Families in the Bay Area are being seriously impacted by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, and the necessary actions required to prevent its community spread. Many Bay Area counties are currently ordered to "shelter in place"— meaning individuals must stay at home unless accessing essential services, like going to work or getting groceries —through May 1. Schools and non-essential business are also closed.
We have compiled a list of resources below for families who need support during this time of uncertainty. We will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19's impact and the ways that our community can continue to support families.
Updated 05/05/20
Resources for Families Impacted by the COVID-19 Outbreak
Updated News about Covid-19
- Official California Covid-19 Response Website: https://covid19.ca.gov/
- California Department of Public Health Covid-19 Info (available in Spanish): https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx
- Center for Disease Control official website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
- World Health Organization official website: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
General Resources/Comprehensive lists from other organizations
- UNICEF resources ranging from quizzes about COVID-19 facts, mental/physical wellness during shelter in place, and monetary support for working families: https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/covid-19
- General list of resources & info from the American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/research-information/pandemics
- Resources for undocumented people/Californians during COVID-19: https://ciyja.org/covid19/
Resources for Parents to Talk About Coronavirus with Kids
- A comic from NPR to help caregivers inform kids about coronavirus and dispel misinformation: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus
- Children's e-book about Coronavirus in Spanish
- Guide for talking to young kids about Coronavirus from PBS: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-coronavirus
- Article on helping children deal with stress around Coronavirus: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/life/family/2020/03/17/helping-children-deal-stress-coronavirus/5063026002/
- From Spain- ¿Como hablar sobre el coronavirus a los niños?: https://faros.hsjdbcn.org/es/articulo/como-hablar-sobre-coronavirus-ninos
- From Spain- Como explicar a los niños motivos del aislamiento y cuarentana por el coronavirus: https://faros.hsjdbcn.org/es/articulo/como-explicar-ninos-motivos-aislamiento-cuarentena-coronavirus
- Sesame St Guide to talking about COVID-19 with kids: https://cdn.sesamestreet.org/sites/default/files/media_folders/Images/PDF3V3.pdf?_ga=2.173851427.1228941896.1584752863-717664811.1584752863
- E-book for families to discuss COVID-19, by Ana Gomez:
Coronavirus and Me - Mission Stay Home- Shelter-in-place coloring book in English, Spanish, & German
-
This story was developed to help young children and families talk about their experiences and feelings related to COVID-19 and the need to shelter in place.
-
First Aid for Feelings- a coloring book from Scholastic + Yale Child Study Center to help children cope with coronavirus: http://teacher.scholastic.com/education/coronavirusworkbook/index.html
-
For caregivers who are essential/healthcare/frontline workers- ". Developed by Mary Wise.
- - color book from TenderPress to help kids understand COVID-19.
Childcare Resources
- Emergency Childcare for Disaster Service Workers: https://www.dcyf.org/care
- Boys & Girls club across SF remains open to provide childcare/food for children who are either 1. economically/physically vulnerable, 2. have parents who MUST work (no telecommute, no paid leave), 3. have parents who are healthcare or other essential city workers: https://www.kidsclub.org/flureminders
- YMCA pop-up childcare in San Francisco for families w/ no other options: https://www.ymcasf.org/pop-ykids
- Bay Area Crisis Nursery for childcare for parents that need a break: https://bayareacrisisnursery.org/
Mental Health Resources for Families & Providers
- La Casa de las Madres (San Francisco DV shelter) remains open 24/7 to moms & children looking for a safe place to shelter-in-place. Hotline for calling/texting: 415-200-3575
- TALK line, a 24 hour parental stress support line, is available at a special number during the COVID-19 crisis: 415-441-5437
- Resources for Domestic Violence/Sexual Abuse survivors (around impact of social distancing), people experiencing homelessness, and providers: https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/get-updates-information-covid-19
- ACEs Aware (initiative by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, CA Surgeon General) resources for providers and families regarding toxic stress & COVID-19: https://www.acesaware.org/heal/covid19/
- Zero to Six For Young Children and Families and Providers who work with them
- National Child Trauma Stress Network (NCTSN) PARENT/CAREGIVER GUIDE TO HELPING FAMILIES COPE WITH THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 in English, Spanish, and Chinese
