Coronavirus (COVID-19) Local Resources

At the Women’s Resource Center, our utmost concern is the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, clients and community. News about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) increases daily. It is important to respond to our community’s needs, especially as those needs evolve or change during this time. Below we have provided a list of local resources that may be able to help.

The WRC Resource Report – a weekly report that highlight local and national resources during this time.

WRC Remote Programs & Services are available! More information here.

Please stay safe, and continue to follow best practices from the CDC.

Financial Resources:

Economic Impact Payments – What you need to know

Apply for Reemployment Assistance online here

• Not sure what you are eligible for? Here is how to access Government Support for Workers Affected by COVID-19 – a snapshot guide for people who lost current or upcoming full or part-time work.

If you do not currently have access to a computer, or are having issues with the website you can now apply via paper by:

• CareerSource locations across the state will be providing paper applications and assisting Floridians with submitting their Reemployment Assistance applications. Visit CareerSourceFlorida.com for information and center locations.
• FedEx is offering free printing and mailing of Reemployment Assistance paper applications at over 100 storefronts across the state.
• Applications can be downloaded at FloridaJobs.org/COVID-19. Once the application is complete, individuals should mail them to:
  • Florida Department of Economic Opportunity – P.O. Box 5350, Tallahassee, FL 32314-5350

• Check the status of your Stimulus Check here
• Save Small Business – $5,000 Grants – The Save Small Business Fund is a grant making initiative offering short-term relief for small employers in the United States and its territories.
• COVID-19 Stimulus Check Application for Those Not Required to File a Federal Income Tax Return
• Independent contractors and self-employed workers are now able to submit applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through a SBA-approved lender. More details are available from the US Treasury.
• The IRS issued guidance on deferral of employment tax deposits and payments through December 31, 2020.
• The Department of Labor provided updated information on benefits under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) including the release of a helpful webinar, implementation notice, and updated fact sheets. 
• The Department of Economic Opportunity released a new mobile option for submitting applications for Reemployment Benefits. Paper applications are also available.
• Economic Stimulus Payment – information for the homeless
• Updated Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Guide
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Guide
• Employee Retention Tax Credit Guide
• The Florida Department of Children and Families waived work requirements for two assistance programs providing food and shelter. Following passage of Families First Coronavirus Act, Gov. Ron DeSantis requested work requirements be set aside to allow more participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program
• Emergency Bridge Loan Program: The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is currently available to small business owners located in all Florida counties statewide that experienced economic damage as a result of COVID-19. These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer term recovery resources, such as sufficient profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance. Read more >>>
  
• U.S. Small Business Disaster Assistance
• Business Recovery Funds
• No Kid Hungry – Coronavirus Grant Request – We’re offering emergency grants to support local school districts and nonprofit organizations in their efforts to ensure kids get the nutritious food they need.
  
• The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus.
  
• Filing tax deadline has been moved to July 15th – Taxpayers can file their taxes now online for free.
  
• Florida Property Tax Extension: Property tax is normally due by March 31 in the year following the year the taxes are assessed. The Florida Department of Revenue (FDOR) extended the final due date for citizens and businesses to pay property taxes in all Florida Counties from March 31 to April 15, 2020. Payments that are remitted by April 15, 2020, for the 2019 tax year will be considered paid on-time. Additional information can be found in the DOR Emergency Order 20-52-DOR-001 (Property Tax Oversight).
  
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program – LIHEAP services are provided to assist families, particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of their household income for home energy, meet their immediate home energy needs.
  
• Resources for Restaurants Workers
• Bartender Emergency Assistance Program

• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – An SBA loan that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

• Access – To apply for food assistance (SNAP), cash assistance (TANF) or Medicaid.
• HHS COVID Fraud Alerts
• Comcast announced will offer 60 days of complimentary no-cost internet access for new low-income customers
• Florida KidCare – free/ subsidized insurance for children 18 and under who those may have lost health or dental insurance coverage.
• Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.

