Empowering Our Community: Resources for Knowledge, Health, and Well-Being

August 3, 2023

Dear friends and neighbors,

I hope you are keeping safe and well-rested during these warmer months! Since last reaching out, I attended Olympia’s Capital City Pride and Tumwater’s 4th of July Parade. These were both incredible reminders of the many ways our community comes together to celebrate and support one another. While walking around and talking with folks at Pride, I visited many of the booths sponsored by various organizations, artists, and vendors in our community. The sheer volume of resources available to this community inspired and motivated me to share them with you. I compiled the resources that feel most pertinent at this time, and I will continue to share more as interim goes on.

4th

Sen. Sam Hunt, Rep. Jessica Bateman, and I enjoying the sun at the Tumwater 4th of July Parade.

Local libraries offer free library cards

This year, $10 million in the capital budget is allocated to the 2023-2025 Library Capital Improvement Program. Locally, each of the Timberland Regional Library’s branches offer free library cards that grant you access to an extensive list of resources, listed below:

  • Check out books, magazines, DVDs, and CDs
  • Download eBooks and audiobooks
  • Stream videos
  • Check the online catalog in the library, from home, office, or school, or by telephone to see what items you have checked out, overdue, or on hold and place holds on items
  • Use the Mobile App to search, place holds, and access digital resources
  • Use a library computer with Internet access and Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher
  • In the library or from home, access hundreds of online newspapers and magazines and dozens of online classes and other resources on health, business, computers, genealogy, car repair, hobbies, and many more topics

As we cherish the invaluable resources provided by the Timberland Regional Library, let us continue to promote a society where knowledge and well-being are cherished and accessible to all. Discover more about the library’s offerings and secure your FREE library card today to embark on a journey of empowerment and enrichment.

Pierce County AIDS Foundation (PCAF) has services located in Olympia too! 

PCAF offers free testing for sexually transmitted infections (HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, Hepatitis B&C). Book an appointment at the Olympia office here!

Another source of support that PCAF offers is access to safer-sex materials. You can request these materials here.

PCAF also provides support groups for those living with HIV. Group meetings are to learn, share, socialize, and support one another. The Olympia group meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month. For more information, please contact Joiwyn Repcik at jrepcik@pcaf-wa.org.

This past session, I sponsored HB 1408, a bill that seeks to prioritize and correctly allocate federal funds dedicated to HIV prevention. I am happy to report that the bill’s Senate companion 5142 passed the legislature.

New 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in service 

Knowing common risk factors and warning signs of suicide is one of the most important ways we can work to prevent suicide in our family and friends. You can read about these factors and signs here. If you find that someone you know is at risk, there are ways you can support and care for them. Find out more here. 

My colleagues and I passed legislation to coordinate 911 calls with the new 988 behavioral health emergency system. Intervention at the right time, by the right person, may prevent suicide or calm a crisis. When someone is in immediate danger, dialing 988 offers immediate support. This system was implemented last year, allowing folks to call 988 to connect to crisis services, suicide prevention resources, and mental health professionals as needed. 

988

The CDC recently reported that Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people have the highest suicide rates overall, and have had the biggest increase (26%) between 2018 and 2021. This underscores the burden of suicide in the U.S., and in particular the growing burden among youth, Indigenous communities, and all communities of color.

This also underscores the value of this work: the 988 mental health crisis line is saving lives. The 988 helpline registered 154,585 more calls, texts and chat messages during November 2022 compared to the old national lifeline in November 2021, according to the latest data available.

And in November, Washington became the first state to launch a mental health crisis line dedicated to American Indian and Alaska Native people. Callers in Washington can reach the line by calling 988 and then pressing “4” to be greeted by one of the 13 counselors – all indigenous people – who staff the phones. Those familiar who share the culture can immediately decode some terms that others cannot. Representation matters.

Here are some other free resources recommended by local health experts if you or someone that you know needs some support:

  • The Crisis Text Line provides confidential and secure text access from anywhere in the U.S. to a trained crisis counselor. Text HOME to 741741.
  • Teen Link offers confidential support from trained volunteers to teens about any issue, no matter how big or small, in English and Spanish. Call or text 866-833-6546
  • National Disaster Distress Helpline: 800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.
  • Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

Speak to a Veterans Service Officer if you are an LGBTQ+ person who served 

Previous harmful anti-LGBTQ+ policies in the United States military led to many “other than honorable” discharges, off the basis of LGBTQ identity alone. 

