Montgomery County MD - Weekly Digest of Council Newsletters

Council President Hucker and Vice President Albornoz to Hold Media Availability Today at 11:30 a.m. 11/22/2021 Council President Hucker and Vice President Albornoz to Hold Media Availability Today at 11:30 a.m.    Discussion will include an update on public health measures, the Council’s economic development briefing, and Climate Town Hall  Rockville, Md., Nov. 22, 2021—Today at 11:30 a.m., Council President Tom Hucker and Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz will hold a media availability to discuss public health updates related to masking, vaccinations for children ages five to 11, as well as various Council matters.   Council President Hucker will discuss the Council’s upcoming Climate Town Hall and provide an update on Bill 44-21, Montgomery County Green Buildings Now Act. Council President Hucker and Councilmember Friedson are the lead sponsors of this new legislation that will provide a dedicated source of revenue for the Montgomery County Green Bank to help fight climate change. The duo will also discuss the Council’s economic development briefing scheduled for Nov. 30 and provide additional Council updates.    Montgomery County Health and Human Services Public Health Emergency Preparedness Manager Sean O’Donnell will join the media availability to provide a public health update.  The media availability will be held via Zoom and is for credentialed members of the media. The public can watch on the Council’s Facebook page (@MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil). Members of the media must RSVP before 10:30 a.m. to Sonya Healy at Sonya.Healy@montgomerycountymd.gov to receive the Zoom login information. For more information contact: Sonya Healy, legislative information officer, at Sonya.Healy@montgomerycountymd.gov or 240-328-2069. Genevieve Kurtz, communications director, Office of Council President Hucker at Genevieve.Kurtz@montgomerycountymd.gov or 240-777-7937. ### Sign Up to Speak at the Montgomery County Council’s Virtual Community Listening Session on Thrive Montgomery 2050 on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. 11/22/2021 Sign Up to Speak at the Montgomery County Council’s Virtual Community Listening Session on Thrive Montgomery 2050 on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. Rockville, Md., Nov. 22, 2021 — The Montgomery County Council will hold a community listening session to hear from residents about Thrive Montgomery 2050. It will be hosted virtually via Zoom on Nov. 30, 2021, starting at 7 p.m. The Council encourages both those who have not heard of the plan before and those who have been following the plan closely to review the draft plan and pre-register to speak at the session.  Thrive Montgomery 2050 is a framework to guide land use planning for housing, economic development, equity, transportation, environmental sustainability and more for the next three decades in Montgomery County. More information  The Council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee recently completed their review of the Thrive Montgomery 2050 Draft Plan. The Council will hold a briefing on the changes made by the PHED Committee on Nov. 16 at 9:35 a.m. and residents are encouraged to watch this briefing to get the latest information. This meeting will be broadcast on County Cable Montgomery and streamed on the Council's Facebook and YouTube pages.   The Council is seeking community feedback on the draft plan in one of two ways: Pre-register here to sign up to speak at the Nov. 30, 7 p.m. listening session by Nov. 28 at 5 p.m.; OR submit written feedback here for Council consideration. The Council is expecting a large number of speakers for the listening session, and wants to hear from diverse voices across our community. Pre-registration includes being placed on a wait list. Council staff will send confirmation notices to each resident with the Zoom information, once it's determined how many speakers can be accommodated at the virtual listening session. The PHED Committee draft can be downloaded here. More details on the draft plan and the community listening session are provided below. The broader purpose of Thrive Montgomery 2050 is to guide the development of our communities in the face of change—it will help the County respond to the economic, social and environmental opportunities and challenges that we face today and issues that will emerge over the coming decades. For more background information about draft plan, please visit the Montgomery County Planning Department’s official Thrive Montgomery 2050 webpage. The purpose of this community listening session is for residents to provide direct feedback to the Council about Thrive Montgomery 2050, in general, and the recent updates made by the Council’s PHED Committee. If you are unfamiliar with the plan, here are the topics we would like to hear more about during the listening session: What types of housing would you like to see developed in your community or neighborhood over the next 20-30 years? What types of improvements in our transportation infrastructure would you like to see in the next 20-30 years? What kinds of improvements would you like to see in the County to ensure protection of the environment and greater access to open space and parks? If the Council adopts this Plan, how do you believe it will impact your life in the County over the next 20-30 years? How do you feel the plan does or does not address the issues that you feel are important to you or your community? The community listening session will be in the format of a two-hour listening session held on Zoom. Each speaker will be provided with up to two minutes to speak. All pre-registered speakers will be notified about their participation with a confirmation email with the Zoom information.  If you would like to participate in the listening session, please pre-register no later than Nov. 28, 2021 at 5 p.m. at https://tinyurl.com/Thrive2050ListeningSession.  Members of the public also are welcome to submit written comments about the draft plan at https://mcgmd.wufoo.com/forms/comment-on-thrive-montgomery. The listening session will be broadcast on County Cable Montgomery (Xfinity/RCN Channel 6 or in HD on Channels 996/1056, Fios 30) and streamed on the Council's Facebook (MontgomeryCountyMDCouncil) and YouTube (MoCoCouncilMD) pages.   Regístrese para Participar en la Sesión Virtual de Escucha Comunitaria del Concejo del Condado de Montgomery Sobre el Plan Montgomery Prospera 2050 el 30 de Noviembre a las 7 p.m. Rockville, Maryland, 22 de noviembre de 2021 — El Concejo del Condado de Montgomery llevará a cabo una sesión de escucha comunitaria virtual para escuchar a los residentes sobre el plan Thrive Montgomery 2050, también conocido como Montgomery Prospera 2050 en español. La sesión se realizará virtualmente a través de Zoom el 30 de noviembre del 2021 a las 7 p.m. El Concejo anima tanto a quienes nunca han oído hablar del plan antes, así como a quienes lo han seguido de cerca, a que revisen el borrador del plan y se registren para participar y dar sus opiniones en la sesión. Montgomery Prospera 2050 es un marco para guiar la planificación del Condado en temas de vivienda, desarrollo económico, equidad, transporte, sostenibilidad ambiental y más durante las próximas tres décadas en el Condado de Montgomery. El Comité de Planificación, Vivienda y Desarrollo Económico (PHED, por sus siglas en inglés) del Concejo completó recientemente su revisión del Plan Borrador de Thrive Montgomery 2050. El Concejo llevará a cabo una sesión informativa sobre los cambios realizados por el Comité PHED el 16 de noviembre a las 9:35 a.m. - se anima a los residentes a sintonizar a esta sesión informativa para obtener información sobre el borrador más actualizado del plan. Esta reunión se transmitirá en County Cable Montgomery y en las páginas de Facebook y YouTube del Concejo. El Concejo está solicitando comentarios de la comunidad sobre el borrador del plan a través de una de las dos formas: Preinscríbase aquí para hablar en la sesión de escucha del 30 de noviembre a las 7 p.m. antes del 28 de noviembre a las 5 p.m.; O envíe sus comentarios por escrito aquí para que el Concejo los considere. El Concejo espera una gran cantidad de participantes para la sesión de escucha comunitaria, y quiere recibir los comentarios de diversas voces en nuestra comunidad. Cuando uno se