HoCo Community Chat

Segment 1: Student behavioral and mental health after the pandemic 

DCRS Director Jackie Scott discusses student behavioral and mental health post pandemic with Tracy Broccolino, president of the Community Action Council of Howard County; and Erin Bonzon, administrator for the DCRS Office of Children and Families.  

Segment 2: Resources for the community and accessing support  

The segment features resources, advice and best practices to keep in mind as the school year begins. Jackie Scott and her guests discuss resources available to the community such as the Early Childhood Advisory Council and Family Support Centers for parents and families.  

Key topics: 

Awareness Announcement [0:00] 

• Topic #1 -  Welcome from Jackie Scott and social media back to school poll [1:45] 
• Topic #2 -  Guest Introduction [3:30] 
• Topic #3 -  Defining student behavioral and mental health [4:30] 
• Topic #4 -  How the pandemic has affected student behavioral health [7:10] 
• Topic #5 -  Aiding the transition from home back into the classroom [9:45] 
• Topic #6 -  Resources for the community and accessing support [15:20] 
• Topic #7 -  Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) [15:45] 
• Topic #8 -  Family Support Centers [19:10] 
• Topic #9 -  Behavioral and mental health in teens and young adults [21:00] 
• Topic #10 - Advice for parents and families going into the school year [26:30] 
• Topic #11 - HoCo Community Chat en espanol [32:25] 

Segment 1: Being part of LGBTQIA+ in Howard County 

DCRS' Director Jackie Scott discusses the LGBTQIA+ experience in our community with Byron MacFarlane, Howard County’s Register of Wills; and Jumel Howard, Howard County chapter president, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), and the founder of Howard County's first LGBTQIA+ Pride Festival. 

Segment 2: Older adults and LGBTQIA+  

This segment features Ofelia Ross Ott, administrator, Howard County Office on Aging & Independence on how the LGBTQIA+ experience effects older members of our community. 

Segment 3: Resources for LGBTQIA+  

This episode finishes off by discussing resources and new laws that are available to benefit Howard County’s growing LGBTQIA+ community.  

Key topics: 

• Disclaimer [0:00] 
• Topic #1 -   Welcome from Jackie Scott [1:10] 
• Topic #2 -   Guest introduction [2:00] 
• Topic #3 -   LGBTQIA+ life in Howard County [3:20] 
• Topic #4 -   Being privileged and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community [9:12] 
• Topic #5 -   Older adults as members of the LGBTQIA+ community [15:40] 
• Topic #6 -   LGBTQIA+ estate planning and marriage equality [18:30] 
• Topic #7 -   New Maryland partnership laws passing in October [22:50] 
• Topic #8 -   PFLAG and Pride in Howard County [27:13] 
• Topic #9 -   Resources for members of both the LGBTQIA+ and 50+ communities [31:20] 

Segment 1: Consumer protection & common scams

DCRS' Director Jackie Scott helps us define consumer protection and describe the latest local scams with Ofelia Ross, acting administrator, Office on Aging & Independence; and Tracy Rezvani, administrator of the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP).

Segment 2: The targeting of older adults

This segment features Andre Lingham, retired Howard County police officer and founder of the Center for Elder Justice and Education.

Key topics:

• Topic #1 -   Welcome from Jackie Scott [0:20]
• Topic #2 -   All things consumer protection [1:16]
• Topic #3 -   The concept of consumer fairness [3:35]
• Topic #4 -   Exploitation of older adults [4:25]
• Topic #5 -   Home repair scams - storm chasers and wood chucks [7:58]
• Topic #6 -   Landlord & tenant scams [10:35]
• Topic #7 -   Contact OCP [13:46]
• Topic #8 -   Andre Lingham on protecting older adults [14:30]
• Topic #9 -   Romance scams [21:15]
• Topic #10 - Report to FBI via IC3.gov (Internet Crime Control Center) [22:36]
• Topic #11 - Crypto currency scams [22:56]
• Topic #12 - Card skimming scams [24.52]

Segment 1: Why podcasting?

DCRS' Director Jackie Scott kicks off HoCo Community Chat, talking about why the podcast was created and her desire for increased engagement with residents. Her guests are Lisa Brusio Coster, DCRS communications manager, and Cris Oviedo, owner, C.O. Communications.

Segment 2: Aging Outloud

The Aging Outloud segment features Ofelia Ross, acting administrator, Office on Aging & Independence, talking with Terri Hansen, Age-Friendly Howard County manager, about ageism and how we can combat it.

Key topics:

• Topic #1 - Welcome from Jackie Scott; we want to hear from you! [0:20]
• Topic #2 - What is this podcast all about? [1:47]
• Topic #3 - What does it mean to be ageist and how can we change behaviors? [13:25]
• Topic #4 - Coming up in July [27:38]