This is the 2-1-1 update on the Flint Water Response for Monday, April 11, 2016
This update is produced by Michigan 2-1-1 three times a week (M-W-F) with special updates as needed. Organization updates, information and announcements can be sent to tpage@uwmich.org.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled a hearing on “Flint Water Crisis: Impacts and Lessons Learned” on Wednesday, April 13 at 10:00 am. Witnesses called to testify include MDEQ Director Keith Creagh, DHHS Director Nick Lyon, and Mona Hanna-Attisha. Some witness statements and additional information can be found at https://energycommerce.house.gov/hearings-and-votes/hearings/flint-water-crisis-impacts-and-lessons-learned The Hill has additional background on the hearing at http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/275655-week-ahead-flint-fight-resumes
- The Flint Water Crisis Community Partners Workgroup met on Thursday, April 7. Meeting notes are attached to this update. Key information from the meeting is included in this update with references to the source.
- Weekly meeting schedule :
- Coordination Workgroup: Tuesday, April 12th, 2:00 p.m., American Red Cross
- Education Workgroup: Tuesday, April 12th, 8:30 a.m., Special Services North (5075 Pilgrim Rd., 48507) – Joint Meeting with Physical Health
- Flint Community Resilience Group (FCRG) Mental Health Workgroup: TBA
- Sub-workgroups
- FCRG Data & Gap Analysis: Every Thursday, 1:30 p.m., Genesee Health System Board Room
- FCRG Planning & Coordination: Every other Wednesday (NEXT: April 20th), 10:30 a.m., Genesee Health System Board Room
- FCRG Faith: April 14th, 11:30 a.m., Genesee Health System, 5th Floor
- FCRG Stress Management: Every other Wednesday (NEXT: April 13th), 12:00 p.m., Genesee Health System 4th Floor Conference Room
- FCRG Outreach to Special & Vulnerable Populations: Meeting on-line, via e-mail (to become part of this workgroup, please e-mail rkeswick@genhs.org).
- FCRG Psychological First Aid (PFA): TBA (for more information, please e-mail nkirsh@genhs.org)
- Sub-workgroups
- Physical Health Workgroup: Tuesday, April 12th, 8:30 a.m., Special Services North (5075 Pilgrim Rd., 48507) – Joint Meeting with Education
- Resource Recovery Workgroup: Tuesday, April 12th, 9:00 a.m., Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
- Community Partners Meeting: Thursday, April 14th, 3:00 p.m., Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
- Weekly meeting schedule :
- Michigan Chapter of VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) is hosting weekly coordination calls every Wednesday, 4:00 p.m. Community organizations are invited to participate on these weekly calls by using Conference Number: 641-715-3274, and the access code 632713#. If you would like to learn more about the Michigan VOAD, please visit their website at https://mivoad.communityos.org/cms/home.
- Mobile Food Bank Schedule for the week of April 10, 2016
- Wednesday, April 13, at 1 pm – New Birth Church, 3918 Blackington Ave.
- Thursday, April 14, at noon – Faith Gospel Temple, 1525 Kent. St.
- Friday, April 15, at noon – St. Luke New Life Center, 3115 Lawndale.
- Information about additional food distribution dates will be announced as they are scheduled. For more information, visit the Food Bank website at www.FBEM.org or call 810-239-4441.
- REMINDER: Fire Station #6 on Pierson Road closed as a water distribution site on Sunday, April 10th. A new site has opened at Ross Plaza, 2320 W Pierson Rd
- Hours of operation are: 12-6pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday | 12-8pm Tuesday, Friday | Closed Sunday
- Michigan Faith in Action and Flint Rising hosted a community meeting with Water Defense on Saturday April 9th at St. Michael’s Church. Documents presenting Water Defense’s position on Flint water are attached to this update.
- Two more 2015 deaths identified in Legionnaires Outbreak. See ABC News report at http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/michigan-finds-legionnaires-deaths-flint-area-38312449.
