Resources to Help Families During COVID-19 Outbreak

​Fall 2020 Back-to-School Information & Guidance

• Materials from the Connecticut Children's Medical Center to support families and help them to navigate the uncertainties as children prepare to return to school:

  • How to prepare to have the back to school talk with your children: CCMC - Prepare for Back to School Talk

  • Tips on wearing a mask according to the age of the child: Tips to Make Kids More Comfortable with Mask Broken Down by Age

  • CCMC also provides this guidance on assessing the school environment and a checklist for parents: Connecticut Children's Back-To-School Kit

• These short videos found on the Internet discuss how to talk to children about many aspects of wearing a mask:
  CDC - How to Wear Masks
  Key Times to Wear a Mask
  How to Safely Wear a Mask
  Wearing a Mask Helps Stop the Spread of Germs
  Wear a Mask Song for Young Children

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• The State Department of Education has offered guidance to families to help them support their children. This link provides the school re-opening plans for all school districts: District Reopen Model Selection for the 2020-21 School Year.  Take a look at the links below and share the information with the families whom you are in contact with:

  • Reopening FAQs Volume 1

  • Reopening FAQs Volume 2

  • Connecticut's Plan to Learn and Grow Together

  • Reimaging Connecticut's Classroom

• UNICEF has also produced an article regarding what school may look like during a pandemic: What Will a Return to School Look Like

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​Education

• Click here for Resources to Support Student Learning During School Closures Due to COVID-19 (from the CT State Department of Education)

• Click for a Fact Sheet: Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Schools While Protecting the Civil Rights of Students

• Click for US Department of Education Supplemental Fact Sheet 3/21/20: Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities

• BrainPop is offering free online educational videos and resources to schools and parents during this time. Go to: https://www.brainpop.com 

• Educational Games, Worksheets, and More for Kids - A resource for ideas, activities, games, and more for your K-5 students www.education.com/

• Wide Open School: a free collection of the best online learning experiences for kids curated by the editors at Common Sense. A group of more than 25 organizations came together and raised their hands to help, and many more are joining on a daily basis. Watch for new features and content partners frequently.

• An offer via RYASAP (Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership) in Bridgeport of an individual willing to provide an hour or so daily of tutoring for middle school aged kids.  Obviously, this would require that they have the ability to access internet, computer etc.  If there is anyone you are working with that is interested please contact Roland Clough at for an introduction.

• Center for Children’s Advocacy Webinar: COVID-19 Resources: Critical Information for Professionals Working with Vulnerable Children and Youth. The event registration is full, but the webinar broadcast link will be available after the presentations are concluded (April 3rd, after 12pm).

• Click for How to home-school during the coronavirus crisis with free resources from Today. Free resources for activities kids will love.

• St. Jude Children's Hospital's "Learn about the Coronavirus" downloadable Coloring Book and Activity book, and other COVID-19 resources can be found here.

• US Department of Education FACT SHEET: PROVIDING SERVICES TO ENGLISH LEARNERS DURING
  THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK, May 18, 2020

• Resources in Spanish from CPAC (Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center):

  • ​CPAC EN ESPAÑOL: WORKSHOPS IN SPANISH, Wednesdays at 4pm, Únete a la reunión de Zoom; or join via Facebook Live on the CPAC en Español Facebook Group

  • CPAC EN ESPAÑOL: PARENT SUPPORT CALL IN SPANISH - Nuestra llamada de apoyo por Zoom tiene un nuevo enlace y un nuevo horario. Favor de hacer clic en este nuevo enlace https://tinyurl.com/ybe6kntp para registrarse para las llamadas de lunes, miércoles y viernes en español a las 1pm. Para aquellas personas que ya se registraron despreocúpense por hacer esto para aquellos que tuvieron dificultad espero que este enlace les permita entrar y puedan participar por Zoom. Siempre tratamos de conectarnos por FB y pueden participar por ese medio también. Disculpen la inconveniencia. Gracias a todos por su compromiso al grupo, su tiempo y participación.  Sus Consultoras Bilingüe, Adriana y Kiomary  

Free Internet Access

• Click here for information to regarding free Broadband to homes with K-12 and college students

• T-Mobile COVID-19 Education Solutions - T-Mobile created some new short-term Education programs to help students stay connected during these difficult times

• From the Governor's office: Increased Access to Internet Coverage for Connecticut Residents.
  Here is a compilation of the packages and offers internet providers across the state are making to
  Connecticut residents to get online and stay connected at home through the COVID 19 crisis, as of May 18th 2020

Food Security Resources

• School districts are providing breakfasts and lunches for students when schools are closed. Check with your child's individual school or school district for details

• Click here for a resource list from the Norwalk Public School District: Worried about Feeding Your Family During the COVID-19 Outbreak?

• From the Saint Joseph Parenting Center in Stamford:

  • SJPC in Partnership with The Boys & Girls Club Yerwood Center & The Stamford Public Schools is providing grab bags for children in the community who need breakfast and lunch. Children grab and go meals will be available 10am-12pm at the Yerwood Center.

  • In addition, the Food Mobile from Person-to-Person will be at the Yerwood Center offering food on Mondays from 11am-1pm.