preinscribe, será puesto en una lista de espera. El personal del Concejo enviará avisos de confirmación por email a cada residente con la información de Zoom, una vez se haya determinado el número de participantes que pueden ser acomodados en la sesión de escucha virtual. El informe borrador del Comité PHED puede ser descargado aquí. A continuación, se proporcionan más detalles sobre el borrador del plan y la sesión de escucha comunitaria. El propósito más amplio de Montgomery Prospera 2050 es guiar el desarrollo de nuestras comunidades frente al cambio; el plan ayudará al Condado a responder a las oportunidades y desafíos económicos, sociales y ambientales que enfrentamos hoy y los problemas que surgirán en las próximas décadas. Para obtener más información sobre el plan preliminar, visite la página web oficial de Montgomery Prospera 2050 del Departamento de Planificación del Condado de Montgomery. El propósito de esta sesión de escucha comunitaria es que los residentes brindan sus comentarios directamente al Concejo sobre Montgomery Prospera 2050 y las actualizaciones recientes realizadas por el Comité PHED del Concejo. Si no está familiarizado con el plan, estos son los temas principales sobre los cuales nos gustaría oír sus opiniones durante la sesión de escucha: ¿Qué tipo de vivienda le gustaría que se desarrollara en su comunidad o vecindario durante los próximos 20 a 30 años? ¿Qué tipo de mejoras en la infraestructura de transporte le gustaría ver en los próximos 20 a 30 años? ¿Qué tipo de mejoras le gustaría ver en el condado para garantizar la protección del medio ambiente y un mayor acceso a espacios abiertos y parques? Si el Concejo adopta este plan, ¿cómo cree que afectará su vida en el condado durante los próximos 20 a 30 años? ¿Cómo cree que el plan aborda o no los problemas más importantes para usted y/o su comunidad? La sesión de escucha comunitaria será una sesión virtual de dos horas realizada por Zoom. A cada participante se le permitirá hablar durante un máximo de dos minutos. Todos los participantes preinscritos serán notificados sobre su participación con un email de confirmación con la información Zoom.  Si desea participar en la sesión de escucha comunitaria, puede inscribirse antes de las 5 p.m. el 28 noviembre del 2021 en: https://tinyurl.com/Thrive2050ListeningSession.   El público puede también enviar sus comentarios por escrito sobre el borrador del plan aquí: https://mcgmd.wufoo.com/forms/comment-on-thrive-montgomery La sesión de escucha se transmitirá por County Cable Montgomery (Xfinity / RCN Channel 6 o en HD en los canales 996/1056, Fios 30) y se transmitirá en las páginas de Facebook del Concejo (MontgomeryCountyMDCouncil) y YouTube (MoCoCouncilMD). ### Council to Host Virtual Climate Change Town Hall meeting on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. 11/22/2021 Council to Host Virtual Climate Change Town Hall meeting on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Residents are encouraged to sign up and submit questions ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 22, 2021—The Montgomery County Council will host a virtual Climate Change Town Hall meeting on Thursday, Dec. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. through Zoom. Councilmembers have scheduled this time to answer questions and listen to concerns from community members regarding climate change and the environment. “Four years after declaring a climate emergency, Montgomery County is far behind in reaching our climate goals. It's time for us to get serious and take bold, aggressive action to address this crisis,” said Council President Tom Hucker, who also serves as chair of the Council’s Transportation and Environment Committee. "This town hall is a great opportunity for residents to share their feedback and vision for climate action and learn more about what steps the County is taking to move toward a more resilient and equitable future." Residents are encouraged to sign up and submit their questions beforehand. Register in advance for this webinar here: https://tinyurl.com/RegistrationClimateTownHall. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email directly from Zoom containing information about how to join the webinar. The virtual Climate Change Town will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube (MoCoCouncilMD) and on Facebook Live (MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil) and can also be watched on County Cable Montgomery on channels 30 (Fios), 1056 (RCN) and 996 (Xfinity). # # #   El Concejo Organizará una Junta Comunitaria Virtual Sobre el Cambio Climático el 2 de Diciembre a las 7 p.m. Se anima a los residentes a registrarse y a enviar sus preguntas ROCKVILLE, Maryland, 22 de noviembre de 2021 — El Concejo del Condado de Montgomery organizará una junta comunitaria virtual sobre el cambio climático el jueves 2 de diciembre de 7 a 9 p.m. a través de Zoom. Los concejales han organizado esta junta para responder a preguntas y escuchar las preocupaciones de los miembros de la comunidad con respecto al cambio climático y el medio ambiente. “Tras cuatro años de haber declarado una emergencia climática, el Condado de Montgomery sigue muy atrasado en el logro de nuestros objetivos climáticos. Es hora de que nos pongamos serios y tomemos medidas audaces y agresivas para abordar esta crisis,” dijo el presidente del Concejo, Tom Hucker, quien también lidera el Comité de Transporte y Medio Ambiente del Concejo. "Esta junta es una gran oportunidad para que los residentes compartan sus comentarios y su visión de la acción por el clima y aprendan más sobre el trabajo del Condado para alcanzar un futuro más resiliente y equitativo". Se anima a que los residentes se registren para el webinar Zoom y envien sus preguntas de antemano. Los residentes pueden registrarse para la junta aquí: https://tinyurl.com/RegistrationClimateTownHall. Después de que se hayan registrado, los participantes recibirán un correo electrónico de confirmación directamente de Zoom con información sobre cómo unirse al webinar. La junta comunitaria virtual será retransmitida en vivo a través de YouTube (MoCoCouncilMD) y Facebook Live (MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil). También será retransmitida en County Cable Montgomery en los canales 30 (Fios), 1056 (RCN) y 996 (Xfinity). # # # Community Action Agency e-news, November 2021 11/23/2021 E-Newsletter: November 2021 Montgomery County Community Action Agency Get to Know the Community Action Board Members This month we conclude our series of profiles of Community Action Board members--for now. We look forward to welcoming and introducing new Board members in the future. Valerie Chatfield-Smith represents Montgomery Village/Gaithersburg in the low-income sector of the board. She serves on the Community Advocacy Institute (CAI) Planning Committee and participates in all CAI programs (virtual and in-person). Professionally, Ms. Chatfield-Smith was part of the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA) Senior Community Service Employment Program. Through this program, she interned at the Maryland Motor Vehicles Administration, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, and at the JCA Heyman Interages program. With the Interages Program, Ms. Chatfield-Smith enjoyed supporting the Reading and Educating to Advance Lives (REAL) program, Grand Readers, and other intergenerational program, and she continues to volunteer with the Interages Program.  My involvement with CAB has helped me realize the importance of having a seat at the table, the importance of “Unity in the Community,” and the importance of learning about and sharing needed information. - Valerie Chatfield-Smith Tiffany Jones is the Chair of the Montgomery County Community Action Board where she serves in the low-income sector of the Board as a representative of the Head Start Parents Policy Council. She has testified for the CAB on numerous occasions and facilitated several workshops for the CAI. Ms. Jones is a current member of the Head Start Policy Council's Executive Committee, where she takes a leading role in advocating for the needs of Head Start parents and children. Professionally, Ms. Jones is the Director of a licensed, NAFCC Accredited, Level 6 Credentialed & Level 5 EXCELS family childcare program, Precious Moments Family Childcare. Ms. Jones is a mother to three wonderful children who are her inspiration.  