by NAMI Ohio | Mar 23, 2020 | Uncategorized
Below is a downloadable template Essential Employee Letter in accordance with today’s Stay at Home Order by the Director of Health that you can customize for your employee’s needs. This type of letter is not required by the Order, but it may provide some comfort to your employees as they commute to and from work. In addition to the template attached, you will also want to consider a few, but important, employment considerations. These range from ensuring that employees know of the employer’s expectation that they continue showing up for work to taking steps to comply with the specific, employment-related considerations in the “stay at home” order. Providers should consult employment counsel for guidance on these issues.
Template Draft – OPRA Essential Employee
by NAMI Ohio | Mar 23, 2020 | News & Updates
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D. MPH, announced that Ohio will be under a “Stay at Home” order.
The order will go into effect beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. and will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on April 6, 2020, unless the order is rescinded or modified.
Read the full order here: Director’s Stay At Home Order
“We haven’t faced an enemy like we are facing today in 102 years – we are at war. In the time of war, we must make sacrifices, and I thank all of our Ohio citizens for what they are doing and what they aren’t doing. You are making a huge difference, and this difference will save lives,” said Governor DeWine. “Right now, we are in a crucial time in this battle. What we do now will slow this invader so that our healthcare system will have time to treat those who have contracted COVID-19 and also have time to treat those who have other medical problems. Time is of the essence.”
More information: Stay At Home FAQ
![We Need Your Help!]()
by NAMI Ohio | Mar 18, 2020 | News & Updates
Dear Friends,
WE NEED YOUR HELP MORE THAN EVER!
NAMI Ohio and the Ohio Adult Care Facilities Association are committed to doing everything we can to address concerns about the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) and prevent the spread of this illness.
We are working to do everything we can to protect Ohioans with mental illness, especially those who fall into the most vulnerable categories.
Ohio has over 6,000 citizens living in adult care facilities or group homes and many of these residents have co-occurring health conditions that may make contracting the virus more dangerous for them.
These homes who house anywhere from 5 to 16 severely mentally disabled citizens try to do their best, but do not have the funds needed to purchase extra food and supplies that could last during this pandemic. Without cleaning supplies, nutritious food, and basic household essentials, people will die.
All of you know how hard it has been to buy toilet paper. Many of these homes cannot get the quantity needed to keep their supplies stocked.
In an effort to help prevent the spread of this illness and support the very special individuals living and working in these homes, NAMI Ohio has decided that 100% of all donations made to our organization during this crisis will be used to purchase cleaning supplies and other much needed items for these homes.
Most needed items include:
- Hand Sanitizer
- Disinfectant Cleaners
- Cleaning Wipes
- Gloves
- TOILET PAPER! – Very much needed!
- Etc.
NAMI Ohio will use our donations to purchase, collect, and distribute these items to adult care homes throughout Ohio (100% of all donations will go to this purpose).
If you have any extras of these items that you would like donate, you can do so at the NAMI Ohio office located at 1225 Dublin Road, Suite 125, Columbus, Ohio 43215. These items can be left outside the NAMI Ohio office door (Suite 125).
At this time of crisis, we all need to come together to protect each other and support those citizens who are most vulnerable. Each of these residents have hearts and souls and they find themselves in this special situation because of a mental illness. We understand the next several weeks will be challenging for all of us and together we will get through this.
Anything you can do to help is greatly appreciated.
DONATION OPTIONS:
- Donate online via PayPal at www.namiohio.org/donate
- Donate with cash or check by mail to 1225 Dublin Road, Suite 125, Columbus, Ohio 43215
- Donations can be left at the NAMI Ohio office at 1225 Dublin Road, Suite 125, Columbus, Ohio 43215 in the building lobby outside the NAMI Ohio office (Suite 125)
Thank you & God Bless,
Terry L. Russell
Please share this request with all of your contacts and also please consider sharing it on your own website and social media. Thank you!
by NAMI Ohio | Mar 18, 2020 | News & Updates
COVID-19 AND UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
Who is eligible?
You may be eligible for unemployment compensation if you are an employee and:
- Are unable to work because your doctor, health agency, or employer requests that you
isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19; or
- Your employer lays you off due to the loss of production caused by COVID-19.
You do NOT need to be diagnosed with COVID-19.
You do NOT have to be totally unemployed. If your hours of work are reduced, you may still be eligible
for some unemployment compensation.
Do I need documentation?
Documentation is NOT required, but may be helpful. If you do not have documentation, you should not
wait to file– file immediately. If possible, you should ask your doctor, health agency, or employer for
something in writing that you have been requested to isolate due to COVID-19 concerns OR that your
hours of work have been reduced due to COVID-19.
What if I am a tipped employee?
