The Jenkins County times. (Millen, Ga.) 2023-current, October 11, 2023, Image 8

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The Jenkins County times., October 11, 2023, Image 8

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Newspaper Page TextPage 8 - Wednesday, October 11, 2023 The Jenkins County Times j enkinsc ountytimes .com How to Help Keep Your Child Safe and Healthy at School American Medical Association President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, M.D., and his son Ethan. Special for t in Times According to doctors, there is no better time than now to ensure that children are up to date with their vaccinations. “The evidence around vaccinations is abundantly clear; they’re safe, effective and will help protect you, your loved ones and your community from preventable diseases. If you have questions about vaccines, their safety, or effectiveness, please speak to your physician. We are here for you, eager to answer your questions, and ensure your family is protected,” says Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, M.D., M.P.H., president of the American Medical Association (AMA). In an effort to promote a safer, healthier communities for everyone, the AMA is sharing these vaccine facts and insights: • Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives. Routine childhood immunization is highly effective at preventing disease over a lifetime, reducing the incidence of all targeted diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, polio and chickenpox. For the U.S. population in 2019, vaccines prevented more than 24 million cases of disease. • The benefits of vaccines can be quantified. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccination of children bom between 1994 and 2021 will prevent 472 million illnesses, almost 30 million hospitalizations and more than 1 million deaths, saving nearly $2.2 trillion in total societal costs, including $479 billion in direct costs. • Vaccination rates have fallen. Even before the rise in vaccine misinformation and disinformation associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy was increasing, elevating the risk of community outbreaks, which put under-and unvaccinated children at risk for serious illnesses, like measles. According to a mid-January 2023 report from the CDC, vaccination coverage decreased in most states for all vaccines among kindergarteners for the 2021-22 school year when compared with the previous school year, which was already below pre-pandemic levels. • Speak to your child’s physician. With increased misinformation around vaccinations, it is critical that you seek out reliable, evidence-based sources for information. These sources may begin with websites like getvaccineanswers.org, but they should also include your child’s physician. Physicians can also answer questions on the new monoclonal antibody therapy, nirsevimab, available for infants and children under the age of 19 months, for the prevention of RSV disease. • Don’t let cost be a barrier. Programs like Vaccines for Children (VFC) are federally funded to provide no-cost vaccinations to children whose families otherwise could not afford them. Parents can leam more by contacting their state or local health department. “Make an annual well-child visit and immunizations a part of your household’s routine,” says Dr. Ehrenfeld. “Doing so will protect you and your family from several preventable illnesses. It’s something I do for my own children, and I urge you to do so, too.” Georgia Department of Labor Unveils Plan to Modernize Unemployment Compensation By Joe Brady, Editor for The Times The Georgia Department of Labor, led by State Commissioner of Labor Bruce Thompson, has unveiled an ambitious plan to modernize the state's unemployment compensation system. Despite processing a staggering 5.4 million unemployment claims during the pandemic, the third highest in the nation, and disbursing over $23.6 billion in benefits, the department's need for an overhaul existed long before the COVID-19 crisis. Commissioner Thompson, a Republican former state senator, expressed his determination to modernize the labor department upon taking office in January. His announcement came in the wake of a Georgia Office of Inspector General report, which revealed that nearly 300 state employees had mistakenly received $6.7 million in unemployment benefits over the past two years. The envisioned transformation aims to address several critical issues, including fraud prevention, backlog elimination, and repairing the state's 39 career centers, many of which have suffered extensive water damage. However, the most prominent challenge lies in modernizing an unemployment compensation system dating back to the 1980s, making it one of the oldest in the United States. The primary objective is to replace the outdated system with a secure, cutting-edge web- based platform over the next 28 months. This transition to a fully online system will allow unemployed Georgians to file claims without the need to visit a career center, improving the overall customer experience. Commissioner Thompson emphasized the broader benefits of the overhaul, stating, "On the employer side, it will help keep premiums low by cutting down on fraud... [and] it gives us greater transparency, so when we have audits, we can comply in a timely manner." The bipartisan support for this modernization effort has been encouraging, with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle recognizing the necessity of the changes. State House Minority Whip Sam Park, a Democrat, commented, "I certainly think the Georgia Department of Labor needs to be modernized to support Georgia workers and their needs." He also mentioned that during the pandemic, one in five Georgians who applied for unemployment benefits never received them. Chairman of the House Industry and Labor Committee, Republican Bill Werkheiser, echoed the sentiment, acknowledging that no state was adequately prepared for the challenges brought by the pandemic. He cited a sudden surge in claims and a lack of staffing as factors that strained