News & Events

NO HAY COMESTIBLES MAÑANA EL 9 DE FEBRERO DE 2022

In her popular 2013 book Lean In, which shines a light on the importance of women in leadership positions, Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg presents the ideal attributes of a good leader. For Sandberg, there is nothing more valuable to an organization — be it a school, family, or Fortune 500 company — than when the people in positions of power can humble themselves enough to listen, learn, and digest new information.

Disease trackers are monitoring the spread of new, highly transmissible versions of the omicron variant in New York state and Europe, the latest evidence of the coronavirus’s ability to overhaul its genetic profile and pose a fresh threat.

It is too soon to predict how far the new subvariants might spread and how sick they might make people, said Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

“When you look at what’s happening right now and try to tell the story of what might occur, you’re challenged,” he said. For now, scientists are left “watching and learning,” Osterholm added.

The first communities in the United States that have said they are contending with the new omicron subvariants are in central New York, around Syracuse and Lake Ontario.

New York state officials this week announced that two new omicron subvariants, dubbed BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1, have become the dominant forms of the coronavirus in the central part of the state. For weeks, infection rates in central New York have been at least twice the state average, according to data from the state health department.

The new omicron sublineages in New York have picked up mutations that may help the virus enter cells faster and evade vaccine- and infection-boosted immunity, said Andy Pekosz, a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

“Whenever we see those mutations, we’re a little bit concerned, but it’s hard right now to really estimate how big of a concern those variants will be,” Pekosz said.

State officials said that the subvariants are spreading 23 to 27 percent more rapidly than the original BA.2 omicron variant and that the subvariants are contributing to rising case numbers.

“The Department’s findings are the first reported instances of significant community spread due to the new subvariants in the United States,” New York state health officials said in a news release Wednesday. “At this time, there is no evidence of increased disease severity by these subvariants, though the Department is closely monitoring for any changes.”

In March, the two subvariants accounted for more than 70 percent of reported covid-19 cases in central New York. So far in April, the data show an increase to 90 percentof all new cases.

“This may change as more data becomes available,” New York Department of Health spokeswoman Samantha Fuld said. “The department is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to communicate openly with New Yorkers.”

Fuld said officials are expanding a wastewater surveillance program for the coronavirus “to cover all counties and to include sequencing for the analysis of covid-19 variants.”

Infections in central New York are approaching levels last seen during last year’s delta wave. Oswego County had the state’s highest reported infection rate as of Wednesday: 69.8 cases per 100,000 people during the last seven days. Neighboring Onondaga County had the state’s third-highest rate, at 53.3 per 100,000.

At a briefing Wednesday, Onondaga County Health Commissioner Indu Gupta said the subvariants are “more contagious than covid omicron” and that hospitalizations in the county were on the rise, although officials said they hoped to avoid the peaks reported during previous coronavirus waves by employing testing, masking, vaccination, community outreach and other tools.

“I’m just here to remind everybody that the pandemic is still here, that people can be tired. I’m tired, too. But the virus is not tired,” Gupta said. “I think it’s important to remember that it keeps on going, and it’s changing its shape, it’s changing its style. It’s just challenging us, and we really need to step up to its challenge.”

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said officials theorized that the subvariants arrived from travelers in February.

“The contact tracing that used to give us a better road map hasn’t happened,” McMahon said, adding that the traveler theory probably reflected “concentrated cases” in the same cluster of towns.

He predicted that the new subvariants would not be contained to central New York for long.

“The reality is what’s happening in our community is starting to happen throughout New York and the Northeast,” McMahon said Wednesday. “And in two or three weeks, it’s going to be real challenges for some of these other communities. New York County and New York City is at 45 cases per 100,000 on a seven-day average. We’re at 52. That’s a much larger challenge for a community of that size.”

Pekosz, the Hopkins virologist, said some of the increase in cases is to be expected because the subvariants are emerging at the same time that most public health interventions, such as mask mandates, have been lifted.

“We should see some increase in cases,” Pekosz said. “What we’re hoping is this will now be a manageable increase.”

Right now, the public does not need to be overly worried about the new sublineages, Pekosz added, though scientists are watching them closely. Researchers will have a better sense of whether the new subvariants are truly more contagious and potentially more dangerous in the coming weeks.

“Omicron is evolving to be perhaps even better at infecting people — the big question is how much better is it going to get?” Pekosz said. “That’s something that we’ll have to wait and see.”

Another subvariant, called omicron XE, hasbeen reported in the United Kingdom and some other nations, including Israel and Thailand. XE is a recombinant variant, meaning it combines genetic material from two versions of omicron, BA.1 and BA.2.

One XE infection has been reported in Hawaii, among a handful of cases reported in the United States as of Friday.

“The recombinant Omicron lineage XE, which was originally identified in the United Kingdom, has recently been detected in the State of Hawaii, and contains genetic material derived from BA.1 and BA.2,” according to a report released Wednesday by the state’s health department.