What I have learned from my participation on the CAB is that as an advocate it is important to have authentic community voice included in decision making. Hearing directly from community members who will participate in programming should be involved in the design and implementation so that it meets their needs. We shouldn’t be designing a program and trying to fit people into it – programs should start with hearing the needs of the people! – Tiffany Jones Candace Groudine serves in the public sector of the Community Action Board as a representative of the Human Rights Commission. Ms. Groudine retired as Senior Regulatory and Policy Specialist for the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Civil Rights several years ago. She is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she teaches law-related courses. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from SUNY Albany and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Ms. Groudine is a licensed attorney and a member of the Bar of the State of Maryland. She lives with her partner and two small terriers in Silver Spring and is an active member of Temple Emanuel in Kensington and its social justice initiatives. I've learned that Montgomery County is not only one of the most progressive counties in the country with respect to an impressive network of social safety-net services (most of which I was unaware of before joining the CAB), but also, an impressive number of knowledgeable, dedicated, and passionate volunteers who make the delivery of such services possible. – Candace Groudine Mike Subin serves in the public sector of the board as the County Executive’s representative. He also serves on the Executive Committee and the Community Advocacy Institute Planning Committee. Mr. Subin is a retired Navy Captain and served on the County Council for five terms, Chairing the Education Committee and serving as a member of the Public Safety Committee. Mr. Subin created the highly successful Linkages to Learning Program and Safe Start Kids, a program to provide assistance to Child Witnesses to Domestic Violence. He also co-sponsored legislation creating the Domestic Violence Coordinating Commission. Mr. Subin is past Executive Director of the Montgomery County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission, and a past member of several Boards, Committees, and Commissions, and served as the County Executive’s liaison to numerous groups. My membership on the CAB and the Community Advocacy Initiative have given me a much broader perspective about the issues facing our communities in need. Working with and discussing those issues with representatives of those communities has opened my eyes to problems I was not aware of from a personal, rather than theoretical perspective. Discussing possible solutions with them from a public policy viewpoint has been a very rewarding experience. – Mike Subin Welcome, Navigators! Community Action is excited to welcome four Navigators—Sade Allen, Sulma Iglesias, Adrienne Jeremiah, and Gabriella Salazar. A fifth position is in the hiring process. Navigators assist customers in identifying their needs for a range of human service needs and reduce the barriers customers’ face in accessing services for which they are eligible. Navigation planning is guided by the Navigators’ experience with the “ecosystem”—the network of services provided by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and its community partners—and whole-family, or multi-generational, approaches that are designed to address the needs of entire households. The need for Navigators emerged with the pandemic, along with opportunities to connect them with our partners, including the food distribution and service consolidation hubs which emerged to provide emergency food and hygiene supplies. In response, the county allocated additional funding to support the community service providers to assist residents to access other services, such as rent relief, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), case management, unemployment benefits, and more. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the County’s information line, MC311 (240-777-0311), enhanced its capacity to assist County residents with accessing DHHS services to address the impact of the swiftly changing economy on families’ financial stability. The County used data from the calls for assistance to map which communities have been hardest hit by the pandemic, and to identify DHHS and community partners’ resources in those areas to integrate services. National consultants worked with the Community Action Agency team, especially the staff at the Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center, to identify best practices to expand the model, utilizing CAA's federal CSBG CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) funding to support these navigators through September 2022.  Based on a number of recovery recommendations, a new DHHS Navigation Practice Workgroup is enhancing the effort, connecting a number of navigation models within DHHS. Led by Betty Lam, Chief of the Office of Community Affairs, the design of the Navigation program includes the development of core training from each DHHS service area to enhance navigators capacity to learn about the wide array of County services available to residents, from transportation programs for seniors and people with disabilities, to behavioral health, programs for newly arriving families, expecting mothers, and more, as well as designing technology to support easier access to resources. This approach aligns with the findings from a Community Needs Assessment conducted by the Capital Area Food Bank, endorsed by the Community Action Board. The five Navigator positions, hired through Athena Consulting, are designated to serve East County, Gaithersburg. Germantown, Long Branch, and Wheaton. Together the Navigators bring a wide range of skills and experiences, including speaking multiple languages and prior experience working with DHHS programs. Once their training is completed, Navigators will use the DHHS electronic Integrated Case Management, or eICM, data system to assess needs, initiate applications, and provide referrals to assure residents’ access to public and private resources. We welcome our new team members!   Annual Contract Partners Meeting On Monday, November 15, Community Action hosted our annual meeting with our Contract Partners. Program Manager Aizat Oladapo and Program Specialist Melissa Ferguson monitor fifty-one contracts for services provided, with County support, by thirty-one non-profit organizations. As it was last year, this year's meeting was held on Zoom. In light of the rapid changes across both the public and non-profit service sectors over the past year, this year the focus was on Community Action programs. Sharon Strauss, Executive Director, welcomed over forty participants.  Leah Goldfine, CAA liaison to the Community Action Board (CAB), introduced Board Vice-President Lisette Engel, who provided an overview of the CAB’s role in advocating for Montgomery County’s low- and moderate-income families, including sharing the CAB’s FY21 Accomplishments. Meeting participants were polled for their input into CAB priorities. Their top interests were access to services, navigation, and delivering holistic services in one location; and employment with self-sufficient wages and work supports (i.e., benefits, paid sick leave, etc.). These two priorities were closely followed by participants’ interest in  immigration, affordable housing, food and nutrition programs, early child care and education, and earned income and child tax credits. Representing alumni of the Community Advocacy Institute (CAI), Vanessa Pierre shared an overview of the CAI and how her new advocacy skills have led her to establish a community garden in East County and her organization, Homestead Hustle and Healing, which addresses food insecurity through garden coaching, advocacy, and self-care.  Taunya Johnson leads the CAA Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and shared updates on in-person and online services and Child Tax Credit information. Ms. Johnson also provided updates to the Earned Income Tax Credit, which has been expanded to include people with Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITINs) through 2022. Information on the VITA program can be found on the CASHBACK website.  