Friends, As the end of summer draws near and we prepare for cooler weather, Michiganders look forward to a new season. This time of the year showcases some of Michigan’s best attributes, and I encourage you make plans to get outside and enjoy all our great state has to offer this season, in a safe, socially distant way. In this issue, I’ve included some resources and information especially pertinent as we start college and K-12 school years, the temperatures drop, and our fights for equality continue — all amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, my staff and I remain committed to doing all we can to assist you as well. If you are having difficulty with an unemployment claim, please fill out this form and do not hesitate to reach out to my office directly for any other questions or concerns. As always, please continue to treat each other with kindness and understanding. COVID-19 has impacted everyone in different ways. I do my best to ensure your voice is heard in Lansing, and I am humbled to serve as your state Senator. For legislative and community updates, follow me on Facebook or Twitter. Warmest Regards, |
Winnie Brinks IN THIS EDITION Important PFAS Webinar on Sept. 28 Important PFAS Webinar on Sept. 28 Michigan’s PFAS Response Team will be holding regional webinars to educate the public on the launch of investigations into sites with PFAS contamination exceeding the state’s new cleanup standards. These webinars are intended to inform local officials, legislators, residents, and the general public about the new investigations. They will provide information specific to each region on the new cleanup criteria and health information, as well as an overview of each of the new sites in the region. The webinar with important information for Senate District 29 will be held on Sept. 28. More information can be found here. Food Assistance for Elementary and Postsecondary Students School Meal Help for K-12 Students The COVID-19 crisis has shown us how critical our schools are to the well-being of Michigan’s families, especially the role schools play in the nutritional needs of our children. This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it would extend the ability of Michigan schools to use federal funding for key food programs that keep students fed during school closures. The extension allows families to get meals on weekdays and weekends, and it allows parents to pick up the meals at one designated site rather than at each child’s school. Schools have served roughly 80 million meals to students through this federal policy since the pandemic prompted the closure of schools statewide in March. This extension gives school districts flexibility through Dec. 31, or as long as the department can do so “legally and financially,” the USDA said in a statement. More information can be found here. Food Assistance for College Students Michigan’s Postsecondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) program provides funding to 28 community colleges, including Grand Rapids Community College, three public universities and one tribal college to support pathways to high-wage, high-skilled and in-demand careers that require less than a bachelor’s degree. Now, for the first time, low-income college students in Michigan who are enrolled at least half-time in a CTE program can apply for food assistance, a change that could affect nearly 16,000 students. Previously, making the decision to go to school full-time meant you could lose your food assistance. Our programs should support these educational pursuits, not make students choose between a meal and job training. This good news is particularly timely, as many students have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and may be in the difficult position of choosing between paying their rent or buying food. Further, many more Americans are facing greater food insecurity because of the pandemic. Students are encouraged to apply for food assistance benefits at Michigan.gov/MIBridges. Utility Bill Protections and Assistance During COVID-19 Are you worried about your utility bill? Help is available in a variety of formats. The Michigan Public Service Commission encourages any customer in need of utility bill assistance to first contact their utility company to ask what kind of protections, funding, flexible payment options, or energy-saving tools and resources are available. Many utilities have created or enhanced programs in light of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond that, you may also call 2-1-1 or go to www.mi211.org for energy assistance information or to learn about agencies that can help you with your energy bill. You can also apply for State Emergency Relief (SER) through MI Bridges or by contacting your local MDHHS office. Households who qualify for SER also qualify for assistance through the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), which provides supplemental bill payment assistance and energy self-sufficiency services. The State of Michigan has implemented changes to allow for faster processing of emergency requests and to make access to assistance benefits easier. Click here for more information about energy assistance. Black Breastfeeding Week: Focusing on Maternal and Infant Health Experts agree that maternal and infant health are areas of public health that serve as good indicators of the overall health of a society. These numbers can point to abnormalities and disparities in health care, and act as red flags for government and public health officials. Here in Michigan, Black infant death rates are higher than any other group, with babies being born too sick, preterm or with low birth weights. While we know that implicit bias and structural racism are major causes behind these sobering rates, we also know that providing breastfeeding support for Black mothers could be one way to