- Snyder states ‘Career bureaucrats’ to blame for Flint crisis in speech at Detroit Athletic Club. See Detroit News report at www.detroitnews.com/story/news/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/04/11/snyder-career-bureaucrats-blame-flint-crisis/82888428/
- Article says Flint Offers a New Model for Accountability citing “ad hoc coalition of journalists, citizens, and academics whose combined efforts finally compelled the state of Michigan to act.” Full article at www.huffingtonpost.com/louise-lief/flint-offers-a-new-model-_b_9659960.html
CALL VOLUME
2-1-1 call summary for the week of April 4 -10
Total call volume from Flint and Genesee County residents dropped dramatically last week after remaining stable for three, with use of the Flint Water prompt for expedited service falling over 20%.
- 386 callers used the Flint Water prompt to reach a 2-1-1 agent. Down 100 calls from the previous week’s 486 calls. Flint Water calls accounted for 5% of the 7,578 calls to 2-1-1 last week.
- A total of 729 Genesee County residents (including Flint residents) called 2-1-1, from 854 calls a week ago – a 14.6% drop.
- 530 water referrals were provided, down from 622 the previous week. The average number of referrals was 1.37 referrals per caller, a slight increase that could indicate that, while overall community demand is decreasing, residents who are reaching out for assistance have more intense needs.
- 38% of calls were for drinking water, followed by water filters (15%) tap water testing (9%), and recycling (7%) were the most common referrals requested.
- There were 4 callers seeking to volunteer and 13 asking about donations. Interest in donations was more than tripled from the 4 calls the previous week and is the highest level for this type of call in at least six weeks.
- There were 10 unmet needs, another modest drop from the previous week’s 13 unmet needs. This is the lowest level of unmet needs since 2-1-1 began providing updates the week of January 11, 2016.
SPECIAL NEEDS/REQUESTS
- Flint Water Crisis Community Partners Workgroup provided an update on the Medicaid waiver for Flint residents at their April 7th meeting:
- Genesee Health System (GHS) receiving Medicaid waiver for children ages 0-21 as well as pregnant women
- Goal is to link and coordinate these individuals to primary care providers, start casework management, connect them to Medicaid health plan for behavioral health services
- GHS providing grant money for outreach efforts to get educational materials out and connect people to services
- Important to understand that GHS is the provider of services for people with serious mental illnesses, substance abuse disorders, and developmentally disabled
- Screening process exists to identify these populations who are eligible for GHS services
- Targeted case management services will happen simultaneously for all affected by water crisis (starting May 1)
- Anyone not eligible for GHS services will be linked to other resources that can help them
- The Workgroup called out the need for interpreter services deaf and hard of hearing adults:
- With medical providers MDHHS is planning to follow up with Medicaid leadership and health plans to determine what actions can be taken to ensure interpreters can be available for adult deaf community.
- When deaf residents come to City Hall are interpreter services available? This was a particular concern regarding questions about water bills and the bill credit.
- 2-1-1 received a call today from a Flint resident asking about ZP Lead Testing. ZP stands for Zinc Protoporphyrin, a compound found in red blood cells that can used as a screening test for lead poisoning. The caller’s understanding is that ZP Testing can indicate lead exposure longer than the one month timeframe screened by the test commonly used. CAN SOMEONE FROM DHHS, CDC OR ANOTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONAL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE ZP LEAD TEST?
RUMOR/SCAM CONTROL
The Attorney General’s Office investigates reports of potential scams. These can be reported to the Charitable Trust Section at ct_email@michigan.gov. The AG has tips on how to avoid falling victim to con artists at www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-164-17337_20942-375279–,00.html.
UNRESOLVED
There are no unresolved issues to track today. Thanks to Angela Miniccuci at DHHS and Jamie Lee-Venable at United Way Genesee County for their assistance last week to find answers to several long-standing questions.
Recovery Meeting Notes April 7 (PDF)
Scott Smith April 9 Copy of Statement (PDF)
