The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing MCDHH Announcement: The Social Services Department is now the Community Services Division Six members of the Community Services Division take turns delivering their message in ASL. Each appears on screen wearing a black shirt with their hair down. Three wear glasses and all wear sparce jewelry. Each sits against a plain background: Peggy’s is blue, Carol’s is mauve, Kellynette’s and Alysha’s are both off-white, April’s is black, and Sharon’s is gray. Sharon shares contact information that appears in text on the screen. After the message, everyone appears on screen in a tile formation of three along the top and three along the bottom, with the department name in the middle. They all wave goodbye. [PEGGY] Hello! The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) has exciting news to share with you! The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has changed the name of the Social Services Department to better align with our mission. It is now known as the Community Services Division. And, our [Adult] Case Managers now go by a new title – Service Navigators. Our services have not changed, just our names to better reflect what we do. [CAROL] The Covid 19 pandemic spotlighted the health, education, and economic disparities in the Commonwealth, especially for d/Deaf and hard of hearing. [KELLYNETTE] This rebranding will update MCDHH’s outward facing services and consultation to address these disparities and assist in reaching/educating more DHH individuals and service providers in vulnerable communities. This change also aligns with our agency’s mission “To [ensure] accessible communication, education, and advocacy to consumers and private and public entities so that programs, services, and opportunities throughout Massachusetts are fully accessible to persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.” [ALYSHA] The Community Services Division includes four departments: Adult Services, Children’s Services, Substance Use Disorder Services, and the State 911 Equipment Distribution Program. The Division continues to oversee the contracted Deaf & Hard of Hearing Independent Living Services, (DHILS). [APRIL] Service Navigators continue to work with Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to connect them with appropriate and communication or language accessible services. They also continue to provide consultation and guidance to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), and community providers to assist them in building capacity to serve DHH individuals. This includes especially case consultation with sister EOHHS agencies and other community-based entities; including but not limited to courts or legal, medical providers, community-based services, etc.. [SHARON] If you want more information about the Community Services Division, or to make a referral for our services, contact us at the email address below: MCDHH-CommServDiv@mass.gov or call us at 6 1 7 3 2 6 7 5 4 6 [ALL] Bye!