External Resources

COVID-19 has brought a shift from normal life as we’ve known it across the world.

Everyday is changing, and for many people, life is filled with intense uncertainty, fear and worry.

These feelings matter. You matter.

Food Supply
- CalFresh – You can apply for food assistance at GetCalFresh.org in less than 10 minutes.
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley
  - You can find locations here
Emotional Well Being
- Supporting children’s emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic by Child Trends
  - https://www.childtrends.org/publications/resources-for-supporting-childrens-emotional-well-being-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
- Talk to Children about Covid-19 by National Association of School Psychologists
  - https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource
- Coping with Stress/Anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak by the World Health Organization
  - https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/coping-with-stress.pdf?sfvrsn=9845bc3a_2
- 3 Ways to Talk to Children about COVID-19 by Teachstone
  - https://info.teachstone.com/blog/3-ways-to-talk-to-children-about-coronavirus
- Meditations to help reduce anxiety
  - https://www.tenpercent.com/coronavirussanitymeds
- Maintaining a hopeful mindset
  - https://thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-maintain-a-hopeful-mindset-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/
- Help with Self Calming/Grounding and COVID-19 Resources by Talkspace
  - https://www.talkspace.com/blog/grounding-techniques-anxiety/
- #COVIBOOK, a Parent Resource for Explaining COVID-19 to Children
  - https://www.mindheart.co/descargables
- 3 Ways to Boost Your Parental Resilience by The Greater Good Science Center at the University of CA, Berkeley
  - https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_boost_your_resilience_as_a_parent
- Helping Children Cope by National Child Traumatic Stress Network Resources
  - https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/outbreak_factsheet_1.pdf
Childcare & Parenting
- 4 Easy Activities to Do with Your Child at Home by Teachstone
  - https://info.teachstone.com/blog/4-easy-activities-support-learning-while-child-is-home
- Ways to use a Daily Schedule to Keep Children Engaged at Home by Teachstone
  - https://info.teachstone.com/blog/keep-children-engaged-while-at-home-with-a-daily-schedule
- Parent Resource for Explaining COVID-19 to Children, Supporting and Reassuring Children Around the World by Manuela Molina
  - https://www.mindheart.co/descargables
- Learning at Home Together by Sesame Street
  - https://www.sesamestreet.org/caring
- Supports for Autism by Blogger Amanda x
  - https://littlepuddins.ie/
- Quality Parent Interactions with Pre-k aged children by Teachstone
  - https://info.teachstone.com/hubfs/CLASS%20at%20home-1.pdf
- WestEd Resources
  - https://mailchi.mp/wested/coronavirus-covid-19-taking-care-of-the-children-six-sets-of-resources
- Free Audible Stories by Audible
  - - https://stories.audible.com/start-listen?mi_cmp=21b6d7d8b2f846dc&mi_ecmp=486622220&mi_sc=t&mi_u=amzn1.account.AF272UZ7X2X4YE2DOUMMPVE67IAQ
- NAMI California
  - https://nami.org/Local-NAMI?state=CA
- Resources for Families (infants, toddlers and Pre-K) from HiMama
  - https://www.himama.com/resources/coronavirus-tips-daycare-closure
- Early Childhood Learning (Agency and Young Children Research Collective)
  - http://sites.edb.utexas.edu/agency-and-young-children/
Unemployment, Disability or Family Leave

