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Page 8 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 DPH field team in Revere spreads vital information about COVID-19 vaccine to residents O ver the past few weeks, the state Department of Public Health (DPH) fi eld team focused efforts in Revere to spread information about the COVID-19 vaccine. Trained canvassers worked with local businesses as well as traveled doorto-door to answer questions and hand out information for residents to get vaccinated. These eff orts are part of DPH's larger Vaccine Equity Initiative, which works with populations and communities that are disproportionately aff ected by COVID-19 to reduce barriers to vaccination, increase awareness of vaccine safety and effi cacy and ultimately increase vaccinations. Prioritizing vaccine outreach to these communities is key to ending the pandemic. The DPH’s trained canvassers continued fi eld operations on the ground. The team, comprised of Revere residents, traveled door-to-door to hand out fl yers, hang doorknob knockers, and answered questions such as “When can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?” “How will I know it’s my turn to get vaccinated?” and “Is vaccination safe?” This focused grassroots outreach strategy is the product of a collaboration between the DPH and Archipelago Strategies Group and Health Care for All and is just one component of the DPH's larger Vaccine Equity Initiative. The initiative prioritizes 20 cities across the state that were identifi ed as having been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. These priority populations were determined using case data and the COVID-19 Community Impact Survey, which DPH conducted in the fall of 2020. To ensure the vaccine is accessible to our most disproportionately impacted populations, the Commonwealth prioritizes vaccines to each of the 20 municipalities every week, subject to program administration guidelines. For additional information on the initiative, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/infodetails/covid-19-vaccine-equity-initiative-focused-grassrootsoutreach. CONGRESSWOMEN CLARK AND HAYES INTRODUCE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY CHALLENGE GRANT ACT TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENT AND COMBAT LEARNING LOSS AFTER COVID-19 AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE Is your vehicle ready for the Summer Season?!! Recharge your vehicle's AC for the warm weather! Includes up to 1 LB. of Refrigerant* (*Most Vehicles/Some Restrictions May Apply) AC SPECIAL Only $69.95 DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! 2005 FORD F-150 XLT Excellent Vehicle Inside & Out!, Leather Interior, Fully Loaded, Clean Title, Warranty, Only 68,000 Miles! TRADES WELCOME! X-CAB EDITION, 4X4, Most Power Options, Clean Title, Warranty, Only 105K Miles! TRADES WELCOME! TRADES WELCOME! $5,300 $7,995 (781) 321-8841 • (617) 571-9869 Easy Financing Available! 1236 EasternAve • Malden EddiesAutotech.com Vehicle! We Pay Cash For Your 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LTZ WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) and Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-5) introduced the Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act to form a $100 billion application-based grant program to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting consequences in the education system. The bill invests in solutions to learning loss and addresses students’ social, emotional, mental, and behavioral needs that were exacerbated by this unprecedented crisis. Senators Warren, Markey, Blumenthal, and Murphy introduced companion legislation in the Senate earlier this year. “The COVID-19 pandemic has forced school closures, learning loss, behavioral health issues, and social and physical disconnection onto our nation’s students. In order to address the resulting achievement gaps and mental health needs for low-income students and students of color, we have to make bold investments in our public education system. This legislation will create a $100 billion grant program to allow schools to implement both time-tested and creative new ideas to put all students back on track for success,” said Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark. “Chronic under funding of our education system was failing our students. As an educator, I witnessed massive inequities in the classroom – issues that have been alarmingly compounded by the COVID-19 crisis. While the American Rescue Plan provided historic funding to local schools, more needs to be done to combat the setbacks that have caused children to struggle in school. This bill responds by increasing funding streams to help schools support social and emotional learning, address learning loss, and recruit a diverse educator workforce. Connecticut and Massachusetts have led the nation in the response to COVID-19, so it is fi tting that my New England colleagues have joined me to lead legislation that invests in students on the other side of this crisis,” said Congresswoman Hayes. Researchers have estimated that school closures in the spring resulted in several months of lost instruction in math and reading, and one study estimated that between 10 and 25 percent of highrisk students, including homeless students and students with disabilities, have been completely disconnected from school since the pandemic began. The traumatic effects of the pandemic on students’ mental health are not yet well understood, but are expected to have longterm consequences for social and emotional well-being. Data show that more school funding significantly improves student achievement. This is especially crucial for low-income communities and communities of color, which have been disproportionCOVID-19 | SEE Page 36

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