Charlene Muhammad provided an overview of the Head Start program, a federally supported pre-kindergarten program for low-income families. In Montgomery County, CAA is the Head Start grantee and Montgomery County Public Schools is the delegate. Additional Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) partners include School Health Services, Early Childhood Services, and the Dental program. Lisa Conlon, Social Services Specialist, also joined in the presentation. Ms. Conlon works in MCPS Parent, Family, and Community Engagement and serves as the delegate to the Community Action Board. In Montgomery County, there are 648 children enrolled in Head Start in 34 classrooms. Ms. Muhammad shared that 31 per cent of local Head Start families are in immediate need of food, clothing, and/or shelter. For more information, visit Montgomery County Head Start’s webpage. Sharon Strauss, Executive Director, provided an overview of DHHS navigation services. Community Action is currently on-boarding four Navigators. The navigation system supports DHHS Director Dr. Raymond Crowel’s priorities for coordinated care, including equity-infused work, ready access and painless navigation of services, and an effective and supported workforce. The Navigators will bolster services available at the COVID-19 food distribution and service consolidation hubs, which includes the Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center, a walk-in site in the Long Branch area. Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center staff, led by Maureen Larenas-Rivas, provide community assistance with everything from emergency responses, such as to families’ displaced by fires and floods, to enrollment in food assistance programs, case management, referrals to health care, legal services, and housing services, and more. When TESS staff work with community members, they often find many services are needed beyond the initial request for assistance. More information on TESS services to Montgomery County families can be found in a recent flier. Meeting participants also shared new programs and partnerships they have developed over the past year. Ideas shared included partnering with Unite Us to discover health and social services available (Manna Food Center), contributing to establishing new homes and provisions for families newly arriving from Afghanistan (KindWorks), developing economic opportunities for immigrant families through cooperatives (IMPACT Silver Spring), and contributing to food distribution through the service consolidation hubs (CHEER). To find out more about all CAA Contract Partners, please visit our site.  Families can now report income changes using the Child Tax Credit Update Portal IRS  COVID Tax Tip 2021-167, November 10, 2021 The IRS recently launched a new feature in its Child Tax Credit Update Portal, allowing families receiving monthly advance child tax credit payments to update their income. Families should enter changes by November 29, so the changes are reflected in the December payment. Once the update is made, the IRS will adjust the payment amount to ensure people receive their total advance payment for the year. For married couples, if one spouse makes the income update, it will apply to both spouses and could impact both spouses' future monthly advance payments of the child tax credit. Who should use the income feature  The new income feature can help families make sure they are getting the right amount of advance child tax credit payments during 2021. It is especially useful to any family who wants to raise or lower their monthly payments because their 2021 income changed substantially from 2020. In many cases a big income swing can raise or lower a family's monthly payments. Normally, this means that small changes in income will not impact the payment amount and need not be entered into the CTC UP. Changes made before midnight on November 29 will only impact the December 15 payment, which is the last scheduled monthly payment for 2021. Payments in 2021 could be up to $1,800 for each child under age 6 and up to $1,500 for each child ages 6 through 17. Families need to claim the remaining portion of their child tax credit on their 2021 tax return. Who may qualify for a bigger payment In some cases, families currently receiving monthly payments that are below the maximum may qualify to have their payments increased. For example, they experienced job loss during 2021, or for some other reason are receiving substantially less income this year. If the reduction in income is large enough, reporting that change now may increase the amount of their advance CTC payments for the rest of this year. For any family already receiving the maximum payment, a drop in income will not increase the payment amount. Most families are receiving half of the total CTC through monthly payments. This means any changes they enter in the CTC UP will increase or decrease their monthly payments to ensure they receive half of their total expected credit before the end of 2021. Who should have their payments reduced Any family whose income rose substantially in 2021 should consider using the Child Tax Credit Update Portal to update their income and have their payments reduced. This is especially true if they are now receiving the maximum monthly payment, and they expect to qualify for less than the full credit when they file their 2021 federal income tax return. For more information on calculating the CTC, see Topic C of the agency's frequently asked questions. Families who qualify for less than the full amount should see QC 4 and QC 5. Using the portal to report income changes Only families who are already eligible for and receiving advance CTC payments based on their 2020 tax return can use the CTC UP to update their income. Someone who filed a joint return for 2020 can only update their income if they plan to file a joint return for 2021 with the same spouse. IRS representatives cannot process income changes over the phone or at Taxpayer Assistance Centers. After a family completes an income update, the CTC UP will acknowledge the change but will not display the change. Likewise, IRS representatives won't be able to confirm an update. More information Advance Child Tax Credit 2021   Montgomery County  Community Action Agency 1401 Rockville Pike, 3rd Fl. Rockville, MD 20852 240-777-1697 (main) Website Facebook Contact  Welcome to New CAA Office Services Coordinator! Lorena Jarrin, the Community Action Agency’s Office Services Coordinator (OSC), joined the team in early August.  Lorena came to Community Action with over twenty years of customer service and administrative support experience. As OSC, Lorena manages the front desk at the agency’s Rockville office and supports the VITA program by scheduling appointments, checking in clients, and providing interpretation and translation as needed. Lorena works with the entire staff as well, supporting the team for a wide variety of agency activities, including fiscal responsibilities, administrative support to the Community Action Board, records management, and addressing facilities issues. In recent months, Lorena has gone above and beyond to support the Community Advocacy Institute, utilizing her exceptional Spanish language skills to contact Spanish-speaking participants, review translated documents, provide interpretation to participants at an in-person networking session, and translate numerous messages into Spanish. Lorena has also played a critical role in the onboarding process for the Agency’s new Navigators. The Community Action Agency in thrilled to have Lorena on the team and appreciates all of her outstanding work. Community Action Board Advocates for Top Priorities         Community Action Board (CAB) Vice Chair Lisette Orellana Engel testified for the board at two important hearings: the annual Joint Delegation hearing with all members of the Montgomery County State Delegation, and the County Council DHHS Committee Work session for Boards, Committees, and Commissions. The Board’s statewide priorities include expansion of the Maryland EITC, support for renters, support for both providers and families struggling to pay for child care, and whole family/2-Gen approaches to addressing poverty. The Board’s local priorities include support for VITA, access to services and navigation, place-based child care and birth through five services, affordable housing, and utility assistance.    