If you are a tipped employee and the employer did not include tips in the wages, you will need to file an
affidavit with your tipped wages for ODJFS to review and determine the benefit amount due. If the
employer includes tips in your wages, there is nothing for you to do.
What if I want to isolate myself but nobody has asked me to do so?
If you do not have any COVID-19 symptoms but want to isolate or quarantine because of COVID-19,
you may NOT be eligible for unemployment compensation.
How to apply:
- Online: http://unemployment.ohio.gov , 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
- Telephone: 877-644-6562 or TTY 1-614-387-8408, Monday through Friday 8am-5pm
How to qualify
To qualify, you must have worked at least 20 weeks and earned at least an average weekly wage of
$269 in the past 4 or 5 calendar quarters. If you are unsure, you should still apply and this information
will be verified.
No waiting week or work search
If you qualify because your doctor, health agency, or employer requests that you isolate or quarantine
due to COVID-19, you will not be required to meet the work search requirements to get unemployment
compensation.
Whether you are totally, partially, or participating in the SharedWork Ohio Program, you can receive
unemployment compensation starting the first week.
For more information: http://jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/CoronavirusAndUI.stm
YOU MAY ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDING:
- SNAP (food stamps)
- Ohio Works First (cash assistance)
- Prevention, Retention, and Contingency funds (one-time cash assistance)
- Medicaid
You can apply for these benefits by contacting your local County Department of Job and Family
Services. You can also apply online at benefits.ohio.gov
by NAMI Ohio | Mar 18, 2020 | News & Updates
Family Activities to Do During COVID-19 – From the Ohio Department of Health
https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home/covid-19-checklists/family-activities-to-try-during-closures-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR3WNy_rAAG_fO6pVDwx_Z9C18CqY1rhgVQVyVvHwSm1t2e4_48Wdh3vUV8
There are so many things you can during this time at home…you are only limited to your imagination!
Get outside and play!
- Take a nature walk at one of the 75 Ohio State Parks. Check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website for more information.
- Join your children outside for a game of hide and seek, kick the can, or a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood.
- Take your dog for a walk or visit the local playground.
- Start planning your summer garden!
- Go for a jog!
- Create an obstacle course with toys and games from your garage.
Explore More Indoors!
- Have a local library card? Many local libraries, including the Ohio Digital Library,allow you to check out and download ebooks! Read aloud to each other, read silently, or take turns reading to each other.
- Start a virtual book club! Choose a book and start an online chat with your friends. The State Library of Ohio, Ohioana Library Association and Ohio Center for the Book recommend these 20 books by Ohio authors.
- Play games indoors! Games for younger children include Simon Says, Duck Duck Goose, or Follow the Leader. Older children can play “I Spy,” charades, indoor bowling, or make up new games.
- Try a new recipe or make dinner as a family; find recipes and tips for cook with children safely on the Cooking with Kids webpage.
- Read a chapter book together and discuss the characters and plot and ask questions to encourage critical thinking. Visit the Ohio Department of Education’s Family and Community Support Toolbox to find ideas to keep the reading excitement going.
- Pop some popcorn and cuddle up for a movie marathon.
- Turn up the volume and have a family dance party!
- Make a scrapbook of souvenirs from a previous vacation.
- Get the creativity flowing! Give your kids art supplies such as crayons, colored pencils, markers, or paints to create show pieces for your home. Put the artwork on your fridge or hang them around your house and host your very own art show.
- Can’t get to the gym? Try an online workout or virtual yoga instruction! Or get the family together to make up your own workout or dance routines.
- Give everyone a task and get a jump on spring cleaning!
- Wish you were at the spa? Take a bubble bath and follow it up with a home manicure or pedicure.
- Family game night! Hold a Monopoly tournament or take that puzzle off the shelf.
Computer Fun!
- Learn about Ohio’s rich history from the Ohio History Connection at Ohiohistory.org/learn.
- What do you want do when you grow up? Students of all ages can start exploring careers, play games, watch videos, and more at OhioMeansJobs.com.
- Challenge yourself with computer games at PBS Kids.
- Are your children missing their school friends or other family members? Set up a virtual playdate with their friends or connect with family members living afar via video chat.
- Explore Ohio virtually and learn more about places you could visit in the future at Ohio.org.
- Set aside time each day to engage children with free, hands-on learning activities that foster creativity at www.InfOhio.org.
- Search Youtube for video tutorials on how to draw, learn a foreign language, or how to make those repairs you have been putting off!
For additional information, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov.
For answers to your COVID-19 questions, call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
Additional resources:
American Academy of Pediatrics: https://healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/2019- Novel-Coronavirus.aspx
INFOhio: www.infohio.org
