Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 726 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

The 40-Year-Old System: How an upgrade could help the VEC solve payment problems

Caroline Coleburn

June 01, 2021 |

WTVR-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, South Carolina

If Virginia taxpayers who lost their jobs in the pandemic want to understand why their unemployment insurance payments lagged for months and why they couldn't get the Virginia Employment Commission on the phone, they could look to South Carolina. In 2017 that state took advantage of a grant to upgrade its computer systems. It was able to process payments much more quickly, needed many fewer call-center staff, and could help South Carolinians take advantage of enhanced pandemic benefits much sooner. Virginia has struggled to upgrade is decades-old systems, which were overwhelmed with calls and claims.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Both lost jobs. She got paid. He waits. Where they live may be the reason why.

Shannon Lilly

June 01, 2021 |

WTVR-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, South Carolina

Four years before the pandemic caused unemployment compensation claims to spike, South Carolina took advantage of a federal grant to modernize its claims processing systems. That upgrade saved thousands of hours of time once claims rose sharply, which meant that people making legitimate claims got paid relatively quickly. That stands in contrast with the Virginia Employment Commission's huge backlog, which must be run through a decades-old system. The state was finally upgrading its systems when the pandemic put that work on hold, leaving some laid-off people in financial limbo for several months.

Read More
Go to Original Story
N.C. has vaccinated over 13,000 farmworkers. Advocates are making it happen.

Victoria Bouloubasis

May 28, 2021 |

Southerly |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

Because of coordinated partnerships between local governments, state health departments, and nonprofit groups, more and more farmworkers are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. Through the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Farmworker Health program and its partners, nearly 14,000 doses were administered to the farmworker community over two months. Advocates also have to dispel rumors and myths about the vaccines, but they are working to combat that misinformation and make it easier for them to get vaccinated.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Birthing in rural Haiti a miracle all its own

J.O. Haselhoef

May 28, 2021 |

Haitian Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Haiti

Midwives for Haiti (MfH) is one of the Haitian or American-based organizations working to address Haiti's alarmingly high maternal and infant death rates. MfH trains skilled birth attendants, through an 18-month curriculum taught by Haitian professionals. It also trains the matwòns, midwives who attend most births in Haiti. Its network of community clinics serve more than 6,000 patients annually, and hospitals and clinics are hiring its trained attendants.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How Pennsylvania reached 70% vaccination goal quicker than most

Shannon Lilly

May 27, 2021 |

WTVR-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania at first lagged in its push to vaccinate its residents. But the state vaulted ahead in the race to vaccinate, collaborating with vaccine providers and the medical community to make vaccines easy to receive as demand waned. Tactics included opening clinics at schools, shopping centers, and other accessible places, and a series of Facebook Live events called "Vax Facts" to answer the questions of people hesitant to get vaccinated.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Food waste is heating up the planet. Is dumpster-diving by app a solution?

Katie Yoder

May 25, 2021 |

Grist |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

The app Too Good to Go helps restaurants and other shops prevent food waste by selling their extra food to people for a cheaper price. So far, more than 700,000 people in the United States have downloaded the app and the company estimates that, on average, each meal sold halts 2.2 pounds of food from ending up in the garbage, which ends up reducing carbon emissions. There are challenges to widespread implementation, but the app has launched in New York City, Boston, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Read More
Go to Original Story
This South L.A. startup will turn your front lawn into a farm

Adele Peters

May 25, 2021 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

A startup in California called Crop Swap LA is converting unused front yards into community gardens that can grow crops like kale, rainbow chard, and tomatoes as a way to feed neighbors. Community members can pay for subscriptions for up to $43 a month to receive a bundle of greens and vegetables from the microfarms and homeowners get a share of the profits. Each garden needs to have the proper maintenance, which can make it difficult to scale, but these gardens can help provide access to food to those who don’t have a grocery store in their area.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Overdose Lifeline, state providing a new hope the opioid crisis fight

Stephanie Wade

May 21, 2021 |

WRTV-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Indiana

Indiana partnered with Overdose Lifeline to make the overdose reversal medication naloxone available via NaloxBoxes. The boxes, which are placed in neutral public areas that aren’t intimidating, hold several kits that each contain one dose of naloxone, instructions on how to use it, and referrals to treatment centers. The boxes make the drug available to anyone 24 hours a day without having to interact with someone. Removing the stigma of having to ask for naloxone makes it more accessible. The 60 boxes currently in use are in areas with the most overdoses and have been used hundreds of times.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Pandemic Proved Hospitals Can Deliver Care To Seriously Ill Patients At Home

Stephanie O'Neill

May 20, 2021 |

KFF Health News |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, California

To reduce the overcrowding of hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic, some hospitals in California introduced the practice of at-home hospital care. Although not available to every patient, for those where this model of care has worked, studies suggest it can provide "better outcomes for patients and costs less to provide than traditional inpatient care."

Read More
Go to Original Story
Laying out food pantries like grocery stores gives choice and can lead to healthy habits

Bekah McNeel

May 19, 2021 |

Dallas Free Press |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dallas, Texas

At Aunt Bette's Community Pantry in Dallas, people receiving donated food are treated with dignity and given choices that can have both psychological and nutritional benefits. A client-choice food pantry mimics a grocery store, except at this one people shop by appointment to fill their free, biweekly allotment. Volunteers help shoppers with health advice and also track inventory, so that unpopular items get discontinued. When people aren't handed a box with a take-it-or-leave-it selection, they waste less food and end up opting for healthier choices (with some helpful but not overbearing nudges).

Read More
Go to Original Story