As of April 5, British authorities had received reports of 1,125 cases of XE, representing less than 1 percent of cases in that country. Early, inconclusive data suggest XE spreads 12 to 21 percent more rapidly than BA.2, according to a report last week from the UK Health Security Agency.

The Japanese health ministry announced Monday that the first XE case in that country was detected in a woman in her 30s who arrived at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport from the United States on March 26. The ministry said the woman, whose nationality was not disclosed, was asymptomatic, according to the Japan Times.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expect new lineages of the virus to emerge, and the agency will track how those subvariants change case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths.

“While the prevalence of lineages and sub-lineages may fluctuate, what we are focused on is monitoring for any changes in disease burden caused by Omicron lineages,” Nicholas Spinelli, a CDC spokesman, said in an email.

The CDC emphasized that the same tools that have helped slow the spread of past variants will probably continue to be useful against new ones.

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County to Utilize ARP funds for new facility,
transforming emergency housing approach within County

Poughkeepsie … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has announced the County is nearing the purchase of property at 26 Oakley Street in the City of Poughkeepsie, to serve as the Dutchess County’s new Emergency Housing Facility for single adults – transforming the County’s emergency housing response system, which will connect those needing housing and services with providers where they reside. New evidence-based programs and intensive services located at one facility facilitate the County’s new model for assisting those experiencing homelessness find permanent housing. The facility will replace the current temporary housing units (PODS) on the Dutchess County Jail campus, which have been used as an emergency shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic but do not have adequate space for the new services and programs and were not designed for long-term use.

County Executive Molinaro forwarded a resolution to the Dutchess County Legislature’s Public Works and Capital Projects Committee at its April 7th meeting to authorize $2.1 million for the County to purchase the 1.432-acre property and $1 million for the Department of Public Works to design the new facility; the $3.1 million total will come from the County’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) allocation from the federal government; the full Legislature will vote on the resolution at its May 9th board meeting. Following that approval, the Legislature will consider allocating additional ARP funds later this year for the construction of the facility. The new facility is one of several investments the County is funding with ARP funding, including, among others, a countywide Youth Opportunity Center (the YOU); a successful grant programs for youth non-profit organizations, municipalities and non-profit infrastructure needs, new parks equipment, countywide high-speed internet accessibility and other public safety investments.

Several local stakeholders recently visited the proposed site and shared their thoughts on the County’s plan to create a new model for assisting those experiencing homelessness find permanent housing:

The new facility will be the cornerstone of Dutchess County’s innovative and collaborative housing-first approach to emergency housing, providing those experiencing homelessness not only temporary housing, but also extensive wrap-around services co-located within the same facility to assist them in their path toward stable housing and independent living, with the County’s goal of preventing homelessness whenever possible and ensuring if an individual does experience homelessness, it is an infrequent and singular occurrence.

County Executive Molinaro said, “As housing instability continues to challenge too many, we are committed to a new facility – a sanctuary – and new model that addresses temporary emergency housing, provides referral to transitional and permanent housing opportunities, and offers intense service support to address the issues that lead to an individual’s homelessness. Experienced and compassionate service providers throughout our community make a real difference in people’s lives every day. Our new facility will connect these organizations with the residents we serve – all under one roof providing the most efficient delivery of services making the greatest impact helping individuals find their path to permanent housing and success. This sanctuary will be a place of safety and service for those we serve and the community around us.”

Based on the successful model implemented in Bergen County, NJ that has garnered nationwide accolades, Dutchess County’s facility will feature housing for approximately 100 adults in various types of accommodations that are ADA accessible; administrative office space for community partners, including common consultation and meeting rooms; as well as counseling, programming, activity, relaxation and dining spaces, utilizing both internal and external areas of the property – a design that embodies the County’s innovative new methodology for helping those experiencing homelessness find permanent housing. The PODS, which have been used as a temporary shelter, are scheduled to be removed as part of the County’s Justice & Transition Center construction project. Dutchess County has contracted with Julia Orlando, director of the Bergen County (NJ) Housing, Health and Human Services Center, to serve as a consultant and assist the County in making the project successful. Ms. Orlando discussed the project with leadership of both legislative caucuses at their February 2022 meeting.

Ms. Orlando said, “I’m excited to work with Dutchess County, which already has so many services in place to assist those experiencing homelessness, and help the County further develop its investment in its new facility, which will transform its emergency housing response system by bringing together community partners to meet vulnerable individuals where they are and help them succeed. Our facility and housing model have been transformative in Bergen County and are replicable for communities willing to make the commitment to change the lives of those experiencing homelessness – and Dutchess County is clearly making that commitment, as it has for years.”

