May 2021 NH News
Renter's Rebate
Older adults (65 and over) and legally disabled persons, who rent, with incomes below $37,600 if single or $45,800 if married, are eligible to apply for a state program called Renter's Tax Relief (rebate). The amount of the rebate check ranges from $50 to $900, depending on income and the amount spent on rent and utilities for the year 2020. For more information and an application please call Senior Services at 203-434-3085 between the hours of 10:00am and 3:00pm. The filing period for this program will be from April 1, 2021 through October 1, 2021.
Register NOW for your COVID-19 Vaccine
All CT individuals 16 years of age or older are now eligible and qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine. Several scheduling options are available.
Schedule by Phone
Residents can call the Connecticut Vaccine Appointment Assist Line at 877-918-2224, seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for appointments throughout the state of Connecticut. Due to high volume, hold times may vary.
Schedule Online
Appointments can also be made online. To register online and make an appointment, fill out the State of CT online form: https://dphsubmissions.ct.gov/OnlineVaccine
Norwalk Wait List
The City of Norwalk now has a waiting list for residents who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In the instance a Norwalk Health Department vaccination clinic has extra doses or appointments available due to cancelations or no-shows, residents will be called at random to fill open appointment slots. This is not an appointment request. Submitting information does not guarantee someone will be contacted to receive a vaccine. You must be eligible at the time of vaccination to receive a vaccine through this wait list.
Complete the form at norwalkct.org/waitlist.
Residents should not sign up on this list if they have already been vaccinated, as this will not be used for any second dose vaccines.
Assistance for Seniors (55 and older)
The City of Norwalk has partnered with the Senior Services Coordinating Council and the Norwalk Senior Center to launch phone assistance lines for Norwalk seniors seeking information regarding COVID-19 vaccines.
Seniors may call:
- Senior Services Coordinating Council (203) 434-1876, or
- Norwalk Senior Center at (203) 847-3115 (English) or (203) 299-1500 (Español).
Drive Thru Food Distribution Every Wednesday
Calf Pasture Beach
Calf Pasture Beach Road, Norwalk
Distribution 9:00 AM - 12 Noon
Please do not arrive before 8:00 AM
Food Is Distributed While Supplies Last
Are you struggling to pay your rent and utilities? Have you been financially impacted by COVID-19?
Apply for Unite CT, a rental assistance program supporting CT residents who earn up to 80% of the HUD area median income and their landlords.
You may qualify for the opportunity to receive:
- Missed Electric Outstanding Payments
- Missed Rent or Future Rent Payments
To learn more and see if you qualify, visit:
Portal.ct.gov/DOH/DOH/Programs/UniteCT
Unemployed? Looking to learn a new trade or advance your existing employment? CT Pathways and Health Career Academy Programs may be the answer!
Two programs are available that may provide free training for certain credit and non-credit programs at Norwalk Community College, and free training for certificate programs in the health care field:
- Norwalk Community College SNAP Employment and Training Program, and
- Health Career Academy (offered through The
Workplace) - Online summer classes will be available.
Norwalk Community College SNAP Employment and Training Program
If you are receiving SNAP (food stamp) benefits and not receiving money from Temporary Family Assistance (TANF), and if you are a United States citizen, you may be eligible to receive a scholarship to participate in SNAP Employment & Training for certain credit and non-credit programs offered at Norwalk Community College (NCC). Some noncredit programs include computer repair, group exercise instructor, security officer, homemaker companion and many more. Some credit certificates include Culinary Arts, Early Childhood education, Medical Office Specialist and more. For more information, visit Norwalk.edu/extended-studies/snap/ or contact Jenine Carlson at NCC, Email, 203-857-7059.
Health Career Academy
Are you interested in a new career in the growing health care field? Learn about FREE training at Southwestern CT Health CareeRx Academy. Offered through the WorkPlace, some training opportunities include C.N.A., Pharmacy Tech, Patient Care Tech, Medical Billing and Coding, and more. Eligibility requirements are based on family income or those that have been unemployed. For more information or to sign up for a free virtual information session, visit their website: Workplace.org/health-career-academy, or contact Adrene Corey, 203-930-1637, acory@workplace.org.
FREE COVID-19 Testing in Norwalk - No ID, insurance, doctor's order or symptoms needed
Free drive-thru COVID-19 testing is available with no appointment needed at the following Norwalk sites and times:
- Veterans Park, 42 Seaview Ave.
DAILY, 8:30am- 4pm, drive-thru and limited walkups - Norwalk Community College, 133 Richards Ave.
DAILY, 8:30am-4pm, drive-thru
Testing will not begin until 8:30 a.m. and the public is advised not to line up early. Due to high demand, testing lines may be closed periodically during the day and there may be significant wait times. Cars should not park on neighboring streets as walk-up capacity is limited. Registration forms can be filled out online and printed at chc1.com.
Free testing is also available by appointment only at:
- Smilow Life Center, 55 Chestnut Street, Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. An appointment is mandatory and can be made at 203-851-1065.
Results are typically returned in 3 to 5 days.
For "pop up" testing events and COVID testing throughout the state, visit NorwalkCT.org/coronavirus.
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP CORNER
NORWALK HOUSING FOUNDATION COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE!
