Delegate Nicole Williams Newsletter - Update Medicaid Coverage
Dear Neighbors and Friends - The 2023 Maryland General Assembly session has come to an end and we are now in the interim. Over the past month, my office has had bill signings, a District 22 Town Hall, and has attended numerous events within my district that will be highlighted in the "Recap" section below. As you may know, the Maryland Department of Health is constantly updating its policies to best fit whatever we face at hand. When we were previously battling COVID-19, Medicaid ensured that individuals' healthcare would continue to stay active as long as COVID-19 posed a threat, which meant that individuals were not required to renew their Medicaid coverage. Furthermore, because we have exited the previous state of emergency, Maryland Health Officials have urged citizens to make sure they do not lose their Medicaid healthcare since Medicaid will now be returning to its original operations (before COVID-19) without the automatic renewal. Please be sure to confirm that you will be renewing your Medicaid healthcare for next year. Feel free to read this article, provided by Maryland Matters, for more details. Also, please do not forget to view the bottom section for updates on new resources around you. -Nicole
~Recap~ Legislative Updates
On May 3rd and 16th at the Maryland State House, Governor Moore signed two bills that I sponsored, HB 808 - Reproductive Health Protection Act and HB 232 - Child in Need of Assistance – Neglect – Cannabis Use, respectively. “Today, we further strengthened our leave no one behind vision by protecting individual freedoms, solidifying reproductive rights, expanding access to healthcare, and creating an adult-use cannabis market that directly benefits those that were disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.” He spoke these monumental words and meant them regarding several pieces of important legislation that was passed this session. Thank you, Governor Moore, Lieutenant Governor Miller, and Speaker Jones for curating such imperative pieces of legislation.
Greenbelt Advisory Committee on Education (ACE) Awards
Greenbelt's Annual ACE Student Awards was proudly hosted on May 3rd at the City of Greenbelt Council Chambers. The purpose of this special award ceremony is for the City of Greenbelt and local leaders to honor and congratulate the chosen students from Greenbelt's area schools. Please take a look at the list below and feel free to read this article, covered by the Greenbelt News Review, to hear more about the 2023 ACE Student Awardees.
Springhill Lake Elementary School
Chrishaun Jackson
Ashley Tamayo
Greenbelt Elementary
Angelina Cole
Muhammad Hassan
Magnolia Elementary School
Inioluwa Isaac Ajakaye
Paula Justo Mendez
Greenbelt Middle School
Nkeng “Mercy” Tazi
Mamadou Ba
Dora Kennedy French Immersion
Lien Wheeler Gareri
Irene Sirleaf
Eleanor Roosevelt High School ACE Scholarship
Joy Victoria Reider
Sara-Ricole Ferguson
Delegate Anne Healey Scholarship
Elias Garner
Delegate Nicole Williams Scholarship
Ezinne A.D. Uzoho
Berwyn Heights Day Parade
On May 6th, my District 22 teammates and I had a phenomenal time at the Berwyn Heights Day Parade. It is always a true joy to see everyone outside of the political sphere celebrating the city and its establishment.
Prince George's County Council Meeting
On May 9th, in my capacity as Vice Chair of the Prince George's County House Delegation, I joined Chair Nick Charles in briefing the Prince George's County Council on various pieces of legislation that passed in Annapolis this session, including 2.1 billion dollars to the County for various projects including improvements at the New Carrollton Metro Station, infrastructure improvements to support the FBI if the facility is relocated to Prince George's County, Luminis Healthcare - Doctors Community Hospital, various local bills, and legislation regarding the recreational use of cannabis.
Scholarship Opportunities
If you are in Greenbelt and need financial assistance for post-secondary education, you are in luck! The Greenbelt Education Scholarship Grant is intended to assist high school seniors and current college students from Greenbelt affected by COVID-19 seeking to further their education. The deadline has now been extended to June 15, 2023. For more information, click here to read more and complete the application. Click here to review the scholarship guidelines.
Article of the Month
The Prince George's County Public Schools continue to uphold their high standards regarding environmental literacy. On May 10th, their environmental literacy awards ceremony took place, and two Greenbelt teachers were honored. Danielle Todd-Jones, Springhill Lake Elementary School teacher, was recognized for taking on initiatives to empower students and teach them how to care for the earth. In addition, Martha Leighty, Dora Kennedy French Immersion School English teacher, has been at the helm of the school's E-SWAT environmental club. Three Greenbelt Green Schools were also recognized for their accomplishments in ecological literacy. Click here to read more about how different schools encourage a passion for the environment.
Community Events
Gaywood Elementary School Shoe Drive
Stop by Gaywood Elementary School from now until June 1st, 2023 to donate any unwanted new shoes you have for a greater cause! See the flyer below for more details about the location and drop-off instructions.
COVID-19 Update
The national COVID-19 state of emergency declaration ended on May 11th. Older adults (50 years and older), and individuals who are immunocompromised or have underlying medical or cardiac conditions should take necessary precautions to stay safe.
Read here to learn how to obtain at-home test kits and vaccinations. Ordering free COVID-19 tests from the federal government will end at midnight on May 31, 2023.
Resources
Pop-Up Community Clinics
Clinicas Communitaria
St Matthews/San Mateo Church is offering free primary care health services every first Sunday and last Tuesday of each month (Primer Domingo y ultimo martes de cada mes).
These services will be held from 9 am to 3 pm.
Address:
5901 36th Avenue
Hyattsville MD, 20782
Call or Text for an Appointment:
240-258-8583
Mande Un Texto O Llame A:
240-258-8583
Water Bill Assistance
Housing
Prince George's County Department of Housing Community Development 2023-2024 Affordable Housing Portfolio:
The portfolio lists over forty upcoming and completed senior living communities and multi-family dwellings, now available to County residents. If you want to access more information about the new portfolio, you can watch the promotional video here.
If you are currently facing housing or rental concerns due to financial hardship, the organizations listed below can provide some support:
Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund offers support mortgage relief, weatherization, housing counseling, and legal services.
Housing Counseling Services Inc. offers a variety of MD housing and rental assistance resources including but not limited to housing counseling, foreclosure prevention, utility assistance, and veteran support services
211 Maryland's database can connect you with local programs and resources, call 2-1-1 to speak with an Information and Referral Specialist or visit their website
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