FCC announces help for low income people to obtain internet service

 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program will be available for individuals to apply to. This benefit is intended to provide temporary assistance to households who do not have or cannot afford high speed broadband in their place of residence. Eligible households will be able to receive up to a $50/month discount on an eligible internet service plan (Households on Tribal lands can receive up to a $75 discount). Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) participating in this program are also offering a discount on the purchase of certain devices.

Some important things to know:

• Households can sign up for the EBB program through the (1) participating provider's website, (2) applying online through the National Verifier, (3) or through the mail.
• USAC also has created an Emergency Broadband Support Center with a hotline (833) 511-0311 and an email (EBBHelp@USAC.org) where they will answer questions for all interested parties. The Hotline is open from 9am-9pm ET. 7 days a week
• USAC also has a website where households or consumer-based orgs will be able to obtain the EBB application UPON THE START OF THE PROGRAM. Getemergencybroadband.org 
• Some local libraries will be prepared to help patrons who need assistance signing up. One would just need to ask at the reference desk whether the help is available or not.

Editor's note

 Lack of internet service is a big issue for many of my clients who have to go to the library or other public place to get online. This is a major issue in this modern age for doing even simply tasks like making job applications, accessing information about organizations, getting directions, etc.

I just bought a Guillotine bagel slicer.

 I just bought a Gullotine Bagel Slicer. I buy bagels by the dozen, slice them in half and throw them in the freezer where they will keep frozen for months. When I want a nice toasted bagel, I take one out of the freezer and pop it in the toaster. Smothered in butter or cream cheese or peanut butter and jelly or make a bagel sandwich with just about anything and you will experience a little bit of heaven on earth.

Book discussion - Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy by Kenneth Pargament.

I am reading Kenneth Pargament's book, Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy, and will be posting a series of articles on some of the ideas he discusses. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts as well.

Subscribe to Markham's Behavioral Health

  Dear Readers:

As of July 1, 2021, Google is discontinuing its Feedburner blog subscription service.

In anticipation of the termination of this service, Markham's Behavioral Health is moving it's blog subscription service to Mail Chimp.

Please subscribe to Markham's Behavioral Health  using the Mail Chimp service if you wish to receive to daily reminders when new posts have been added to Markham's Behavioral Health

Thank you for reading the blog and being a subscriber to this free blog.

David G. Markham

Publisher.

Who people spend their time with by age.

 One of the protective factors for good mental health is social connections. Here is an interesting graphy of with whom people spend their time with by age.

Click on image to enlarge/

What's your age and with whom do you spend your time with?

Re-entry to community life from prison

Re-entry

 

 

I have worked with many clients who have been incarcerated in prison. The longer the period of incarceration the greater the institutionalization and the harder the adjustment to life on the outside.

 

The three most helpful components of successful re-entry are a stable residence, an informal support system, and a job.

 

There is a very illuminating essay in the March, 2021 issue of the Sun Magazine by Saint James Harris Wood entitled, “I Still Don’t Feel Free.” Mr. Wood writes his essay after being incarcerated for 18 years for robbing banks with a toy gun to  support his drug habit.and released in his mid 60s.

 

This is one of a series of articles based on his essay.

 

For me, personally, the punishment of prison wasn’t the loss of free movement; I have a rich inner life that’s hard to suppress. My real punishment was being forced to cohabitate with antisocial, angry, or mentally ill men, 95 percent of whom had personalities defined by insults and moronic macho bullshit. Sure, a few were boon companions — good musicians and chess players and charming lunatics. Nonetheless I have had my fill of sharing a room with another man and will never do so again. I spent an extra month in my single prison cell rather than live in a halfway house for six months.

 

I have heard this complaint from many people who have been incarcerated. One person told me that he preferred solitary confinement or as it is called in New York State “SHU” for “Special Housing Unit.” He told me several times he refused to leave SHU and a couple of times when forced to leave and placed in what is called “Gen pop,” he would break the rules deliberately to be sent back to SHU.

 

This same dynamic might not be true for prisoners who join gangs in prison or gain control of the system in their cell block or dormitory or have jobs in the prison they like..

 

A little further Mr. Wood writes

 

The next day I see my parole agent, a social worker, and an overworked state psychiatrist, who is too busy trying to spot would-be murderers and arsonists to care about my problems and dispenses with me in two minutes. It would be nice to have a regular psychiatrist. I believe I have a type of post-traumatic stress.

 

Most clients who have PTSD from their incarceration don’t want to talk about it, but slowly, in a long term psychotherapy relationship, the stories bubble up and the person tells them with apparent relief that someone who cares about them nonjudgmentally understands.

 

Article #1 in a series on “I Still Don’t Feel Free”.

Purpose and meaning - Volunteer service - Bon Secours

Purpose and meaning

 

After basic needs are met for physical health and social well being, the need for purpose and meaning becomes paramount at all stages in the human life cycle. This realization leads one to consider volunteer service. A new feature is being added to this blog today intending to highlight opportunities for volunteer service.

 

The first opportunity is the Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry in Baltimore, Maryland and Richmond VA. 

Here is the mission statement of Bon Secours from their website:

 

Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry, sponsored by the Sisters of Bon Secours, provides the opportunity for women and men to participate in the Sisters’ commitment to justice in radical solidarity with the poor, the suffering, and those most in need. By sharing the Bon Secours charism of compassion, healing, and liberation, the ministry nurtures and sustains individuals in their personal and communal journeys towards transformation through service with others.

To nurture this transformative journey, Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry supports individuals through a year of spiritual formation. The ministry is structured with five pillars that support this growth. Volunteers commit to: grow spiritually, develop an intentional community, live simply, practice God’s justice, and learn through service with others. Throughout this year, volunteers discover that by sharing the charism of compassion, healing, and liberation with others they, in turn, receive the charism from those they serve.

You can learn more by clicking here.