ACF/Children's Bureau Updates
- Children's Bureau letter offering flexibility regarding fingerprint background check requirements for foster/adoptive/guardianship homes and child care institutions and flexibility on caseworker visits.
- Children's Bureau letter on Court Improvement Programs and tips for conducting effective remote hearings in child welfare cases.
- HHS' COVID-19 Guidance and Information for Human Services Programs landing page contains updates from ACF, ACL, HRSA, SAMHSA and more.
- New Children's Bureau Guidance on Caseworker Visits During the Coronavirus Crisis.
- ACF Information Memorandum Regarding Flexibility for Grantees - The Administration for Children and Families released an Information Memorandum (IM-ACF-OA-2020-01) dealing with grant flexibilities in conducting human service activities related to or affected by COVID-19. The guidance provides short-term relief for administrative, financial management, and audit requirements for ACF applicants and grantees/recipients who are conducting human services activities related to or affected by COVID-19. Read IM-ACF-OA-2020-01 here.
- Children's Bureau Letter on Judicial Hearings - The Children's Bureau released a letter addressing legal and court-related issues during the COVID-19 public health crisis. The letter offers guidance to courts, CIPs and administrative offices about where courts have flexibility and about what services are required. It also provides guidance for courts specifically about maintaining family time during the crisis and ensuring that parents maintain access to critical services and treatment. Read the letter here.
- Tech Options from the Children's Bureau - The Children's Bureau has provided a list of low- or no-cost tech options that can be used to facilitate child welfare-related communication amidst the COVID-19 public health crisis. The list offers information platforms, including the associated costs and supported devices, as well as a list of major internet providers that are offering free services to low-income families and households with students. Find the list here.
Cable and Data Resources
- Various cable and internet providers are offering special discounts to assist with remote working and learning. Those offers are listed here.
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has a list of approved Medicaid 1135 waivers that can be used during a disaster to create flexibilities for states.
CDC Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued updated guidance for faith- and community-based organizations, including schools, child care centers, shared living facilities and more.
Distance Learning Resources
- Online communication platforms to assist with distance learning are listed here.
Field Resources
- Resources to Support Youth and Families During the COVID-19 Outbreak
- COVID-19 information provided by each state and territory to help families and child care providers stay informed during this fast-moving and developing situation.
- State-level advocacy efforts to extend foster care for youth aging out during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Georgetown Center for Juvenile Justice Reform's COVID-19 Resources for Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems.
- Food resources available nationwide.
- The USDA's COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide lists technological, financial, and general resources by rural customer group.
- The National Conference of State Legislatures has compiled a list of state actions related to COVID-19.
- The FosterClub COVID-19 page provides links to resources, information, and opportunities for current and former foster youth to find support.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics has information on the COVID-19 pandemic, including symptoms, how to protect your family, how to prepare for school or childcare closings, and talking to children. The AAP also has information on handwashing.
- Generations United has created a fact sheet for grandfamilies and multigenerational families to stay healthy, informed, and connected.
- The Food Research & Action Center has compiled a list of resources related to ensuring that children who are out of school can still access meals.
- The Juvenile Law Center, The Hope Center, and School House Connection published a fact sheet on supporting students who are homeless or in foster care.
- UNICEF has tips for how to talk to your children about the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sharing guidance on managing mental health and coping during COVID-19 for children and caregivers.
- The National Association of Counsel for Children is collecting and sharing resources for talking to youth about COVID-19, sample court and attorney response protocols, self-care, news and more.
- ZERO TO THREE has prepared tips for families during the coronavirus, including age-appropriate responses to common questions, a guide to self-care and activities for young children experiencing social distancing.
- Children's Defense Fund resources for children and families.
Funding Resources
- Emergency Coronavirus funding resources by state
- COVID-19 Response and Recovery Funds (Source, National Center for Family Philanthropy)
HR Resources
- The US Department of Labor has a portal to provide information about applying for unemployment benefits in your state.
- SHRM Coronavirus Resources
- UST Summary of Unemployment Insurance Provisions in Title II Sub-title A of the CARES Act
- UST COVID-19 Employer Toolkit for Nonprofits
- Paid Leave and Unemployment Insurance Responses to COVID-19
- The Alera Group created a COVID-19 grid of scenarios and benefit implications
- Marathas Barrow Weatherhead Lent provided background on the Coronavirus Response Act, government agency responses to COVID-19, and information about employee benefit issues
National Council of Nonprofits Resources
- Recording of webinar: "Federal Coronavirus Relief Bills: What Do They Mean for Nonprofits?"
- Slide deck from webinar: "Federal Coronavirus Relief Bills: What Do They Mean for Nonprofits?"
- Analysis of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (Pub. L. 116-136)
- Chart: Loans Available for Nonprofits in the CARES Act
- How Nonprofits Can Utilize the New Federal Laws Dealing with COVID-19, Nonprofit Quarterly, Mar. 26, 2020
- Self-Insured Nonprofits and Unemployment Insurance, David Heinen, North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
- Analysis of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- Nonprofits and Coronavirus, COVID-19
- Find your state association of nonprofits
PPE Resources
- Face Mask Direct offers KN95 and FFP2 masks for sale of quantities of 10. Here is the link. Use code Local3010 for 10% off.
- Gorilla Marketing offers cloth reusable masks and some KN95 masks. Contact Chris Arranaga at chris@gorillamarketing.net
- H&J Medical offers disposable masks, gloves and gowns. Contact Doug Roberts at dmrroberts@optonline.net
- Cedarwood Group / Purity Brands LLS offers disposable masks, gloves and gowns. Contact Meyer Futersak at info@cedarwoodgrp.com
- My Pillow offers the following:
- N95: $3.35/mask
- KN95: $2.45/mask
- Disposable surgical masks: $0.80/mask
- Cotton masks: $3.00/mask
- They require a 25% down payment to secure the order and then the balance prior to shipping from their warehouse. Minimum orders of 1,000 of each type of mask. Estimating a 14-day turnaround on orders.
- Please place the orders through the following emails: Sarah@mypillow.com and Cindy@lindellmanagement.com
Telehealth Resources
- States Waiving Licensure Requirements/Renewals in Response to COVID-19 can be found here
- Telehealth and the COVID-19 Response: Policy Changes and Implementation Strategies webinar recording and slides
- Treatment of Substance Use Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic webinar recording and slides
- COVID-19 Telehealth Coverage Policies and Recent State Actions
- Information about various telehealth platforms and reimbursement can be found here
Trauma Resources
- The Joint Commission's infographic on resilience for second victims during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
- forYOU team at the University of Missouri Health second victim resources
- RISE program at John's Hopkins on peer support for caregivers in distress
- Dr. Bruce Perry's COVID-19 Stress, Distress & Trauma video series, and parenting resource section
- International Critical Incident Stress Foundation Helping Save the Heroes page offers COVID-19 resources for addressing stress, anxiety and resiliency within the workforce, and with children and adults
Contact Sheila Weber, Lutheran Services in America’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, at 202-499-5824 for more information.