Newsletter: Friday, February 4th

Black History Month 2022 – Black Health and Wellness

The 2022 theme for Black History Month is “Black Health and Wellness”. Black History Month always focuses on acknowledging the achievements and legacy of prominent black figures throughout history (such as Martin Luther King Jr, Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks). This year, it focuses on Black scholars, doctors and healthcare workers in Western medicine, as well as other professions (such as doulas, midwives, naturopaths etc.). It also focuses on the history of inequality in healthcare for African-Americans and other minorities.

Throughout history, American healthcare has repeatedly underserved the African-American community. Unfortunately, this has also been true during COVID-19. Without equal access to great heath care, African Americans and other minorities remain vulnerable. To learn more, see the list of resources below:

Mary Eliza Mahoney, Source: womenshistory.org

A few notable African-Americans in Medicine (to learn more, see here):

Source: UnitedWay


A great way to support our African-American communities in Oregon is to support Black-led non-profits! Visit the websites below to learn more. For a full list, see here.

Black History Month – Local Events

Portland Trail Blazers: Celebration of Black History

Source: NBA.com

Join the Portland Trail Blazers in honoring the city’s Black & African American community! This event will feature special performances, retail items and fundraising efforts to benefit BEAM Village, Black Educational Achievement Movement.

Tickets can be found here! Free Rip City Beanie with Ticket Purchase.

Date/Time: Saturday, February 12th / 2:00PM

Location: Moda Center, 1 N Center Ct St, Portland, OR 97227

 

32nd Annual Cascade Festival of African Films (Africa Through African Lenses)

Join the free, virtual festival through Portland Community College, February 4-March 5 2022. There will be four films shown in person with a limited capacity to allow for distancing. Proof of full vaccination and a face covering are required.

In person screenings:

NW Black Comedy Festival: February 17-20, 2022

Source: Facebook

This year’s festival is taking place at two venues in Northeast Portland; Alberta Abbey and Curious Comedy Theater. Featuring 11 showcases, live podcasts and over 60 Black comics from all over the world! Event list and ticket information here.

 

Portland Jazz Festival: February 17-26, 2022

Source: pdxjazz.org

Tickets On Sale Now! There will also be many free public performances (more information coming soon). Participants must be fully vaccinated and wear a face covering within venues.

CPI stands in solidarity with our African American communities. To create true equity, we need to educate ourselves, talk about race and inequality with our families and friends, and support Black communities, issues and businesses!

IMPORTANT: Changes to Medicaid Redeterminations/Renewals

Make sure to follow up on any notices related to Medicaid eligibility and renewals!

During the pandemic, people who did not renew their Medicaid were not dropped from services, but soon, that may no longer be the case.  When the public health emergency ends, anyone who does not complete this redetermination process, when requested, may have their Medicaid benefits closed, which would also result in the loss of DD services. 

If individuals receive a letter stating it is time to renew, it is very important to complete the renewal process by the date stated on the letter. 

If individuals received a letter about this in the past that they did not pay attention to, it is very important to take care of this NOW.

To streamline this process, individuals can create an account at ONE.oregon.gov. This will let individuals submit their application, and securely upload any needed documentation, online.  After completing the on-line application, individuals may see their application “pend” to complete a phone interview.  This can be scheduled by calling the ONE customer service center at 1-800-699-9075 (between 7-8AM are the shortest wait times). Phone interviews may also be arranged by calling any DHS office for Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) and scheduling a time to speak with an Eligibility Specialist. If individuals do not know the phone number for this office, they can contact their PA. Renewal interviews may also be scheduled for an in-person appointment at a local APD office.

One of the benefits of creating an online account first, is that the Rights and Responsibilities can be agreed to on the website instead of over the phone, which saves time. There is also an option to designate a Community Partner (like Community Pathways) to help advise individuals about their application status and the notices they may be receiving though their ONE account.

If individuals are not confident doing the renewal on their own, or run into problems, they can ask their PA for assistance.  It can also be helpful to inform their PA if they receive a renewal notice. CPI is not currently informed of impending renewals so individuals and families have to let us know if they need assistance.

COVID-19 Testing Resources and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

CPI has recently created a central place on our website with COVID-19 Testing information. We discuss how to find a testing site, who should get tested and why, as well as sharing information on at-home COVID tests.

CPI is expecting a large shipment of N95 masks and testing kits. If worn properly, N95 masks are very effective at protecting from COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. Testing kits are self-testing and will be available for CPI customers*.  Watch our website for information on when the testing kits will be available. If CPI customers need masks or testing kits, they can contact their PA to arrange a time to pick them up at the CPI offices.

*Self-testing kits are available for individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or if someone they live with has tested positive for COVID-19 or is showing COVID-19 symptoms.

 

At-Home COVID Tests

At-home and over-the-counter COVID-19 testing kits are available without a prescription. They can be bought at pharmacies, in retail stores or online, although they are still hard to find right now. At-home tests are convenient and results are shown quickly. For more information about at-home covid tests (including insurance information), see our website.

At-home tests will come with detailed instructions, but they may be confusing. For more information about self-testing, see here.