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program):

If you have clients who are dealing with food insecure and have yet to enroll in SNAP, they can call the EHC! SNAP Call Center, information below:

EHC! SNAP Call Center Hours (English & Spanish – 866.974.7627):
SUN 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
MON 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
TUES – THURS 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
FRI 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
SAT 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Expensify.org will match SNAP groceries up to $50 for Families on SNAP

For families that are already enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Expensify.org is going to temporarily redirect all of its charitable funds to Expensify.org/hunger. With its ability to reimburse volunteers directly in real-time, Expensify.org is uniquely positioned to help families in need immediately. Until today, this fund was focused on paying off kids' "lunch debts" , but with schools closed around the nation, that isn't the top priority. Instead, Expensify.org has set up a new matching program for SNAP grocery purchases up to $50 per family.

Details for signing up for the Expensify program for families:

1. Purchase food as normal with your SNAP card

2. Download Expensify on iOS or Android, for free

3. Join the Expensify.org/hunger policy

4. SmartScan the receipt, which will tell us how much you paid and show that it was paid for with an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card

5. Submit it to

6. Set up your bank account to receive the funds

So long as they have funds available, Expensify will reimburse up to $50 per family (one time), the very next day.

• End Hunger CT:

Shelter, permanent supportive housing, and rapid re-housing providers having issues accessing food for your clients can email Robin Lamott Sparks, Executive Director at End Hunger CT at for assistance advocating for necessary resources.

Healthcare

• Telemedicine Services Expanded Under COVID-19. The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) is implementing changes in Medicaid/HUSKY Health that will support Connecticut’s COVID-19 preparedness and response through increased access to health services. For approximately 850,000 enrolled residents, DSS will now cover identified telemedicine services.

  • Click here for Emergency Telemedicine Information

• Connecticut announced that Access Health CT is opening a Special Enrollment Period starting March 19, through April 2. Coverage is available for uninsured Connecticut residents who don’t otherwise receive insurance through their job or become unemployed. The only way to sign up for this Special Enrollment Period is by calling 855-365-2428.

Court Information

• Click here for updates from the Connecticut Judicial Branch

• Click here for statement from Chief Court Administrator Patrick L. Carroll III on Wednesday, March 18, 2020

​The Judicial Branch implemented a mitigation plan that has greatly reduced the daily business at every court location statewide.

Utilities

• CT banned all utility shut offs during the crisis. Families facing shutoff or whose utilities were shutoff should call
  the Public Utility Authority (PURA) at 1-800-382-4586

• ​The ban on utility shut offs does not apply to fuel oil. Operation Fuel is taking applications for help and can be
  reached out 860-243-2346 or at

• Eversource has suspended disconnections, late fees and taken other steps to help customers in response to COVID-19, click here for details. Among the steps they have taken:

  • ​Suspending disconnection of service for non-payment

  • Eliminating late payment charges

  • Offering a special, flexible payment plan — with no down payment — for any past-due amount

Mental Health Resources

• Click here for a list of free online mental health resources during the Coronavirus epidemic​

• Click here for Coping with Corona: Mental health supports in a pandemic from The Hub: Behavioral Health Action Organization for Southwestern CT. Includes:

  • ​Coping tips

  • Free online and phone supports

  • A curated list of expert recommendations and links for talking with kids about the virus

• ​Stokes Counseling Services has immediate openings in their FAM Program, which provides in-home family and individual therapy to families who meet an outpatient level of care. They are providing Telehealth during this time and can assign families immediately. They only take Husky for this program. For more details click here.

Housing Protections

• Procedures for evicting tenants in Connecticut’s housing court have been suspended until at least April 1. This
  means that people facing evictions may get some relief. If a person has an eviction pending, they can call the housing authority where their home is located or Statewide Legal Services for more information at 800-453-3320

• CT.gov COVID-19-related info for Homeowners and Renters

Comprehensive list of resources from the CT Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused Children and The Village for Families & Children

• Click here for link to thevillage.org

• Categories of resources include:

  • For Families, Parents and, Caregivers

  • For Children

  • For Providers/Professionals

  • For Communities

  • Fitness Resources

  • Journals Articles, Chapters & Media

  • Misinformation About the Virus

  • Additional Resources

Childcare

•  CTCARES for Frontline Workers Child Care Subsidy Program: https://www.ctoec.org/ctcares-for-frontline-workers/

• If you’re struggling to find and pay for child care during COVID-19 — and you’re a frontline worker, like a health care, child care, or grocery worker — this short-term program can help. It offers payments directly to child care providers, so your child gets the care they need and you’re able to work.

• This is a short-term program, accepting applications from Monday, April 27 through Friday, May 22, 2020.

Keeping Babies Safe and Supporting Parents during COVID-19

• Every month there are many newborns entering the world during the COVID shut down! They and their parents need reassurance, guidance and support. The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) and Office of Early Childhood (OEC) are pleased to share with you this resource guide for new parents in English and Spanish. Many stakeholder groups supported the effort to put this informational resource packet together so that families could readily know the many supports and services available to them. 

Information is this document focuses on:

• Tips for new parents

• Keeping their baby safe

• Taking needed time

• Basic needs resources

• How to connect with others for support

• Obtaining emotional support

• National resources

• COVID specific resources