**Updated April 13, 2020** On March 15, The Center for Community Solutions released a memo outlining steps the State of Ohio and the federal government could take to help flatten the coronavirus curve and to boost Ohio’s economy. Since then, Ohio and the federal government have adopted some of our policy suggestions. This is meant...
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Cuyahoga County Board of Health: Testing reserved for the most sick, 99 cases in the county
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health holds press conference updating citizens the coronavirus pandemic on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Cuyahoga County executive Armond Budish, Health Commissioner Terry Allan and medical director Dr. Heidi Gullett, MPH all presented to the media from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health on Monday, March 23, 2020. Health...
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Preventing social isolation when the senior center closes
Governor Mike DeWine announced that all senior centers must close by the end of the day on Monday, March 23, 2020. Even before the official government decree, congregate meal sites for older adults across the state were transitioning from group meals within their facilities to meal delivery and meal pick-up. Governor Mike DeWine announced that...
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The census in the season of Coronavirus
April 1, 2020 is Census Day. The federal government has been planning for this day, and the rollout of invitation that preceded it, for the past decade. But no one could have foreseen at the time that our government would undertake its decennial census at the exact moment of a public health crisis. 2020 is...
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How to get food assistance, unemployment benefits
We know many of our fellow Ohioans are experiencing layoffs, lost school meals and financial pain right now. According to Lt. Gov. Jon Husted more than 100,000 Ohioans have filed unemployment claims this week, compared to 6,500 claims over the time period two weeks ago. Ohio’s foodbanks are ready to help the millions of Ohioans who...
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How to help your local foodbank during COVID-19
Everyone is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but as we have previously written, vulnerable populations are even more at risk during this difficult time. And more of our fellow Ohioans may soon need assistance from safety net services like Ohio’s foodbanks. That’s why we’re sharing information from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks on how you...
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Ohio needs emergency health & human services Coronavirus policy changes
In light of the first, and hopefully only, global pandemic in our lives, my colleagues and I, with help from others, have pulled together a list of policy steps that we think are essential. The challenges the health and humans services sector face are unlikely any in our lifetime. Unless we take extraordinary steps, lives...
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How a pandemic affects vulnerable populations
Amid an outbreak of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many communities around the world are taking measures to prevent further spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 by closing universities, canceling events and requiring extended quarantine of anyone who may have come in contact with someone with the disease. While these precautions aim to contain...