- The Child Mind Institute holds live Facebook chats and post resources for providers and families daily: https://www.facebook.com/ChildMindInstitute/
- Video diaries from director of UNICEF providing comfort and updates about UNICEF's response to the pandemic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTo1Cq0sWQI&list=PLzfcpxK7Y8rThIAIopFBkTs0VfYoLdY38
- Sesame Street video supporting parents for doing their best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEmaWIxyhj8&feature=youtu.be
- Alicia Lieberman's Webinar for Parenting Under Stress: https://youtu.be/gQAMNxzD9cg
Free/Reduced Wifi
- The Affordable Connectivity Program and Lifeline provide eligible U.S. households with free Internet: https://www.whitehouse.gov/getinternet/?utm_campaign=OATannouncements20220720&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery (For more information: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USHHSHRSA/bulletins/322b6b6)
- AT&T is providing free/significantly reduced wifi: https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html
- Comcast is providing free/significantly reduced wifi: https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19
- iFoster support w/ access to free laptops, phones, wifi for families/youth involved in family court: https://www.ifoster.org/
Food Resources
- Free breakfast, lunch available for SFUSD students: https://www.sfusd.edu/about/news/current-news/sfusd-provide-free-meals-students-during-closure-schools
- Weekly food pantry at the Women's Building in SF for immigrant/low-income families: https://womensbuilding.org/programs/calfresh-food-pantry/
- $50 reimbursement for families purchasing with SNAP through Expensify: https://www.expensify.org/hunger
- CalFresh Application (can be expedited, super fast, available for immigrants): https://www.getcalfresh.org/
- YMCA food pantries around San Francisco: https://www.ymcasf.org/food-pantries
School/Educational/Home Activities Resources
- SFUSD home-learning resources (social-emotional, reading, writing, math & movement) by grade level:https://www.sfusd.edu/learning/resources-learning/continuity-learning
- Free e-books for Middle/High Schoolers: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k9cxcUvx9bV_Mdj8IZDmc1d7mR-yt1ey_AC1r_nkyLo/view
- Educational media by grade level from PBS: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/
- Indoor activities for kids: https://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/indoor-activities-for-kids/
- Sesame St "Caring" activities for reducing anxiety, providing comfort, and increasing mindfulness: https://www.sesamestreet.org/caring
- Books and audiostories are free on Amazon during school closure: https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
- Holdin Pott (about coping with difficult feelings that we keep inside) and You Weren't With Me (about dealing with stressful separations) are free through Amazon Kindle from April 1-3
Physical Wellness at Home
- Cosmic Kids Yoga youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
- Movement/exercise at home activities: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eF5sr5X3q6yDNw_9YuSmkFTeSAXtw9GU?fbclid=IwAR3MtlLJpLDJNmJKcA8Qxa7JWqLK1g2Y9P6hCRHDvt3bijdjjitgoI4q2A4
For Parents of Children with Special Needs
STAR Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital is hosting a free virtual space ("Coffee Chat") for parents of special needs kids, teens, and adults to come together for support. A Coffee Chat is a place to connect with other parents over Zoom facilitated by STAR providers for the purpose of connecting, sharing, and supporting each other. A Coffee Chat is NOT therapy. Please contact your providers directly if you are seeking therapy or behavioral treatment.
When are they happening?
- Tues. April 7th 12:00-12:30 PM [https://ucsf.zoom.us/j/774389205]
- Thurs. April 9th 4:30-5:00 PM [https://ucsf.zoom.us/j/832742375]
- Fri. April 10th 12:00-12:30PM [https://ucsf.zoom.us/j/178532394]
Depending on interest level, we hope to continue them on a weekly basis although the frequency may vary. We would love for you to rsvp to [email protected] if you are planning to join so we know how many parents are interested. However, it’s ok to simply drop in at the Zoom links above if you can make it!
Job Resources
- Article guide on what to do if you lose your job due to COVID-19: https://ktla.com/news/coronavirus/heres-what-to-do-if-you-lose-hours-or-your-job-due-to-covid-19-in-california/
- Updates from SF Office of Econimic and Workforce Development on assistance for businesses and workers impacted by COVID-19: https://oewd.org/assistance-guidance-businesses-and-workers-impacted-covid-19#News%20&%20Updates
- Updated guidelines from CA gov on claiming unemployment due to COVID-19 (including ability to claim unemployment, paid family leave, and disability): https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm
Other Lists of Resources
- Virtual workout classes from the YMCA for all ages (live-streamed): https://www.ymcasf.org/virtual-classes