THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 13, 2020 Page 11 DONATO | FROM PAGE 8 the House took action today to help communities across the Commonwealth protect the health and safety of their residents,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “Thank you to Vice Chair Garlick and Representative Kane for their diligence and focus on this issue.” “I fully support this legislation,” said Representative Donato. “It will help each resident have access to public health services that they need.” “The House has voted unanimously to strengthen local health departments through training and resources, and to create regional synergy with other health departments,” said Representative Denise Garlick, who is Vice Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means (D-Needham). “Public health departments in our 351 communities deal with issues seen and unseen, from water quality and effective sanitation to substance use disorders and suicide prevention. These are the concerns that affect quality of life in Massachusetts. This bill is vitally important and timely given current concerns over emergency preparedness with infectious diseases, such as EEE and COVID-19.” Specifically, the legislation seeks to strengthen local public health in three ways: • Establishes the State Action for Public Health Excellence (SAPHE) program: a competitive grant program that provides funding to public health departments to increase sharing of services across municipalities, to strengthen service delivery capabilities and to improve system accountability and data reporting. • Ensures the local public health workforce has access to training: Provides boards of health officials and staff with free educational and training opportunities four times annually in regions across the state. • Sets new statewide public health standards: The Department of Public Health will develop a set of minimum standards for foundational public health services to improve the quality of and create uniformity within the public health services of the Commonwealth. As a first step, last year the House committed to $500,000 in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget to fund new and expanded shared service programs in Metrowest, North Shore and Western Massachusetts communities. The legislation builds on the work of the Special Commission on Local and Regional Public Health, a 25-member body of public health and municipal experts established in 2016. The commission released a 2019 report identifying ways for municipalities to overcome barriers and provide quality public health services to residents in Massachusetts. The report found that of the 105 towns with fewer than 5,000 residents, 78 percent lacked fulltime staff and that more than half had no health inspector. The report also found inconsistencies in training and credentials of local health department staff members and a lack of consistent data reporting across communities. On February 27 the Senate referred the bill to its Committee on Ways and Means. KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION REMINDER Malden Public Schools Parent Information Center 529 Salem Street (781-397-7271) The Malden Public Schools' Parent Information Center would like to remind parents that the 2020-2021 kindergarten registration is now in progress. Families who have not received a kindergarten registration application packet may pick one up the Parent Information Center or at any elementary school. For kindergarten registration, children must be born between September 1, 2014, and August 31, 2015. Parents/guardians must complete and provide the following information to the Parent Information Center: 1) All Forms in the Registration Packet Completed and Signed 2) Proof of Age (Birth Certificate) or Passport 3) Most Current Immunizations and Physical Exam 5) Individual Education Plan (IEP), if applicable 4) Proof of Residency: Gas or Electric Bill in Parent or Legal Guardian's name, or Landlord Affidavit from the Parent Information Center 6) Copy of a Photo ID of Parent/Guardian Please note that any one document that is not received will delay the child's school assignment. WE WORK FOR YOU! * Have your car repaired by Real Manufacturer Certiified Technicians * An I-CAR GOLD CLASS SHOP Highest Certificate in the Repair Industry * Premier Insurance Co. Collision Repair Shop for Geico, Liberty Mutual, Metlife, Progressive and more! * Over 30 Years of putting families back on the Road Safe & Fast! * ATLAS Stands Behind All Repairs with a Limited Lifetime Warranty 1605 North Shore Road, Revere * 781-284-1200 Visit us at: www.AtlasAutobody.com or call (781) 284-1200 to schedule your appointment today!
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