In addition to the staff from the County’s departments of Community and Family Services (DCFS), Behavioral and Community Health (DBCH), and Planning and Development, local providers will be housed at the new facility to link guests to appropriate, evidence-based programs and intensive case-management services to help them secure and maintain stable accommodations – be it assistance in enrolling in state and federal medical and benefits programs, such as Medicaid or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); offering mental health and substance use counseling, as well as vocational and job preparation specialists; or help transitioning to permanent housing. Additionally, the County will work with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of the facility’s guests and local residents.

Hudson River Housing Executive Director Christa Hines said, “For years, Dutchess County has been an active partner in helping those experiencing homelessness find and maintain safe, stable housing – collaborating with local providers to bring about impactful change in people’s lives. Having the myriad County resources that have long been available, combined with the services local partners like Hudson River Housing provide, housed in a central housing facility has the potential to revolutionize the way we, as a community, care for those experiencing homelessness, and we’re eager for this life-changing facility to be built.”

The existing 24,640-square-foot, three-floor structure will require renovations as well as property modifications to ensure safety and security for both guests and neighbors. Among the renovations needed at the structure, the Department of Public Works will:

• realign sleeping quarters;
• expand the kitchen and dining area;
• provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access;
• create a courtyard, including a screening garden wall; and
• address code issues.

Through a recent Request for Proposals (RFP) process, Tinkelman Associates was chosen as the designer to work with DCFS and Ms. Orlando to plan and design the facility, as well as oversee its construction, pending legislative approval.

Andrew O’Grady, Chief Executive Officer of Mental Health America of Dutchess County, said, “We, as a society, must rethink the way we approach homelessness and not provide just a temporary roof over someone’s head, but meet them where they are and offer the resources to attain a permanent home. For this facility to succeed, people must know these accommodations are safe or they will not utilize it, and the community must be assured it’s safe to have this facility in their neighborhood – and Dutchess County is creating a secure model that satisfies both of those concerns. Mental Health America of Dutchess County is proud to collaborate with Dutchess County to create a model that will lead New York and be replicable in communities throughout the state.”

Earlier this month, the County released its 2022 Housing Needs Assessment, a comprehensive analysis of demographic and housing data and evaluation of trends over recent years, as well as projections for affordable housing needs over the next two decades. County Executive Molinaro said the creation of an emergency housing facility reaffirms the County’s commitment to addressing the housing needs of every resident.

“Throughout the nation, including Dutchess County, communities are working to ensure every resident can find safe, stable housing they can afford,” the County Executive said, “and providing those in need of permanent housing the resources and services to attain and keep it is a tremendous step that will help many in our County. This facility will undoubtedly save lives and offer a brighter future for the guests welcomed through its doors.”

The County’s goal is to take ownership of the property shortly after the Legislature approves the resolution at its May meeting, with construction of the new facility to be completed by late summer 2023, and the facility is expected to be occupied in fall 2023.

This month the BHA Women’s Group has rescheduled their monthly meeting from Thursday April 14th, 2022 to the following Thursday April 21st, 2022.

We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to seeing you on April 21st at our next meeting.

Best known for her roles in films such as Still Alice and Boogie Nights, Academy Award-winning actress Julianne Moore has also authored bestselling children’s books about self-acceptance. The eight installments of her Freckleface Strawberry series were inspired by her girlhood as a conspicuous redhead. Like many young people, Freckleface Strawberry gets her ideas about who she wants to be and what she wants to do from looking outward.

Moore, 61, wants to help kids learn a lesson she realized with the passing decades. As she mentions in this quote, growing older brings clarity, and once you grasp what you like about yourself, determining your priorities becomes easier. 

We are entering one of the most significant awareness events of the year, Mental Health Awareness Month.

May is a time when the mental health community can spread information, resources and support to new audiences. And push for reform to improve the mental health system for everyone affected by mental illness.

You can get involved during this important time of year. If you aren’t sure what you can do, here are a few steps to help make a difference:

Step 1: Live it Make this movement a part of your life by pledging to be #stigmafree. The perfect way to kick off Mental Health Month is to committing to educate yourself and others, see the person and not the illness and to take action on mental health issues.

Step 2: Share it Get involved with the Ribbon Campaign in Ulster and Dutchess Counties. Let your networks know by spreading awareness through sharing inspirational posts on social media. Share your mental health journey on one of NAMI Mid-Hudson’s social media accounts.

Step 3: Show it A valuable way to show your support for this movement is to advocate for improvements in the mental health system. You can be a leader in the mental health movement, and we are here to help you.

Step 4: Give back NAMI Mid-Hudson’s priority is to educate and support those affected by mental health conditions, advocate for a better, more equitable health system, and to spread mental health awareness. These goals will make the world a better place for those who live with mental illness and their families. We can’t do this without the help of our friends. Please consider giving us a gift that will allow us to continue making a difference. We appreciate your support in helping us grow this movement.

➢ Donate

➢ Create your own Fundraiser for NAMI Mid-Hudson

➢ Walk with by yourself, with a group or form a team

➢ If you’re a business – donate and receive a Bow with a sign to hang and support our cause