You may download the 2020-2021 NHF Scholarship Application from the Norwalk Housing Foundation website which can be reached directly or through the Norwalk Housing Authority website or you may Email Carla Conway to request the application. The revised application is easy to fill out and is submitted by email to Carla Conway, Head of the Norwalk Housing Foundation Scholarship Program. Attachments are required. Due Date is May 10. Note: This program is only for NHA residents who are planning to attend college full-time for Associate, Bachelor or Graduate degrees. For questions, email address above or text or call for NHF Scholarship info: 203.803.8837.
OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS: Several State, Regional and National Scholarships for public housing and Section 8 residents are currently open. You can access them through your home computer, most cell phones or at the library. To access them you type into your search engine: "NERC NAHRO Scholarships and it will bring you to the Scholarship Page where you will find the first three scholarships LISTED below to download. (FYI - NERC: New England Regional Council; NAHRO: National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials). Be advised that all three NERC-NAHRO scholarship pro-grams are academically competitive while the HAIG Scholarship is not very academically competitive.
2021 NAHRO Merit Scholarship Application. This is a National Merit Scholarship, which means selection of 8 students, one from each sector of the country, who will each receive $1,000. It is highly competitive and based on academic merit and/or impressive accomplishments. It is open to Public Housing and Section 8 recipients. Deadline May 10.
Allan R. Andrews Scholarship from the New England Regional Council (NAHRO). Scholarships are awarded to both NERC/NAHRO member agency public housing/Section 8 residents & employees or commissioners or the immediate family members living in the household of said eligible individuals. Scholarships are $1,000. Deadline May 7.
CONN-NAHRO (Connecticut Chapter of NAHRO) will award several, $3,500 scholarships to college-bound high school seniors and continuing college students who are residents of Connecticut public housing or Section 8 residents. Eligible individuals are all persons who have been accepted into a two (2) or four (4) year institution of higher learning working toward a full-time Associate's Degree, Bachelor Degree, or full-time vocational training/certificate beginning in September 2020, and who reside in or are assisted with their housing by a CONN-NAHRO agency member, and; who are residents in good standing with their housing authority. Coming Soon.
HAIG (Housing Authority Insurance Group) Scholarship is open for applications! All NHA current resident High School seniors and Adult Residents planning to go to college this Fall should check it out online at the HAIG contact site: HAIG Questions? Email HAIG Deadline is April 30th.
John J. Kelly Memorial Scholarship will open soon and is due in June.
Other sites to check out for scholarships:
- NCC Foundation for NCC students
- Fairfield County Community Foundation Fund for Women and Girls
- High School Students Apply to all Scholarships you qualify for offered at your high school
- Fastweb.com
LET'S HAVE FUN WITH STEM!
Let's have fun with stem! STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Each month a STEM challenge activity will be sent home for your family to build, create and problem solve together. Be sure to plan your solution by first making a detailed drawing on the back of the challenge. When finished, share your results with us at your child's learning center by sending in the project, taking a photograph, or making a drawing of your solution. Complete "Our Results" section on the back of the worksheet to share your family's thoughts about the STEM experience.
What worked?
What did not work?
What would you change?
What did you like best about your project?
Please return your STEM project results by the last Friday of each month. Thank you for participating in the NHA FAMILY STEM challenge! Any questions, contact NHA STEM Coordinator Sheiree Powell by Email.
Raising Strong Readers and Writers: How Parents Can Support the Common Core Reading Standards
The Common Core State Standards are national standards that say what K-12 students are expected to learn in math and the English language arts. For older students, the standards expand to include literacy in history/social studies, science and technical subjects. Despite the complexities of the standards, there are several basic ways parents can support their child's learning. The recommendations below line up with the four broad areas of the Common Core reading standards: Key Ideas and Details, Craft and Structure, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas, and Range and Level of Complexity.
Key Ideas and Details What it means: Your child will be encouraged to carefully read many books and texts. Within these texts, your child will be working to understand what is happening, summarize key events or points and recall details important to the story or topic. How parents can help: After you share a story, talk about important story elements such as beginning, middle and end. Encourage your child to retell or summarize the reading. After reading nonfiction, ask questions about the information, "Is the spider an insect? How is a spider different than an insect?" Brought to you by Reading Rockets
Setting The Standard In Urgent Care
It's great to know that caring medical professionals are waiting to see you. RIGHT NOW.
Our team of health care professionals is ready to help you right now. At American Family Care (AFC), we have incredible medical professionals standing by and ready to treat you for just about anything that is making you sick. It's nice to know that great care is right around the corner from where you are, early or late.
Right Where You Need It.
Near the DMV (across from the Hilton Garden Inn)
607 Main Ave
Norwalk, CT 06851
203-845-9100
Hours: Mon - Fri 8 AM to 8 PM, Sat - Sun 8 AM to 5 PM
No Appointment Needed
The Right Care
Open 7 Days A Week
No appointment is needed and we have short wait times.
Urgent Medical Care
AFC provides urgent treatment for injuries and illnesses - offering a convenient, lower-cost alternative to visiting a hospital emergency room.
Digital X-Ray Services On-Site
You will receive a digital copy of your x-rays.
Lab Work On-Site
Our on-site laboratory meets CLIA standards. We provide results for the vast majority of lab tests while you wait.
Occupational Health
AFC provides Occupational Health services for employees and employers.
Vaccination & Physicals
We offer a wide range of vaccinations and physicals for employment, school, camp, and more. We can also assist with travel medicine.
We Accept Most Major Insurance Plans.