Advocacy Program Participants Learn from Elected Officials The 2021 – 2022 Community Advocacy Institute (CAI) welcomed several legislators to its November 3 workshop, Advocacy 101.  Participants learned about best practices for working with elected officials, receiving guidance from Maryland Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins, Maryland Delegate Jared Solomon, County Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz, Gaithersburg City Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, and the County Executive’s representative to the Community Action Board, Mike Subin. Participants also learned about the County’s legislative process from Linda McMillan, a Senior Legislative Analyst at the County Council and a longtime supporter of the CAI. Over 20 participants attended an in-person networking session at the Executive Office Building Plaza on November 13.  Participants had the opportunity to meet each other, members of the Community Action Board, and this year’s CAI Ambassadors.  The program also provided an opportunity for participants to connect with others who are interested in similar community issues. Participants are encouraged to work with each other to strengthen their advocacy efforts.   Maryland Homeowners Assistance Fund Are you struggling to keep up with your mortgage payments or other housing costs due to COVID-19 related financial hardships? The Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund is expected to open to homeowners statewide in late 2021.  The State of Maryland is currently developing a wait list for assistance with mortgage payments due to income loss from the covid-19 pandemic. The Homeowners Assistance Fund is not yet open.  Please go on the website and complete the Expression of Interest Form to be notified when the program opens for applications.  Once applications are released, the Housing Initiative Partnership and the Latino Economic Development Corporation will be the two local organizations assisting homeowners with the application.    VITA's Monthly Tax Tip: Some Montgomery County residents will receive refunds after homeowner tax credit mistake Thousands of Montgomery County residents could soon receive refunds in the mail thanks to a mistake made by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. In 2016, Montgomery County resident and retired programmer Louis Wilen wrote a program to calculate Maryland’s homeowner's tax credit. In Maryland, that program provides homeowners credits against their property tax bill if the property taxes exceed a fixed percentage of their gross income. Homeowners are eligible to receive credits under the program if their combined gross household income is $60,000 or less. A new law was passed that the State would have to determine whether homeowners are owed additional homeowner property tax credits because of the overpayments.  Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is making restitution to Montgomery County residents due to this error made by the state calculation. This may affect roughly 7,900 account in Montgomery County that were affected between 2017 and 2019.  The total tax credit to be refunded is expected to be more than $8 million.  The payments could go out as early as mid-December 2021 to January 2022.  The payments range from $1.61 to $2,076. However, the amount people get back will ultimately depend on their personal financial situations. Checks will also include a financial amount for multiple years of refunds a homeowner should have originally received. The Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT) mailed homeowners a letter explaining what these payments are for, and letting the homeowners know to expect a check in the mail around the end of September. “The Department is working on an easy-to-use online service that will allow Montgomery County homeowners to search for whether they are due a payment, and we expect to have that released on our website before the letters go out," Meghann Malone, Public Information Officer for the Maryland State Department of Assessments & Taxation, wrote to WMAR-2 News Mallory Sofastaii. Head Start registration for 2021 – 2022 school year Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) continues to register four-year-old children for Pre-kindergarten/Head Start for the 2021-2022 school year. The registration process is online and no in-person contact is required.  Parents can begin their registration online by completing a survey or call 240-740-4530. Informational videos to help parents navigate the registration process remotely are available in English, Spanish, and Amharic.   The Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) Pre-kindergarten and Head Start Programs are seeking donations of new coats for preschool children from low-income families. Boys’ and girls’ coats in sizes 4, 5, 6, 6X, 7, 8 and 10 can be delivered to Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Room 141, Rockville, MD, 20852. Gloves, hats and scarves are welcome, too! You may drop off in person from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, or you may order online and have items delivered directly to Rocking Horse Road Center. Please email Lisa_W_Conlon@mcpsmd.org with any questions or call Lisa at 240-740-4530. Thank you for your support!   Resources: NEW! Are you struggling to keep up with your mortgage payments or other housing costs due to COVID-19 related financial hardships? The Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund is expected to open to homeowners statewide in late 2021. Find out how to submit the Expression of Interest form and what help is available now through the above link. NEW! Montgomery County Climate Action Plan - Available in Amharic, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, & Vietnamese. Asian American Health Initiative's COVID-19 Resource Guide Latino Health Initiative Covid-19 Information African American Health Program Covid-19 Resources Montgomery County COVID-19 information website Montgomery County COVID-19 Vaccine Site Montgomery County COVID-19 hotline in English: 240-777-1755, and in Spanish: 301-270-8432 Food assistance Diaper distribution Family violence prevention  Covid-19 Rent Relief, Phase 3 CASHBACK – VITA Services, tax credit information, covid-19 financial resources CFPB Your Money, Your Goals CFPB Financial Education Tools in Multiple Languages Information from Protecting Immigrant Families about immigrant eligibility for public programs. Unemployment Insurance  Office of Home Energy Programs – Utilities assistance WSSC water & sewer bill assistance in English and Spanish. Call Center Advisors: 301-206-4001.   The Community Action Agency is part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Affairs. The Albornoz Bulletin: Giving Thanks, Booster Shots, and more. 11/24/2021 Season of Thanksgiving John F. Kennedy once said, “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” As we enter the holiday season, many families look forward to bonding with loved ones and creating lasting memories. Family gatherings serve as an opportunity to socialize and connect with one another, especially as we continue to navigate the stressful ebbs and flows of a global pandemic. The past 20 months we have circumvented difficult times but have made great strides as we pilot through challenges in public health, our local economy, public safety, and the environment. We should all take a moment to reflect and give thanks and below I have noted some of the things I am thankful for this year. Family means the world to me and I could not imagine my life without my wife, Catherine, our 4 beautiful children, our parents, and our extended family. It takes a village to envision, to sustain, and to overcome life’s encounters, but I am truly grateful to have my family’s support and love. Council legislative initiatives that I spearheaded and supported such as rent relief, food security, guaranteed income, and offering childcare tax incentives for small businesses strengthens families. Public Health has been tested beyond measure throughout this pandemic, but I am especially grateful to our front-line medical personnel who have prioritized our physical and mental health as well as sustained our health care system for nearly two years. Through robust scientific innovation and research, we were able to access three vaccines—Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson—and provide protection to thousands