improve outcomes. Breastfeeding offers many benefits to the nursing infant, including easy digestion, production of antibodies, and reduced risk of infections and childhood obesity. In mothers, breastfeeding is also proven to lead to faster recovery from birth, reduced risk for postpartum hemorrhage and uterine cancer, and considerable savings. Unfortunately, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has consistently found that hospitals serving neighborhoods with large Black populations are less likely to offer breastfeeding support after birth. This is one of the reasons we celebrate Black Breastfeeding Week in the last week of August, to bring attention to these gaps in support for Black women. Breastfeeding support can include helping women breastfeed within an hour of giving birth, having lactation consultants available, providing breast pumps, and avoiding formula supplementation for breastfeeding babies unless there is a medical reason. Importantly, this support should be offered in a culturally appropriate way. More information on Black Breastfeeding week can be found here. Locally, KConnects’ Community-Based Birth Equity Pilot program exemplifies some of the great work being done to address racial birth disparities right here in Kent County. Programs like these can provide expecting women of color access to necessary prenatal care by doulas of color. Doulas provide physical, emotional and informational support for a mother and family before, during and after the birth. This program also creates new career pathways from women of color and offers more culturally responsive care while aiming to close the health care disparities found in maternal and infant health. License, State ID, Vehicle Renewal Extensions Set to Expire Sept. 30 The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) is reminding drivers that the driver’s license, state ID and vehicle renewal extension put in place during the pandemic will expire Sept. 30. Those who had renewals between March 1 and Sept. 30, 2020, and who still need to renew, have until Sept. 30, 2020 to do so. With that deadline now less than a month away, drivers who haven’t completed their renewals are encouraged to do so immediately. MDOS has also expanded Secretary of State branch office hours to accommodate renewals for driver’s licenses and state IDs that expire between Jan. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2020, and must be renewed in person. Appointments reserved for this specific circumstance are available from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, from now until Sept. 30. To make an appointment, visit Michigan.gov/SOS or call 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424). Many driver’s license and ID renewals also can be completed online at ExpressSOS.com. Vehicle registration and tab renewals should be completed online, by mail or at one of the 121 self-service stations located across the state. To renew at a self-service kiosk, drivers only need their license plate number and the last four digits of their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or the renewal noticed mailed to them by MDOS. Michigan Women’s Commission Moves to State Department Last month, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of Women’s Equality Day, the day that the 19th Amendment asserting the right for some women to vote was ratified. As we look back on all that women have accomplished over the decades, we must acknowledge the hard work still to be done to ensure all women have the same opportunities. In 1968, in response to the Civil Rights Movement, the Michigan Women’s Commission was created to bring attention to the problems confronting women in Michigan, to make recommendations to fight gender discrimination, empower women in skills development, and recognize women’s accomplishments and contributions to Michigan. The Women’s Commission has been housed within the Department of Civil Rights since its creation. However, Michigan women have overwhelmingly expressed that their primary barrier to gender equity is economic stability. Gov. Whitmer listened, and announced last week that the Michigan Women’s Commission will be moved from the Michigan Department of Civil Rights to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) to continue their work on this and other issues. Specifically, placing the Women’s Commission within LEO puts it in a collaborative and proactive position to create opportunities for women while addressing the economic barriers they face every day, and I’m excited to see what’s in store for them. Raising Awareness About Opioid Overdose In honor of Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services launched a new program with emergency medical service (EMS) providers to further prevent opioid overdose deaths. EMS providers will give overdose survivors extra naloxone kits — the medication that reverses opioid overdoses. Opioid overdose is a preventable cause of death. Michiganders can take steps to prevent overdose deaths by carrying naloxone, offering support to family and friends who use substances, and ending the stigma that surrounds substance use disorders. Contact Us I have other questions. Are you and your office still available? To keep you and our staff healthy, we are working remotely until further notice. Please call and email our office as you normally would, and we will do our best to avoid interruption of service. You can call (517) 373-1801 or email SenWBrinks@senate.michigan.gov. I am still working diligently, engaging with folks in our community, but all in-person events have been canceled for the time being. You can check my Facebook page and SenatorBrinks.com website for more information on any future events. Helpful Links |
As an elected representative, I believe in being readily available and transparent because my office is your office. |