Due to these policies being lifted, many veterans can now upgrade their discharge status. According to a very sobering NPR article, “the Pentagon told NPR that as of March 2023, only about 1,375 veterans (out of an estimated 114,000) had been upgraded by discharge review boards – just over 1%.” 

If you believe you or someone you know may be eligible to upgrade their discharge status, please reach out to an accredited Veterans Service Officer. You can speak to your Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs LGBTQ+ Program Manager, Robin Lang, at 360-280-9311 or WDVA_LGBTQvets@dva.wa.gov. Additionally, your Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs service center located in Olympia is staffed with kind, caring, and knowledgeable personnel that are 100% committed to serving ALL who served.  They can be reached at 1-800-562-2308 or benefits@dva.wa.gov. 

Northwest Justice Project provides legal services to low-income individuals and families 

Northwest Justice Project provides legal assistance to eligible low-income families and individuals needing help with civil (non-criminal) legal problems in Washington state. This includes help with eviction. You can access these resources here. 

We took action in Olympia this past session on the issue of landlord-tenant relations. SB 5197 revises the current eviction processes in the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, while HB 1074 addresses current issues regarding documentation of landlords’ damage claims. Both bills, which seek to protect renters, were passed by the Legislature and signed into law.

Carrying Naloxone on your person can save someone’s life 

Naloxone (also known as Narcan) is a drug used to reverse the symptoms of an opioid overdose and is available as either a nasal spray or an injection. If you think someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, administering Naloxone can save their life. Naloxone does no harm, so it is safe to administer even if you are unsure the individual is experiencing an opioid overdose. 

Carrying Naloxone is one important way we can reduce harm from opioids in our community. You can research where to find Naloxone at no cost to you here. 

This past session, we acted on SB 5536, a bill concerning substance usage in Washington State (otherwise known as the “Blake fix”). In doing so, House Democrats had three goals: 

  1. To ensure people with substance use disorder (SUD) get treatment for their illness. Recovery is preferred and possible in an environment where it is prioritized. 
  2. To minimize the involvement of people with SUD in the criminal legal system. 
  3. To fund treatment so recovery isn’t just a theory but available. This means more behavioral health professionals and more beds and facilities. 

The final compromise had bi-partisan support and incorporated additional feedback from cities, counties, the treatment community, prosecutors, defense attorneys, public health, and law enforcement. I believe our communities fare better when we all work together. 

The Address Confidentiality Program supports victims of domestic violence and sexual assault

Additionally, the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) seeks to protect those harmed by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking by concealing a victim’s address. Until the 2019-2020 session, victims could not own a home and qualify for this program. During that biennium, I prime sponsored and helped pass HB 1643, which expanded this program to extend to homeowners. You can find out if you qualify for ACP and learn how to apply here. 

WA Cares Fund website has launched! 

The WA Cares Act, which went into effect on July 1st, provides Washington’s residents with a long-term care insurance program that will help protect taxpayers and provide families peace of mind. 

You can learn how the fund works, explore benefit coverage, and find resources for family caregivers at the new website here.

I truly believe that, in the long run, WA Cares is going to be a huge benefit for families across our state. 

What to know about the end of pandemic-era Medicaid coverage 

During the pandemic, the Health Care Authority (HCA) extended coverage for all Apple Health (Medicaid) clients but due to federal action, that extension is ending. If you use Apple Health for health care, you should log on to Washington Healthplanfinder at wahealthplanfinder.org to ensure your contact and income information is up to date.  

If you are still eligible, you will be re-enrolled in Apple Health. If you no longer qualify, you can select a new health plan on the Healthplanfinder within 60 days to prevent a gap in your coverage. Most people who will lose Apple Health coverage can get a Cascade Care plan for less than $10 a month. Find out if you qualify or switch to a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan here. 

For enrollment assistance, there are experts in many areas across the state. Find one near you at here or the WAPlanfinder app. You can also call customer support at 1-855-923-4633. 

Thank you for taking the time to read through this newsletter. I’m hoping some of these resources may help you or someone you know. Our ability as a community to care for both you and one another is one of the things that makes District 22 so great! 

Best,

Rep. Beth Doglio