of County residents. Through our efforts, we are the #1 vaccinated county of our size in the entire United States. We successfully reached our most vulnerable populations and in a culturally-competent manner, we have closed the racial disparity gap among the vaccinated. A total of 78.6% of our County residents are fully vaccinated, including 98.5% of residents over the age of 65 and 92.6% of children over the age of 12. I am extremely proud and thankful to our public health leaders who prioritized the protection of our County residents. Constituent Advocacy is central to our democracy. Throughout the course of the pandemic and this year in particular, I have had the privilege of meeting with long-time advocates to discuss the importance of mental health, community policing, safe neighborhoods, food security, redistricting, Thrive 2050, the County’s Mask Mandate, and significant community issues that make Montgomery County strong. Even if we don’t always agree, I value your thoughts, ideas, and opinions and truly believe your efforts makes the Council a stronger legislative body. From my family to yours, have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving holiday! COVID-19 Update   In recent days, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded eligibility of third doses or booster shots for individuals who are 18 years old or older. For individuals who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, residents are eligible for a third booster dose 6 months after their second dose. For residents who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a booster vaccine is available 2 months after their single dose. If you would like to schedule an appointment to receive a booster or third dose vaccination, please click here. As you likely know, the indoor mask mandate went back into effect Saturday morning after the County entered a sustained seven-day period of substantial transmission. However, if current vaccination trends hold, the county’s indoor mask requirement may end in early January when the County’s fully vaccinated rate is projected to reach 85%, as measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID data tracker. If you or your loved one have not received a COVID-19 vaccine, it is not too late. By vaccinating every resident in our County, this will help get us there. To read more information regarding the County’s indoor mask mandate, please click here. Cafecitos in the Community: Municipal Spotlight Series In many homes and cafes across communities, brewing a cup of coffee stirs creativity, and connects us in ways that makes a lasting impact for future generations. Through dialogue, we exchange ideas and compare lessons we have learned along the way to effect change. In 2019, Cafecito in the Community was launched to engage constituents, small businesses, community organizations and elected leaders in meaningful conversations and examine issues that directly impact our daily lives. Across Montgomery County, we have hosted Cafecitos with business leaders, community advocates, and non-profit organizations and I have been amazed by the rich engagement with our invited guests when discussing mental health, positive youth development, economic empowerment, community safety, and the global pandemic. For our Municipal Spotlight Series, I connected with Mayor Kate Stewart, Mayor Jud Ashman and Mayor Bridget Newton, who are leading the way in their respective municipalities and making a difference in countless lives. During this Cafecito series, we discussed a range of issues including pandemic relief, municipal tax duplication, our shared vision for Montgomery County and more. Please enjoy our conversations below and it is my hope to host a Cafecito in a community near you! To view my Cafecito conversation with City of Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart, please click here. To view my Cafecito conversation with City of Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman, please click here. To view my Cafecito conversation with City of Rockville Mayor Bridget Newton, please click here. COVID-19 Booster Town Hall: Intellectual/Developmental Disability community.   On Thursday, December 2nd, Dr. James Bridgers, Acting Health Officer and Chief of Public Health Services for Montgomery County, and I will join a panel of healthcare professionals, community leaders, and advocates to discuss the vaccine booster and its direct impact on residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hosted by the Primary Care Coalition, in partnership with Montgomery County, this virtual forum is open to the public and will address frequently asked questions regarding vaccine efforts and how it meets the special needs of the intellectual and developmental disabilities community in Montgomery County. To learn more information or to register your attendance, please click here. Climate Change Town Hall Meeting   I believe we are facing a climate emergency that poses an existential threat to our livelihoods and survival. The past several years have been challenging for families and communities across our County. On the evening of Thursday, December 2, 2021, the Montgomery County Council will host a virtual Climate Change Town Hall meeting to answer questions and listen to concerns from residents regarding climate change and the environment. From 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., this town hall will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube (MoCoCouncilMD) and on Facebook Live (MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil). This virtual meeting can also be viewed on County Cable Montgomery on channels 30 (Fios), 1056 (RCN) and 996 (Xfinity). To read information about this virtual town hall meeting or to submit your questions beforehand, please click here. A Season of Gratitude 11/25/2021 County Update: November 25, 2021 Dear Friend, Every year, I am reminded of the many reasons to be thankful. I am so thankful for my family, my wife, Amy, and our two boys. And I’m thankful that I get to raise them in a welcoming community that values inclusivity, diversity and togetherness. I am honored and grateful to have the opportunity every day to work for Montgomery County families and fight to make Montgomery County the best place to live, work and raise a family.  This year, I’m especially thankful for our incredible residents who banded together to help each other through these difficult times and did their part to get themselves and their families vaccinated and protected against COVID-19. Thanks to you, we are on the road to recovery -- stronger, healthier and more prosperous than we were a year ago. The Council continues working to make Montgomery County a more healthy, vibrant, equitable and safe place for everyone who calls it home. We are committed to ensuring our residents and businesses have the resources and support they need. If you or someone you know needs assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. If you haven’t already, please connect with me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news. From my family to yours, best wishes for a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving! Sincerely, Tom Hucker President Montgomery County Council You’re Invited to Join the Council’s Climate Change Town Hall Throughout the past year, the Council has been focused on recovering from the economic and public health impacts of the pandemic. But we’ve simultaneously taken steps to address and combat the climate crisis. Please join us for a climate change town hall next Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. This town hall is an opportunity for residents to share their feedback and vision for climate action with us and to learn more about what the Council is doing to move Montgomery County toward a more resilient, sustainable and equitable future. Our best decisions and policies are made with input from our residents, so this is a great opportunity for residents to participate and share their expertise and personal experiences with us. Residents are encouraged to sign up and submit questions beforehand. Register in advance for this webinar here: https://tinyurl.com/RegistrationClimateTownHall. Explore MoCo for the Holidays Explore all that Montgomery County has to offer this holiday season! Here are a few great activities to enjoy with family and friends: Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens When: November 19 - January 2 Winter Lights Festival at Seneca Creek State Park  When: November 26 - December 31 Sounds of the Season in Downtown Silver Spring When: November 27 - December 18 Sounds of the Season at Rio Lakefront When: November 19 - December 19  Butler’s Holiday Harvest Days at Butler’s Orchard  When: November 27 - December 7 Wreath Making Workshop in Downtown Silver Spring When: December 4 Virtual Turkey Chase When: November 15 - November 30 Giving Help for the Holidays - Volunteer Opportunities through Montgomery County’s Volunteer Center Opportunities available year-round Small Business Saturday The holiday season is here! Finalize your holiday shopping with offerings from local shops. Skip the big box stores this year and support our local businesses this Small Business Saturday.  