In this newsletter: Education updates, supporting employers and employees, protecting mental health, community highlights, and telephone town hall.

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Thank you for everything you’re doing to stay home and maintain social distancing practices to stop the spread of coronavirus. I know this is a difficult time for so many people, particularly if you or a loved one is sick or has lost a job. If you are in this position, please know I am thinking of the needs of families and small businesses in our community and am working hard to push the state to allocate gap funding for Oregonians most in need as we wait for the $2 trillion federal relief package (CARES Act) to make a difference.

This past weekend you may have seen some troubling updates from the federal government about how difficult the coming week will be for many Americans. While so much of what we hear is sad, you may be heartened to know your efforts to stay home are making a monumental difference here; data continues to show ([link removed]) Oregon is in a better position than other states. Thank you.

Of course, the positive news we are seeing from modeling can’t predict the future. It assumes we all continue to do our part and stay home as much as possible. So, even if the model projections ([link removed]) bring encouraging news, please know that it means we need to continue to stay home and save lives.

Sincerely,

Rachel Prusak


** Distance Learning For All
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While Schools have been closed, I have put additional effort into ensuring our educators, students, and families have the tools and the support they need. These efforts have included hosting weekly conversations with school board members of TTSD ([link removed]) and WLWV ([link removed]) , speaking with a representative from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) about the challenges teachers and parents of students have been facing, and hosting a virtual town hall focused on youth mental health. Things are moving too slow for some and too fast for others, but everyone has a collective interest in Oregon’s students and a shared responsibility to one another during this time.

ODE has been working nonstop to do 4 things:
1. Listen carefully to the community, educators, and leaders.
2. Scout and scan the environment to learn from states that are ahead of us
3. Create guidance for students and teachers
4. Find the best estimation of what is to come

To address the different levels of internet access across the state, ODE is also conducting a survey about capacity, and working to maximize their outreach. They are exploring ways to educate through a variety of methods including over computers, telephones, packets, and even the radio.

From my discussions with educators I learned “Distance Learning for All” may not account for the realities families face. A global health crisis has changed our lives as we know it and I heard from some who believe this approach could perpetuate disparities by:
1. Assuming there is an adult at home who can dedicate all their time to monitoring and supporting student learning and activities.
2. Prioritizing traditional grading structures as a means to measure student progress and growth, setting standards for instructional time in uncontrolled, inequitable environments.
3. Not acknowledging or responding to the deep trauma being experienced (loss of job, loss of home, loss of life, loss of stability), and only focusing on the “experiences” students will lose (proms, field trips, sports/activities). Maintaining strict standards of performance may add to the student and family trauma.

If we continue to talk to each other, and have grace and patience with each other, we can find solutions to the inequity of instruction access. We can nest our solutions within a trauma informed framework for all - teachers, students, and families. This will require all of us, and the best of us.


** Supporting Employers and Employees
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* The CARES Act: Congress passed in late March which created Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans. Those loans provide cash-flow assistance, up to $10 million, through 100 percent federally guaranteed loans to employers who maintain their payroll during this emergency. PPP has a host of attractive features, such as forgiveness of up to 8 weeks of payroll based on employee retention and salary levels, no SBA fees and at least six months of deferral with maximum deferrals of up to a year. In addition, the Oregon legislature is working hard to identify what resources it might be able to offer small business owners once the budget picture becomes clearer in the coming month. Here is a link to the information ([link removed]) , but please also contact your bank or credit union ASAP to get the process started.
* Employment Department Updates: While wait times and technical difficulties in accessing unemployment benefits exist, they are working hard to help. The State of Oregon Employment Department released a video to walk you through applying for those benefits. Watch here ([link removed]) .
* Coronavirus Small Business Resource Navigator ([link removed]) , helps connect small businesses to financial support and information they need to stay in business through the COVID-19 crisis.
* Resources for Restaurant and Service Workers: Service workers are some of the hardest hit by the lay-offs and social distancing measures. In addition to the state Unemployment Insurance program, there are some other relief resources available for tipped workers and service industry workers.
+ Restaurant Employee Relief Fund ([link removed])
+ Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association ([link removed])


** Protecting Our Mental Health
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Isolation from friends and family members can take a toll on our individual and collective mental health. Please remember, you don’t have to go through this alone. I held a mental health town hall and it was great to see so many constituents’ faces on the video conference. We supported one another and shared how we are coping. We discussed a great resource; the Work2BeWell ([link removed]) project, which provides free resources to students, parents and teachers to support mental and emotional well
being. You can check out the #Talk2BeWell ([link removed]) podcasts and resources here ([link removed]) .

