Social Service News Updates

This Month is Black History Month, which is officially recognized by the United States, Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and the Netherlands. Black History Month originated in the U.S., where it is also known as African-American History Month. The precursor to Black History Month was Black History Week which was first celebrated 1926, as an educational…

The Social Security Administration website provides direct access to do things like: Check eligibility for benefits, Plan for retirement, Apply for benefits, Sign up for Medicare, Appeal a decision, and/or Check application or appeal status. They offer four portals on their website to accomplish these tasks: there’s a “Documents” portal, a “Number & Card” portal,…

Yale Psychology Professor Dr. Laurie Santos offers an online 6-week course designed to help teens make wiser choices and live a life that’s happier and more fulfilling. In this course, teens explore what the field of psychology teaches about how to be happier, how to feel less stressed, and how to thrive in high school…

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a day of service, to encourage all Americans to volunteer to take action toward the improvement of their community. In observance of the national holiday, schools, government agencies, businesses and banks are closed each year on the third Monday in January. Dr. Martin Luther…

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has released the second edition of their Physical Activity_Guidelines (available as a pdf). The guidelines provide evidence-based guidance to help people maintain or improve their health through physical activity. They also have released a number of resources that highlight simple steps…

EBT theft is a massive problem, but Federal safeguards have been in place to reimburse individuals and families when their benefits are stolen. There is a number you can call if your EBT card is lost or stolen, and upon investigation unauthorized charges to your EBT account may be reimbursed. This may be changing however…

For children and young adults of families impacted by addiction, the holidays, substance misuse, and its related stresses may bring on a great deal of additional fear and isolation. Here are some resources and guidance that can be used to help them through the season. The National Association for Children of Addiction has produced an…

For children and young adults of families impacted by addiction, the holidays, substance misuse, and its related stresses may bring on a great deal of additional fear and isolation. Here are some resources and guidance that can be used to help them through the season. The National Association for Children of Addiction has produced an…

It is crucial to prioritize supporting children during the holidays when one or more parents are suffering from addiction. The holiday season can be especially challenging for families affected by substance use disorders, as it can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and sadness. By providing a safe and nurturing environment, offering stability and routine, and…

United Resource Connection is seeking Medicaid and SNAP recipients for input and feedback about local support programs and services. One of the goals of United Resource Connection is to make access to support services more user-friendly. One of the ways we do this is by providing more than phone numbers and addresses to area service…