the system. Commissioner Thompson believes that the new system will allow the department to operate more efficiently with a smaller staff, enhancing customer service through efficient call routing. He stated, "There's no reason you should have people waiting three hours on hold or six months or more waiting for appeals." The anticipated cost of the overhaul is estimated to be between $55 million to $60 million. The department has already secured a $28 million federal grant to support the effort and plans to seek additional funding from the General Assembly in the fiscal 2024 midyear budget and the fiscal 2025 spending plan. In addition to modernizing the unemployment compensation system, the Georgia Department of Labor has also secured an $8 million federal grant to help find jobs for inmates released from the state prison system. This initiative aims to equip inmates with the necessary skills to secure employment, going beyond simple job referrals. Furthermore, the department is considering relocating some of its career centers to ensure that all residents can access their services in safe and clean environments. Commissioner Thompson emphasized, "Everyone in our state deserves to work in a safe, clean environment," encapsulating the department's commitment to improving the lives of Georgians through comprehensive reforms in the labor and employment sector. Twenty Four East Apartments 566 East Main Street • Statesboro, Georgia 30461 Candler Apartments 400 Hershal Street • Metter, Georgia 30439 48 MODERN 1 & 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS 24 MODERN 1 and 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS * Twenty Four East Apts, is financed through USDA Rural Development certain income restrictions apply. • Quiet residential neighborhood * Fully-applianced electric kitchens • Special features for mobility impaired • Trash removal individuals • Attractive grounds • Wall to wall carpeting • Tenant-controlled Heat/AC • Laundry hook-ups in the units * Good Cents Energy Efficient • Cable TV hook-ups • Generous closet space OPPORTUNITY Lease, security deposit, and references required For information & an application contact 912-764-7852 7-1-1 (Georgia TDD Only) Reasonable Accommodations Twenty Four East Apartments is managed by W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. • 216 Broad Street • Wrens, Georgia 30833 W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. is a top quality management company that cares for your needs. * Candler Apartments is financed through USDA Rural Development certain income restrictions apply. • Quiet residential neighborhood • Fully-applianced electric kitchens • Special features for mobility impaired • Trash removal individuals • Attractive grounds • Wall to wall carpeting • Tenant-controlled Heat/AC • Laundry hook-ups in the units * Good Cents Energy Efficient • Cable TV hook-ups • Generous closet space OPPORTUNITY Lease, security deposit, and references required For information & an application contact 912-685-7465 7-1-1 (Georgia TDD Only) Candler Apartments is managed by W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. • 216 Broad Street • Wrens, Georgia 30833 “This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.” If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.aov/complaint filing cust.html. or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at proaramjntake@usda.gov.’' W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. is a top quality management company that cares for your needs. “This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.' 1 If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html. or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at proQram.intake@usda.gov." Brookhaven Apartments 302 East Lee Street • Brooklet, Georgia 30415 16 MODERN 1 and 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS * Brookhaven Apartments is financed through USDA Rural Development certain income restrictions apply. • Quiet residential neighborhood • Fully-applianced electric kitchens • Special features for mobility impaired • Trash removal individuals • Attractive grounds • Wall to wall carpeting • Tenant-controlled Heat/AC • Laundry hook-ups in the units • Good Cents Energy Efficient • Cable TV hook-ups * Generous closet space OPPORTUNITY Lease, security deposit, and references required For information & an application contact 912-764-7852 7-1-1 (Georgia TDD Only) Brookhaven Apartments is managed by W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. • 216 Broad Street • Wrens, Georgia 30833 W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. is a top quality management company that cares for your needs. “This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.” If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html. or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at proaram.intake@usda.gov." Eastview Apartments 500 Eastview Apts Road • Statesboro, Georgia 30458 48 MODERN 1 & 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS * Eastview Apartments is financed through USDA Rural Development certain income restrictions apply. • Quiet residential neighborhood • Fully-applianced electric kitchens • Special features for mobility impaired • Trash removal individuals • Attractive grounds • Wall to wall carpeting • Tenant-controlled Heat/AC • Laundry hook-ups in the units • Good Cents Energy Efficient • Cable TV hook-ups • Generous closet space © EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY Lease, security deposit, and references required For information & an application contact 912-764-7478 7-1-1 (Georgia TDD Only) Reasonable Accommodations Eastview Apartments is managed by W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. • 216 Broad Street • Wrens, Georgia 30833 W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. is a top quality management company that cares for your needs. “This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.” if you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html. or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at proqram.intake@usda.gov.”