Fine Arts & Crafts Holiday Gift Show at the Sandy Spring Museum When: November 26  Shop the locally-owned, independent businesses on Main Street Takoma Open year-round The Perfect Gift Boutique at The Woman's Club of Bethesda When: December 4 Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show When: December 5 Tom's Work in the News Washington Business Journal: Montgomery County pitches a major annual investment in its green bank. It could mean millions for building energy upgrades. “The green bank has been an underutilized but powerful tool in the county’s toolbox,” Hucker said. “This is a commitment to put our money where our mouth is.” WUSA9: 'This lawlessness in Silver Spring has to stop' | Montgomery Co. leaders vow to crack down on car rallies with reckless driving "This lawlessness in Silver Spring has to stop," he said. "I believe we need a much more vigorous and coordinated law enforcement effort to step up and take action to prevent future incidents like these from happening and shut them down immediately before someone gets killed or seriously injured.” WTOP: Council president blasts ‘lawlessness’ after chaotic car meetup in downtown Silver Spring “There’s a feeling in the community I hear every single week that Silver Spring has been sort of abandoned, and we really have to do everything possible to counteract that,” he said. My MCM: Council Wants to Allocate $252 Million in Federal Funds for Schools “Our students are experiencing a huge wave of unaddressed behavioral issues, one that we saw coming,” Hucker said. “Arguably this is six months and years late,” he said, noting that other districts throughout the area already are recruiting for the same positions. Important Resources Listening Session on Thrive 2050 The Montgomery County Council will hold a community listening session to hear from residents about Thrive Montgomery 2050. It will be hosted virtually via Zoom on Nov. 30, 2021, starting at 7 p.m. The Council encourages both those who have not heard of the plan before and those who have been following the plan closely to review the draft plan and pre-register to speak at the session. If you would like to participate in the listening session, please pre-register no later than Nov. 26, 2021 at 7 p.m. at https://tinyurl.com/Thrive2050ListeningSession.  Members of the public also are welcome to submit written comments about the draft plan at https://mcgmd.wufoo.com/forms/comment-on-thrive-montgomery. Learn more. COVID-19 Vaccinations and Booster Shots  We urge all residents who haven’t received their COVID-19 vaccines to make their first-dose appointments at County clinics. Booster shots are also available for all adults over 18. Clinic dates, times, and vaccine types are all listed on the County website. The vaccination schedule is updated daily. Residents can also walk into a County-run vaccine clinic without an appointment. If you are a Montgomery County resident with disabilities and/or over the age of 65, there are free taxi rides available to and from COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics: https://tinyurl.com/5b6nj3v2. To schedule a trip, call Connect-A-Ride at 301-738-3252 and get your free taxi code. If you need help making an appointment, email c19vaccination@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240-777-2982. Food Distribution Montgomery County has various food distribution events across the County this week, including in Silver Spring, Rockville, Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village. To find distribution events or food near you, click here. The website also has more information about food resources in multiple languages. For help with getting food, please call the Food Access Call Center at MC311. Flu Season With the flu season upon us, we urge all residents to get their flu shots as soon as possible to protect themselves. Flu symptoms are very similar to COVID-19 symptoms, so please make sure to get tested for COVID-19 if you are unsure. Learn more about the County’s flu vaccination campaign to find locations where you can get your flu shot. Foster a Shelter Animal this Holiday Season Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center (MCASAC) has animals of all shapes and sizes that are still waiting to find their forever home. During the holiday season, consider opening your heart and home to a shelter animal! Not only do you get a low-commitment friend for a bit, but you'll be making a shelter animal very happy during this season of giving. When you foster with MCASAC, they provide ALL supplies, food, and vet care. The turn-around time for foster applications is currently one to two weeks, so don't wait! Learn more about the foster process. Student Election Workers  Calling all students: the Montgomery County Board of Elections is looking for election workers. Students interested can apply to be an election poll worker to earn up to 25 SSL hours or up to $210. To apply, text SERVE to 77788 or https://bit.ly/3rabIMG.  Montgomery County Council Seeks Applicants for County Board of Appeals 11/26/2021 Montgomery County Council Seeks Applicants for County Board of Appeals Deadline to Submit an Application is Friday, December 3 at 5:00 pm ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 26, 2021—The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants to fill a vacant position on the County Board of Appeals. Ms. Gonzales has expressed her intent to resign from the Board and an individual is sought to fill the remainder of her term, which ends September 2023. Applications for the position must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, December 3. By law, no more than three members of the board shall be from the same political party. This position can be filled by a Democrat, a Republican, a voter who is unaffiliated with a party, or a voter who is a member of another party officially recognized by the Board of Elections. The current members of the Board include Chair John Pentecost (Democrat), Bruce Goldensohn (Republican), Richard Melnick (Unaffiliated), and Caryn Hines (Democrat). Members of County Boards, Committees and Commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. Members of the Board currently receive $15,689.00 annually, with the Chair receiving $22,173.00. Salaries are adjusted each December to reflect 50 percent of the change in the Washington Area Consumer Price Index. Duties of the Board of Appeals include hearing and deciding requests for variances from development standards contained in the Zoning Ordinance; hearing appeals from certain administrative decisions rendered by County government agencies; and hearing oral argument on and deciding appeals from decisions of the Hearing Examiner on conditional uses. The Board also considers and decides requests for modifications of special exceptions. The Board normally holds weekly hearings all day Wednesday and worksessions every other week on Wednesdays. If necessary to accommodate an extended caseload or continued hearings, the Board may schedule hearings on other weekdays. Members are expected to prepare for the hearings by reading the cases to be heard and to share the workload of drafting and editing opinions or to follow-up on investigations on specific cases. Members work approximately 15-25 hours a week. The principal jurisdiction of the Board of Appeals does not include the municipalities of Brookeville, Poolesville, Laytonsville, Rockville, Barnesville, Gaithersburg, and Washington Grove. The Council is not precluded from appointing someone who resides in one of these municipalities, although the