Here are additional resources:
* Lines for Life crisis line call center: 800-273-8255 OR Text 273TALK to 839863
* ALCOHOL & DRUG HELPLINE: 800-923-4357 OR Text RecoveryNow to 839863
* MILITARY HELPLINE: 888-457-4838 OR Text MIL1 to 839863

* SENIOR LONELINESS LINE: 503-200-1633
* YOUTHLINE: 877-968-8491 OR Text teen2teen to 839863

Chat at www.oregonyouthline.org


** House District 37 Constituent Telephone Town Hall INFO
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Thursday April 7th from 6:00 PM - 7:00PM

I am hosting a telephone town hall on Thursday night at 6pm, to discuss COVID-19 and the steps we’re taking at the state level to help families and businesses. Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle and Dr. David Bangsberg, Dean of the OHSU/PSU School of Public Health will be joining me. We’ll be taking your questions live. Please call-in at (503) 755-9918 to join the call at 6pm. We hope to talk to you then!

Speakers:
* Representative Rachel Prusak
* Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle
* Dr. David Bangsberg, Dean of OHSU/PSU School of Public Health


** Community Highlight: Shop Local – Buy Gift Cards for Good – Give Local
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Simply buy a $25 gift card from a local restaurant or grocery store, drop it off at the City of Tualatin Library book drop, and it will be delivered to the Tualatin Food Pantry to be distributed to a family in need. Open restaurants: Take Out & Delivery List 4-6-2020 ([link removed])

If you prefer to stay home, simply go to the Chamber website (www.tualatinchamber.com/shop-local/ ([link removed]) ) and select to purchase a $25 gift card from the restaurant or grocery store of your choice, and we’ll do the work for you.

We’ll purchase the cards on a weekly basis and deliver them to the Food Pantry. It’s that simple.
To purchase the gift cards through the chamber site, click on the button: Register Now. Chamber staff will go out weekly to purchase the cards and deliver them to the Tualatin Food Pantry for distribution. Donate Here ([link removed])


** Keeping Oregon Truckers Fueled During COVID-19: Oregon Trucking Associations Is Offering Free Lunch to Truck Drivers This Thursday
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As most Oregonians continue to stay inside, it’s hard to remember that the world hasn’t stopped spinning. Medical personnel, first responders and essential frontline workers are keeping it moving. Trucks continue to deliver food and consumer goods, keeping store shelves stocked and people fed; however, truck drivers often find it difficult to feed themselves. In a show of support for the service and dedication of truck drivers, Oregon Trucking Associations (OTA) will be offering them a “free lunch” this Thursday, April 9 at Oregon'sWoodburn Port of Entry South Bound (I-5 Milepost 274). OTA will be onsite 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM, or until lunches run out. Truck drivers traveling along that stretch of I-5 are invited to stop in for a free boxed lunch and bottled water handed out – contact free – by representatives from OTA, along with help from a few select sponsors including EROAD ([link removed]) (HD 37 business) and Right Weigh. In order to meet social distancing guidelines, only media
and a few select guests are invited to attend in person. There is, however, a way for everyone to get involved by donating to OTA’s Driver Appreciation Fund. A donation of $10 or more will help cover the costs of the meals. Depending on funds, OTA hosting additional events in other regions around the state. Those interested can go online to the Driver Appreciation Fund donation page to securely contribute. That link is here. ([link removed])


** Lets End on a Happy Note
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It appears someone in HD 37 is keeping up with the Pacific Northwest tradition of painted rocks. Thanks to the anonymous artists for brightening my day and keeping the tradition alive. My husband found this one by the creek at Mary S young Park and gave it to me between my many constituent phone calls. It was a much needed ray of sunshine. Anyone else finding, or painting, rocks? Learn more here. ([link removed])

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Rachel for State Representative . 1980 willamette falls drive . Suite #120 - PMB#135 . West Linn, Or 97068 . USA

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