Californians who miss work because of the coronavirus can apply for benefits through the state’s Employment Development Department (EDD). Workers may be eligible for unemployment insurance, disability insurance or family leave. The the one-week unpaid waiting period has been waived, so you can collect benefits for the first week you are out of work. If you are eligible, the EDD processes and issues payments within a few weeks of receiving a claim. Visit the EDD website to learn more.
- Unemployment Insurance: Californians whose hours have been reduced by their employer, who have lost their job due to their employer shutting down operations, or who have to miss work to stay home with a child because of a school or child care closure can file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim online at www.edd.ca.gov or by phone at the following toll-free numbers, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon (Pacific time)
  - English 1-800-300-5616
  - Spanish 1-800-326-8937
  - Cantonese 1-800-547-3506
  - Mandarin 1-866-303-0706
  - Vietnamese 1-800-547-2058
  - TTY 1-800-815-9387
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance: The federal stimulus bill extends emergency assistance for up to 39 weeks to individuals who are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to work due to COVID-19, and are not otherwise eligible for unemployment benefits, such as people who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, or have limited work history. The state is still developing the rules around applying for the program – more details will be shared on www.edd.ca.gov in the coming weeks.
- Disability Insurance: Sick or quarantined Californians who are unable to work due to having or being exposed to the virus can file a Disability Insurance claim online at www.edd.ca.gov or by phone:
  - English: 1-800-480-3287
  - Spanish: 1-866-658-8846
  - TTY: 1-800-563-2441
- Paid Family Leave: If you’re unable to work because you’re taking care of a sick or quarantined relative with COVID-19, you can file a Paid Family Leave claim online at www.edd.ca.gov or by phone:
  - English: 1-877-238-4373
  - Spanish: 1-877-379-3819
  - Cantonese: 1-866-692-5595
Legal Assistance
- Use LawHelpCa.org to find legal aid offices in your area.
- Legal Aid At Work: Any worker with questions can contact the Disability Rights Helpline at 877-350-5441 or main line at 415-864-8848 if they’d like to make a virtual clinic appointment. Coronavirus FAQ
Public Benefits
- You can apply for public benefits, including food assistance (CalFresh), cash aid (CalWORKs), health coverage, and other public benefits online at https://www.mybenefitscalwin.org/ or by calling your county Social Services Office
  - - Santa Clara County – 1-877-962-3633
    - Alameda County – 1-888-999-4772
    - Contra Costa County – 1-877-505-4630
    - A recent executive order from the Governor waives eligibility redeterminations for 90 days for Californians to allow current recipients to continue receiving the following benefits without interruption
      - Medi-Cal health coverage
      - CalFresh food assistance
      - CalWORKS
      - Cash Assistance for Immigrants; and
      - In-Home Supportive Services
Housing
- - There is an emergency court rule that stops all evictions other than those necessary to protect public health and safety until 90 days after the Governor lifts the COVID-19 state of emergency.
  - If you need assistance, use LawHelpCa.org to find legal aid offices in your area.
  - Check with your city council to determine if your city has implemented stronger eviction protections or rent assistance.
- Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, US Bank, Wells Fargo, and nearly 200 state-chartered banks and credit unions have committed to providing relief for homeowners in California struggling as a result of COVID-19, including:
  - 90-Day Grace Period for Mortgage Payments and waiver of mortgage-related late fees
  - No Negative Credit Impacts Resulting from Relief
  - Moratorium on Initiating Foreclosure Sales or Evictions
Utilities Assistance
- - - Free Internet – Low-income households may be eligible for 2 months of free internet access from Comcast. Visit https://www.internetessentials.com/ or call 1-855-846-8376 (English) or 1-855-765-6995 (Spanish).
  - Water – Governor Newsom issued an executive order that will restrict water shutoffs for non-payment as a result of COVID-19.
  - Phone – The California LifeLine Program is a state program that provides discounted home phone and cell phone services to eligible households.
  - Other Utilities – The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) protects against the shut-off of critical utilities—including electricity, gas, water, internet, landlines and cell phones. As of March 4, utility companies under its jurisdiction will not be allowed to suspend or disconnect service for tenants or homeowners who cannot pay their bills during the coronavirus pandemic. Check here to see if your utility companies are included in the PUC protections.
Immigration Resources
- COVID-19 Resource Guide from the California Immigrant Policy Center
- Tangible Support for Undocumented Communities During COVID-19 from Immigrants Rising
- Undocumented families who plan to apply for documentation in the future should still seek testing/treatment for COVID. COVID is public charge exempt.
- Oakland Undocumented Relief Fund
- Bay Area COVID-19 Relief for Migrant Youth
- COVID Resources for Migrants
Health Resources
- What should you do if you think you’re sick?
  - Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.
- How can people protect themselves? There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). This occurs through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. Every person has a role to play. So much of protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense:
  - Washing hands with soap and water.
  - Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
  - Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
  - Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow.
  - Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
  - Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.
  - Following guidance from public health officials.
- What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Typically, human coronaviruses cause mild-to-moderate respiratory illness. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, including:
  - Fever
  - Cough
  - Shortness of breath
  - COVID-19 can cause more severe respiratory illness.
- What if I don’t have health insurance and I need screening or treatment for COVID⁠-⁠19?
  - - Check with your local community health center or hospital to see if fees for testing can be waived https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/ or call 877-464-4772
    - See if you’re eligible for Medi-Cal https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/DoYouQualifyForMedi-Cal.aspx
      - Alameda County Social Services Agency (888) 999-4772
        
        Contra Costa County (800) 709-8348 Medi-Cal
        
        Santa Clara County (408) 758-3800
      - See if you’re eligible for Covered California https://www.healthforcalifornia.com/covered-california/eligibility or call 1-877-752-4737
      - Check your risk for COVID-19: https://c19check.com/start