COVID-19 Resources for Families and Early Ed Professionals
Our Healthy Kids Bright Futures team has put together this list of resources to help families with young children and early education professionals during the COVID-19 crisis.
United Way of Wyandotte County BPU Hardship Assistance Program Clients can either email documents to bpuassistance@unitedway-wyco.org or fax to 913-371-2718. In-person case management will only be utilized if absolutely necessary and must be scheduled well in advance. Clients are required to provide: 1) proof of hardship 2) copy of state ID 3) copy of a current BPU bill. The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities will not disconnect utility service for non-payment as customers and communities are facing potential hardship from coronavirus. This temporary moratorium includes residential and business customers. Additional information: www.BPU.com
USDA COVID-19 Nationwide Waiver- Allows parents to pick up meals without student( child) being present. Click here for more information.
Fresh Harvest Multi-Meal Boxes-starting Thursday, April 30, 2020. Pick up at 3 locations! Ruskin, Smith-Hale, or Ervin 10:00-2:00 p.m. (rain or shine) visit HMC1Food.org to place your order. Please order two days in advance. If you have trouble signing up, please email: pio@hickmanmills.org
The Community Food Network will host a free mobile food distribution in Wyandotte County, Kansas at the site of the former Indian Springs Mall ( 4601 State Ave, Kansas City, Ks 66102) on Thursday, April 30, beginning at 10:00 am.
Providing increased food pantry assistance to any household, regardless of income, family size, or geography.
722 Reynolds, Kansas City, KS: 8:30 – 11 a.m.
3031 Holmes, Kansas City, MO: 8:30 – 11 a.m.
1100 NE Vivion, Kansas City, MO: 10 a.m. – noon & 1 – 3 p.m.
The Salvation Army
Sack lunches are being handed out to those in need. We are working to ensure that no one goes hungry. Our food pantries have transitioned from client choice to food boxes.
The Salvation Army is providing cleaning supplies to people in need, as well as emergency food and financial assistance to families and individuals.
Spectrum has announced that it will provide free internet for 2 months for K-12 and college students affected. Call 1-844-579-3743 to enroll.
In response to the public health crisis, AT&T is temporarily:
Offering two months of free service to new customers who order access by April 30, 2020. $5/mo or $10/mo thereafter, depending on your speed.
Expanding eligibility based on income2 and to households participating in the National School Lunch Program/Head Start and waivingall home internet data overage fees.
The Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Multilingual and confidential.
Additional funding from the federal government will be available to support small businesses – including child care providers – starting Monday, April 27th. These funds will be administered by the Small Business Administration, and you can find support from the Kansas Department of Commerce website.
PAYMENT PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP):
Under the program, eligible business owners can receive forgivable loans to cover eight weeks of payroll and other expenses. Independent contractors and self-employed individuals are eligible for PPP funding as well.
The SBA will resume taking applications on April 27th at 9:30 am.
Funds are limited, so you are encouraged to apply as early as possible!
Additional Hero Relief Program Supports-Friday, June 26
On Friday, Governor Laura Kelly, DCF Secretary Laura Howard, and Child Care Aware of Kansas announced additional benefits within the Hero Relief Program to continue to support child care providers impacted by the pandemic. Providers will now be eligible for Revenue Replacement and Health Care and Emergency Worker Support bonuses. The funding for these opportunities is provided by the Kansas Department for Children and Families through the federal CARES Act and is administered by Child Care Aware of Kansas. The information below is all found in an FAQ document linked here.
What is the Healthcare/Emergency Worker Support Bonus?
This one-time bonus is to provide recognition to the child care provider and elevate the importance of ensuring that child care options are available to the health care and emergency workforce in Kansas. Due to the increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 by caring for children of workers (parents/legal guardians) on the frontlines, a bonus acknowledges the additional protective measures needed to ensure a child care provider can meet the demand of a healthy and safe environment. Healthcare workers are defined for this program as hospital and nursing home employees. Emergency workers are defined for this program as fire, law enforcement, and correctional staff. Due to the potential for an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 in caring for children of workers (parents/legal guardians) on the frontlines, a bonus will relieve expenses of additional protective measures put in place to ensure child care providers can meet the demand of new guidelines defining a healthy and safe environment for all children in their care. Some examples of the protective measures include higher costs for additional staffing, the cost of operating for additional hours, or increased use of personal protective equipment, to include cleaning equipment and supplies. (Expenses incurred from April 1, 2020, through October 31, 2020)
The revenue replacement grant opportunity is designed to provide financial assistance to DCF-enrolled child care providers and relative providers who have lost child care subsidy income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
All DCF-enrolled providers will be eligible to receive this payment if they experience a measured decrease in subsidy payments, including school-age programs and Head Start programs. Child care providers who are open or who have closed temporarily are eligible. Relative providers, enrolled as DCF providers, who have remained open are eligible.
For more information and instructions on how to apply, please click here.
Employment
Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Programs-Kansas Labor
Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Program –Missouri Labor
Professional Development
June 11, 1:00-2:30 pm. Zero to Three: State of the Babies 2020 (Virtual) Listen to how the pandemic has exposed and exacerbated the well-being of young children and their families. Hear from families across the county about their experiences during this uncertain time.
Congress needs to hear from you. Take action now to tell your Members of Congress to substantially increase financial support for child care in their COVID-19 response. For additional information click here