20221220 - Stigma Free Committee Minutes

Stigma Free Meeting Minutes 12/20/2022

• The meeting began at 3:11 pm
• Danielle Pagani announced Winter Termination Program which protects specific categories of customers from gas, water, electricity shut off.
• Rise in covid, flu and RSV
  • Primary strain is influenza A this year
• Hand washing program in a child care center tomorrow with Danielle and Surbhi
• COVID Bivalent boosters are recommended for all 5+ years old if it has been two months since their last dose
• January 11^th- Ridgewood Health Department COVID and flu clinic. Appointments are necessary
• USPS will send 4 free covid tests per home, Danielle will share the link
• Bergen County is currently categorized as a High Community Level for Covid
• The program with the Lukin Center was shared
• Cards of Joy total is officially 745 cards. Cards were dropped off to Ridgecrest, Genesis, Family of Caring, New Bridge, and two Share Houses
• Alina Swanson from the YMCA joined the call with her daughter and we introduced ourselves
• John Judge described Operation Blue Angel, where a key is in a lockbox for various reasons and the town has the code to respond to emergencies
• Mary Davey expressed that the Cards of Joy bring partial patients a lot of joy. She expressed that the referrals for family and individual therapy is very high and has been since COVID
• Alina Swanson introduced herself and her daughter Sophia, who is 21 and in college. Alina is in Bergen Leads. She is interested in Mental Health for teens/adults. In February in the Stable she has a group on teens working through an Art club to create an immersive experience as if you walk into a teenager’s brain. The stable is open M-F until 4:30.