Every household in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests! Orders will ship in 7-12 days. If individuals need help ordering the tests, they may contact their PA. As discussed in the previous section, CPI will soon have a stock of at-home COVID-19 tests. Stay tuned for more information!

 

Community COVID-19 Testing Information

Individuals can find FREE test sites here, information on testing in K-12 schools here or visit the Oregon Testing and Vaccine Locator here.

People who need help finding a testing site can call 211, or contact their PA.

Individuals with health insurance can also contact their provider to find testing sites. Most insurance providers cover the costs of COVID-19 testing and care. Individuals with an Oregon Health Plan (OHP) are covered for testing.

Individuals who need health coverage may qualify for OHP, which is free. Learn more here. Visit Oregon Health Care for local assistance.

*Do not visit an emergency department for testing, unless emergency care is required for severe COVID-19 symptoms. Emergency departments in Oregon are under a lot of strain.

Who should get tested?

If someone has symptoms of COVID-19 they should get tested regardless of their vaccination status.  Stay home and away from others while waiting for COVID test results.

If someone was in close contact to a person who has COVID-19, they should get tested no matter what their vaccination status is. “Close contact” means being within six feet of someone for 15 minutes or more over the course of a day, with or without a mask or face covering.

If someone is fully vaccinated:

  • Get tested 5-7 days after the last contact with someone who has COVID-19

If someone is not fully vaccinated:

  • Get tested after they know they had close contact with someone who has COVID-19. If test results are negative, get tested again 5-7 days after the last contact, or right away if they have symptoms.

 

More Information

Individuals should call their health provider or testing site before they attend their testing appointment to make sure the testing site accepts their insurance or has free options available.

If someone has flu-like symptoms or has any reason to think they may have COVID-19, they should not attend their appointment. This will help avoid exposing anyone else to COVID-19.

Learn what the different results of COVID-19 tests mean and what next steps may be required here.

For more FAQ’s about testing, see here.

 

County Specific COVID-19 Testing Resources

Multnomah County COVID-19 Testing Resources

Clackamas County COVID-19 Testing Resources

  • Homebound Clackamas County residents are eligible for in-home testing. To set up an appointment, individuals should contact their PA or email covidtesting@clackamas.us, call 503-742-5963 or fill out this survey.

Washington County COVID-19 Testing Resources

OHSU Pregnancy Study – Community Partners Wanted

OHSU is developing an accessible, interactive app to help people with IDD to make decisions about family planning, including what it means if they want to get pregnant. The app will also help people with child bearing abilities, think through the supports they would need and the steps they would take towards a healthy pregnancy (if that is their goal). The app will also help with action steps for postponing pregnancy, if they aren’t ready. The idea is to reduce unplanned pregnancies, and help support healthy pregnancies! Dr. Willi Horner-Johnson from OHSU is leading the project, along with scientists from OHSU, PSU and Syracuse University.

OHSU is looking for individuals with IDD between the ages of 18-45 who could possibly get pregnant (or who have already been pregnant) to be Community Partners (co-researchers). Community Partners will help OHSU to design the app and research tools to go with it. Stipends for each meeting are available for participants – the opinions, input and ideas of the IDD community are extremely important in order for the app to work well for those using it!

What will the Community Partners do?

Community Partners are an important part of the research team. Community Partners will help study staff and scientists with things like:

  • Designing fliers to recruit research participants

  • Deciding what to ask participants about their pregnancy experiences and how they have decided to get pregnant or not get pregnant

  • Understanding what we learn from participants about their experiences

  • Deciding what survey questions to ask participants about the most important things they need in a phone app

  • Testing the survey to make sure everything works, and the survey questions are easy to understand

  • Understanding what we learn from the survey about participants’ needs

  • Deciding what to include in the phone app and how it should look and sound

  • Giving feedback on draft versions of the app to make sure it’s right

How much time will it take?

The project is five years long (ending in August 2026). The team is planning to meet one or two times a month, with meetings lasting about 2 hours each.

How will meetings work?

Meetings will be held online, using Zoom. At the first meeting, Community Partners will create guidelines for working well together. Participants will share their opinions, ideas, and thoughts about the project and will make decisions about the project by voting on choices.

Project staff will try and make it easy to participate by:

  • Making meeting materials accessible and sending them in advance

  • Holding pre-meetings for anyone who wants time to review materials

  • Offering support to CAB members during and in between meetings

  • Asking for feedback on what works well and what we could do better

How can community members get involved?

Individuals can get involved by contacting their PA, filling out this form (both front and back) and returning it to Willi Horner-Johnson at hornerjo@ohsu.edu.  

Staff Highlight – Arlen Bynum, Personal Agent Specialist

Arlen, at the 2017 IDDAC Holiday Toy and Sunshine event

This month, we caught up with one of CPI’s long-term employees, Arlen Bynum! Arlen has been with CPI since 2008, as a Personal Agent and Personal Agent Specialist. We asked Arlen about his history with the company and with the IDD community, how the pandemic has affected his work and home life, and what he’s most looking forward to in 2022!

