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COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information

Context

The United States is in the midst of responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China, and which has now been detected in countries around the world. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2,” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”). Health officials are currently taking steps to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 into communities across the United States. Schools can play an important role in this effort.

Federal Resources

Federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Legislation
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP), signed into law on Mar 11, 2021, appropriated $1.9 trillion in federal funding to support the U.S. recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. ARP includes funds to provide direct relief to Americans, safely reopen schools, mount a national vaccination program, and contain COVID-19. Of particular interest to professionals working with children and youth experiencing homelessness, ARP appropriated $800,000,000 for the purposes of identifying children and youth experiencing homelessness, and providing them with wrap-around services in light of the challenges of COVID-19, and assistance needed to to attend school and participate fully in school activities.

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (full text, education stabilization fund portion highlighted)
The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021, signed into law as part of a larger omnibus bill on December 27, 2020, provides additional economic relief to U.S. citizens and public systems affected by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. It appropriates emergency relief funding for elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education, through the Education Stabilization Fund portion of the Act (sections 311-321; pgs 743-757).
Download a one-page summary of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (prepared by NCHE, including a summary of other bills included in the 12/17/2020 omnibus bill)

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (full text, education stabilization fund portion highlighted)
The CARES Act, signed into law on Friday, Mar 27, 2020, provides economic relief to U.S. citizens and public systems affected by the recent COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. It appropriates emergency relief funding for elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education, through the Education Stabilization Fund portion of the Act (sections 18001-18004).

Centers for Disease Control

Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
This webpage provides the latest information and resources on coronavirus from the CDC. Resources include:

Children’s Bureau

Children’s Bureau COVID-19 Resources
This webpage has been set up to help child welfare professionals and families respond to COVID-19.

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education (US ED): COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel
This US ED webpage provides updated resources for elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education, to help inform their coronavirus response efforts. Resources include:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel
This USDA webpage provides updated resources for the general public, schools, and other public systems to help inform their coronavirus response efforts. Resources include:

During this national emergency, many schools have closed. In order to provide meals to students who no longer have access to school meals, many organizations and schools are now serving meals to ALL kids and teens 18 years old and under. To maintain social distancing, these feeding sites are allowing the kids and teens to take the meals home to eat.

USDA Online site finder map

Find sites near you that are serving free meals to kids and teens 18 years old and under during the pandemic and throughout the summertime. https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids

Texting service
  • Text ‘Food’ to 877-877 to find sites near you that are serving free emergency meals to kids and teens 18 years old and under during the pandemic and throughout the summertime.
  • Text ‘Comida’ to 877-877 to find sites in Spanish.
  • How it works: Users text ‘FOOD’ or ‘Comida’ to 877-877 and receive a text back prompting them to enter a street address, city and state and/or zip code for their desired location. While the service is able to return results for inputs that include only city and state and/or zip code, including a full street address will return results that are more accurate. The service then provides information about nearby meal sites, or information about how to access other food resources if no sites are operating in the vicinity.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developement

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development COVID-19 Information and Resources

CARES Act Guidance from HUD

HUD strongly encourages all grantees and owners of HUD-assisted housing to work with tenants at-risk of eviction to negotiate rent repayment plans to help them stay housed. To this end, HUD is providing the following tools to help grantees and project owners to help identify and engage at-risk tenants, as well as to inform and guide tenants seeking a rent repayment plan:

  • Tools for Landlords with Tenants Impacted by COVID-19 – This document helps landlords to engage with at-risk tenants while remaining in compliance with fair housing laws and understand the key elements of a repayment plan. The document provides links to sample rent repayment agreements.
  • Tenant Guidance: Rent Repayment Plans – This document assists at-risk tenants in understanding and pursuing rent repayment agreements with their landlords. The document includes links to helpful resources and a sample script for requesting a repayment agreement from a landlord. Use of this guidance is optional and grantees and tenants are strongly cautioned to review their state and local laws as under some laws, a tenant notifying an owner of the inability to pay rent is sufficient for the owner to initiate eviction proceedings.
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness

U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH): COVID-19
This USICH webpage draws from guidance from Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for homelessness services systems, schools, and other community partners about how to protect their staff, clients, and guests. Recommendations fall into three groups: Plan, Act, and Follow-Up. Resources include:

Other Resources

National Association of School Nurses (NASN): Coronavirus Disease 2019 Resources

This NASN webpage provides useful coronavirus resources for school nurses and the broader school community, including:

Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019

This factsheet from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides parents and caregivers with information about understanding and responding to infectious disease outbreaks in their community. This factsheet will help parents and caregivers think about how an infectious disease outbreak might affect their family— both physically and emotionally—and what they can do to help their family cope. Knowing important information about the outbreak and learning how to be prepared can reduce stress and help calm likely anxieties.
Download the Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019. (available in English, Chinese, and Spanish)