Military Department was activated by Governor Abbott in March to assist communities across Texas in the COVID-19 response. Currently, over 2,500 Guardsmen are serving in various capacities in response to this activation. In working with local communities they have helped manufacture over four million pieces of personal protective equipment, conducted over 9,000 COVID-19 tests, and helped distribute food and supplies with local food banks to thousands of Texans each day.
The MTTs are in collaboration with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and DSHS.
During these uncertain times, Lone Star College-University Park is finding ways to offer support and encouragement to students and the community. LSC-University Park is emphasizing the importance of community involvement, unity and perseverance during times when most people feel social distancing is costing human connection. The college found a creative solution to connect faculty, staff, students and community through a video project that shares a message of hope. The “UPlifting Notes” video has been viewed by thousands and shared across multiple social media platforms.
“At LSC-University Park, we value our relationships with our students and community and want them to know that we are their community’s college,” said Dr. Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park president. “Through “UPlifting Notes,” we hope our students and community feel more connected to our college even when they cannot physically be at our college. Even though social distancing may put miles between us, our caring and compassionate faculty and staff are always here for them. We understand many of our students are going through troubling times, and I hope this video gets the message out that we have been and always will be here to help.”
The video includes LSC-University Park administrators, faculty, staff and students alongside family and first responders seemingly passing notes of positive sentiment to one another. However, the video utilized the camera frame as a point of connection so that none of the participants were in the same space and could participate from home.
“This time in our country and communities is unprecedented and people are facing many unknowns. Our college wanted to show that there is still ample opportunity for positive connection and that we’re all in this together,” said Keri Porter, LSC-University Park chief strategist of innovation and research. “People throughout our college were excited to participate and bring smiles to our students, co-workers and community.”
“Our family participated in the video because the COVID-19 pandemic has created a feeling of isolation around the globe,” said Catherine Dumond, LSC-University Park dean of enrollment management. “This was a chance for us to spread some positivity and ensure that everyone knows they are supported. I love how the video turned out and we were so happy to be part of it!”
So far, the video has had more than 3,000 views and over 100 shares across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. To watch the video, visit bit.ly/UPliftingNotesVideo1. The video is also available on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for sharing to spread positivity in your own circle.
The college hopes to release a follow-up video to further brighten the social media feeds of those practicing social distancing at this time. The college is continuing to accept “UPlifiting Notes” videos submissions at bit.ly/UPliftingNotes.
The college continues to explore multiple methods of connecting and communicating with students, faculty and staff and have developed a range of resources responsive to their needs as they learn and work remotely. From Cisco WebEx seminars on study habits and managing anxiety, to live open forums with administration, all resources ensure students and employees are taking care of themselves and have the knowledge to succeed in an online format. Students are continuously engaged as the LSC-University Park Office of Student Life hosts virtual museum tours and crafting events online. The college plans to release further training on mental health and well-being in the coming weeks, including a panel discussion on the psychological and sociological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information about LSC-University Park and registration for the summer and fall semesters, visit LoneStar.edu/UP or email UP-Information@LoneStar.edu.
Established in 2012, Lone Star College-University Park has been recognized as one of the fastest growing and most innovative institutions of higher education in the country. Under its founding president, Dr. Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park is devoted to impacting the community’s prosperity and upward mobility through student success. The college’s competent and compassionate faculty and staff provide students with holistic and immersive education and training in disciplines and industries that meet current and future workforce needs. Standout college facilities include the Center for Science & Innovation, the Energy & Manufacturing Institute, the Learning Innovation Labs and the Geology Rock Wall. For more information about LSC-University Park, please visit LoneStar.edu/UP or call 281.290.2600.
Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 99,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. LSC consists of seven colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.