Hello Arlen! Can you tell us a bit about your background working with people in the I/DD community, and your history with CPI?

I started working with people with I/DD while I was in college studying social work after the director of a local provider agency presented at one of my classes about their summer program. After graduating, I worked at that agency for several more years providing behavioral supports for youth before moving to Portland. Not too long after moving here, I saw a job posting for a title called Personal Agent and thought it sounded like an exciting opportunity to be a part of a new and, well, personal take on case management. That was over 13 years ago, and while a lot has changed over those years, I’m grateful to continue to be in a position to help put people first.


What is a “Personal Agent Specialist”, and what should the CPI community know about it?

As a PA Specialist, I get to continue to do the same work I’ve always done as a PA with the customers on my caseload while also getting to help train and mentor new PAs, help some of our customers who don’t have Medicaid apply for OHP as an OHP Assister, do some QA duties, work on some processes, along with some other odds and ends responsibilities including sitting on some different committees.

What are your favorite things about working in the I/DD community?

Arlen in 2019

I love getting to work with so many different people from all slices of life and the community at large who all carry their unique experiences, joys, and hardships with them. It is a privilege to get to share in some small way each of their life journeys, and to have the opportunity to support them in the role I have as their PA.


How has your work and home life changed since the pandemic began? Are there any silver linings to spending more time at home? What has been the most challenging?

It has definitely been a big adjustment overall. I’m thankful that I’ve been able to work from home during this time and have enjoyed being able to spend more time with my kids even through the challenge of juggling both work and family in this new way.

What are you most looking forward to in 2022?

I’m most looking forward to getting to meet people in person again, and continuing to grow as a person and in my role at CPI.

What is a really cool thing about you that we don’t know?

I grew up in Bolivia as a kid and in the Dominican Republic as a teenager. These experiences strongly influenced my worldview and gave me a lot of perspective on the diversity of people and cultures that are out there, and how much the uniqueness and differences between people can be a uniting factor in our humanity.

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us Arlen! We’re so lucky to have you as part of the CPI Team!

Valentine’s Day Recipe - Shortbread Heart Cookies (via food network)

Source: Delish.com

Share these cute, melt-in-your-mouth cookies with friends and family this Valentine’s Day! The only special equipment you will need is a heart-shaped cookie cutter.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature

  • 1 cup sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • Optional: extra sugar or pink and red sprinkles for decorating

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

  2. In a large bowl, mix together the butter and sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla and stir to combine.

  3. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix just until the dough starts to come together. If the dough is too crumbly and doesn't hold together, add 1 tablespoon of water to the mixture and combine.

  4. Dump the dough onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.

  5. Take the dough out of the fridge and roll the dough 1/2-inch thick.

  6. Cut into heart shapes. Place the hearts on a parchment-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with extra sugar or sprinkles. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown.

  7. Allow to cool to room temperature. Enjoy!

Office Closure – President’s Day

Our offices will be closed on Monday, February 21st in observance of President’s Day.

Upcoming Events

Portland Parks & Rec Adaptive & Inclusive Recreation (AIR) Virtual Dance - DISNEY!

Source: Expedia

Join AIR for a night of Disney tunes tonight via Zoom!

Date/Time: Friday, February 4th / 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Join on Zoom here!

Meeting ID: 824 6845 3418

Passcode: 476476

 

Financial Goals and Tools + Able Savings Plan Learning Series

In this six session series, participants will learn to set financial goals for self-determination and independence.

Participants will be young adults with I/DD who are transitioning to adulthood, as well as their caregivers.

In this learning series participants will:

  • Learn about creating and maintaining a budget 

  • Learn the difference between a financial need and want

  • Learn the differences between traditional banks and credit unions 

  • Receive $150.00 dollars to open an ABLE Savings Plan

Sessions will run virtually every Tuesday, beginning on February 8th, 6:00-7:30PM. Register today!

 

Family, Independence, Relationships & Empowerment (FIRE) Circle – New Cycle starting Feb 2022!

Join FIRE Circle, a therapeutic telehealth group that sparks conversations among those who identify with Neurodivergence and being on the Autism Spectrum. FIRE Circle creates space for individuals to process presented topics while developing socially and intentionally cultivating peer support.

Topics covered will range from: building new relationships and sustaining current ones, mindful speech and communication, coping with sensory sensitivities, and MORE!

The young adult group includes ages 18-24 and is Gender inclusive. The fee is $40 per session for each 6-week cycle. Individuals can register by emailing Kimberly Zeszutek LPC (She/Her) at Filteringlightcounseling@gmail.com.

Date/time: Thursdays (beginning in February) / 10:00AM – 11:30 AM

Location: Zoom

 

PHAME Gala, Preregistration

Source: PHAME

Pre-Register for the PHAMEtastic Gala today! Jason Rouse and Jessica Dart are back to host another PHAME Virtual Gala! Enter the PHAME costume contest, bid on auction items, enjoy some amazing performances and help make a difference for adults in the IDD community!

Date/Time: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 / Preshow 6:00 PM / Livestream 6:30 PM

Location: Online

Preregister here!