Council may avoid doing so. Letters expressing interest, including a resume (no more than 4 pages in length) listing professional and civic experience, political party affiliation, home and office telephone numbers and an email address, should be addressed to: Council President Hucker, County Council Office, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850 or emailed to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov. Letters of application must be received no later than 5 p.m. on December 3, 2021. It is the Council’s policy not to consider applications received after the deadline. After the closing date, Councilmembers will review the letters of application and select applicants to interview. Letters of application and resumes are made public as part of the appointment process (personal contact information is redacted). Any interviews held are open to the public and will be televised. A financial statement of assets, debts, income and family property interests will be required of all applicants. Only the appointed candidates will be required to make the financial statement available for public review. # # # Montgomery County Council and Committees hold virtual meetings on Monday, Nov. 29 starting at 9:30 a.m. 11/26/2021 Montgomery County Council and Committees Hold Virtual Meetings on Monday, Nov. 29 Starting at 9:30 a.m. Council will review and approve capital project priorities to send to the State Delegation; Committees will receive an update on migrant and asylum-seeking children and families and interview candidates to fill a public seat on the WSSC Water Commission Inspector General Appointment Committee For Immediate Release: Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 The joint Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education and Culture (E&C) Committee will meet on Monday, Nov. 29 at 9:30 a.m. to receive an update on migrant and asylum-seeking children and families. The members of the HHS Committee include Chair and Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness & Vulnerable Communities) and Craig Rice. The members of the E&C Committee include Chair Craig Rice and Councilmembers Will Jawando (Lead for Libraries) and Nancy Navarro. The Council will meet at 12:30 p.m. to review and approve a list of capital project priorities to send to the Montgomery County State Delegation. The Audit Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to interview candidates to fill a public seat on the WSSC Water Commission Inspector General Appointment Committee. The members of the Audit Committee include Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee Chair Nancy Navarro, Council President Tom Hucker, Vice President Gabe Albornoz, Councilmember Andrew Friedson and Councilmember Sidney Katz. More detail on each agenda item is provided below.  Migrant and Asylum-Seeking Children and Families Briefing: The joint HHS and E&C Committee will receive an update on national, regional and local issues regarding the arrival of migrant children who have come to live with approved sponsors through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and newly arriving migrant and asylum-seeking children and families who are now residents of Montgomery County. The joint Committee’s most recent update on the topic was provided on July 22, 2021. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) convened a steering committee with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to plan and coordinate a response so that the county is well prepared to address the needs of newly arriving migrant and asylum-seeking children and families. The response model will strengthen interagency coordination and partnerships with community-based organizations. The implementation plan includes the following action areas: communication and outreach, navigation and case management (including access to health and mental health), legal services, positive youth development and recreation, anti-discrimination, public safety and trafficking prevention, and education and school-based services. According to the ORR, 1,230 unaccompanied children have been placed with sponsors in Montgomery County between January and September. The District of Columbia Metropolitan Region has been the destination for 4,575 children with 1,678 living with sponsors in Prince George’s County, 1,360 in Fairfax County and 307 in the District of Columbia. Children and families may also arrive through other avenues without going through the ORR process. Those expected to attend and provide information include Dr. Raymond Crowel, director, DHHS; JoAnn Barnes, consultant, DHHS; Diane Vu, director, Office of Community Partnerships; Luis Cardona, administrator, Positive Youth Development, DHHS; Monica Martin, administrator, Child/Adolescent School and Community-Based Services, DHHS; Damon Monteleone, assistant chief, Office of Teaching, Learning, and Schools, MCPS; Everett Davis, acting associate superintendent, Student, Family, Support, and Engagement, MCPS; Margarita I. Bohorquez, acting director, Student, Family, and School Services – International Admissions & Enrollment, MCPS; Dr. Jennifer Norton, director, Department of English Learners and Multilingual Education, Curriculum and Instructional Programs; and Diego Uriburu, executive director, Identity, Inc. State Legislative Program Review and vote expected: The Council will meet to review and approve a list of capital project priorities to send to the State Delegation, as a supplement to the priorities presented on Nov. 15, 2021. In addition, the Council will review and approve a letter to Governor Hogan regarding the Office of Immigration Affairs and review and take positions on local and bi-county bills. The list of priority capital projects includes $18 million for the Restoration Center to provide a continuum of care for those in crisis in an appropriate community-based setting, $20 million to support Bethesda Metro Station south entrance improvements, $18 million for the Zero Emissions Bus Program, $20 million for Veirs Mill Road Flash Bus Rapid Transit, $13.5 million for Great Seneca Science Corridor transit vehicles which would provide transit service to and from Shady Grove Metro Station, $25 million for personal living quarters, and $74 million for the new Criminal Justice Center to replace the existing Montgomery County detention Center (MCDC). Those expected to attend and provide information include Melanie Wenger, director, Office of Intergovernmental Relations (OIR); Kathleen Boucher, special assistant to director, OIR; Leslie Frey, legislative analyst, OIR; Sara Morningstar, federal relations coordinator and legislative analyst, OIR; and Amy Samman, legislative analyst, OIR. WSSC Inspector General Appointment Committee Candidates Interview: The Audit Committee will conduct interviews with candidates to fill a public seat on the WSSC Water Commission Inspector General Appointment Committee. The Committee will recommend an Inspector General to WSSC Water. The Committee will consist of one WSSC Water Commissioner from Montgomery County, one WSSC Water Commissioner from Prince George's County, one member of the public selected by the Montgomery County Council and one member of the public selected by the Prince George's County Council. The WSSC Water Office of the Inspector General (IG) was established by Maryland General Assembly House Bill Number 419, Chapter 130. The IG is responsible for investigating claims of mismanagement, misconduct, fraud, waste and abuse and conducting an annual audit of WSSC Water operations. The Appointment Committee will review and recommend potential candidates to the Commission for appointment as IG. The IG will be appointed by the Commission from the list of recommended candidates. The Committee will recommend a list of three to six candidates. Upon appointment of the IG, the Appointment Committee will be terminated. The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html. The Council and committees are meeting via Zoom this fall because of ongoing construction and technology upgrades in the Council's Hearing Room and the inability to conduct meetings in a socially distant way in other areas of the Council Office Building with television broadcast capacity. Councilmembers will continue to hold meetings in their offices by appointment. The virtual Council and committee meetings will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.