• FL Governor Suspends Foreclosures, Evictions Over Coronavirus – Floridians have an extra 15 days if they are unable to pay their mortgages or rent before their landlords or lenders can take action.

• RECOVER MANATEE: CORONAVIRUS BUSINESS RECOVERY RESOURCES

• Affordable Ask an Attorney program –  a 30-minute legal consultation on family law topics such as divorce, child support, child custody, and much more.
• Everyone On – has information about low-cost internet and affordable computers in the area
• Low Interest Crisis Relief Personal Loans from Capital Good Fund
• National Disability Institute (NDI) recently launched the Financial Resilience Center, an online information hub to help people with disabilities and chronic health conditions respond to the financial challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Small Business Grant Program Opens for Applications May 19 – To be eligible, a business must have a physical structure located in the city limits with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.

Educational Resources

• A comic for kids exploring the new coronavirus
• Instructional materials about viruses, outbreaks, and the new coronavirus
• NY Times: teaching, learning, and thinking critically about the novel coronavirus
• PBS News Hour: Coronavirus resources for grades 6-12
• Brain POP on the new coronavirus
• Using the coronavirus as a teachable moment for Social-Emotional Learning
• PBS Kids for Parents – Tips and activities to help children grow
• Scholastic Learn at Home – Learning experiences for PreK-12
• Kennedy Center Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems – Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence at Home will host lunchtime art lessons. Additional activity sheets available.
• Manatee County Library – You can now register online for temporary library cards that give full access to electronic resources!
• Manatee County Library access to FREE tutoring via Tutor.com
• Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.

Talking to Kids About COVID-19

• PBS Kids guide for talking to younger kids about the coronavirus
• PBS Kids guide for talking to younger kids about tragic or scary events in the news
• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) guide for talking to kids about COVID-19
• NPR guide for talking to kids about scary events in the news
• Morningside Center guide for talking to students about the coronavirus
• Morningside Center guide for addressing bias and bullying in response to the novel coronavirus
• Ways to Promote Children’s Resilience to the COVID-19 Pandemic
• APPetite is the free Facebook app for anyone working to improve their eating.

Family Safety Guidelines and Resources

• Six steps for K-12 leaders to respond to the coronavirus
• Map of school closings related to the coronavirus
• Guide for schools responding to the coronavirus
• Preparing for school closures due to COVID-19 from American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
• COVID-19 information and resources for schools and school personnel from US Department of Education
• Child Abuse Prevention Month – Resources & Tips for Parents, Children & Others
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Healthy Parenting
• Florida Department of Children and Families: Childcare searchable database
• Emergency Childcare – Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County
• Forty Carrots Family Center – Virtual Services
• What is COVID-19? And how does it relate to child development?
• Suncoast Behavior Health offers mental health services for children and adolescents in crisis – no cost assessments for 24/7. Call (941)951-5000 to schedule your appointment.

Resources for Children at Home

• PBS News Hour: Resources and lesson plans for grades 6-12
• Brain POP offers free, unlimited use during school closures for COVID-19
• Two high school librarians offer ideas and resources for virtual learning
• 20 learning activities for kids stuck at home
• The Learning Network by the NY Times
• Navigating Life with a Special Needs – Child Parent Mentoring and Support Program: Encouraging Families through Support, Education, and Advocacy
• Lesson plans from The Learning Network
• Nightly Met Opera Free Live Streams
• Macaroni Kid – a local resource with a weekly newsletter with great suggestions on “what to do with your children during this time.”
• The Latest Resources for Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&Rs) Agencies and Providers
• Childcare Resource & Referral Services – a service to connect employees to childcare during COVID-19
• READS reading resources
• Sesame Street has just teamed up with Headspace, to create Monster Meditations on the Sesame Street YouTube channel
• Summer Camp 2020 at the “Y” – June 1st – August 6th – Monday thru Friday 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Self Care Resources

• 30 Day Free Online Yoga
• Managing stress & anxiety
• Three Strategies to Manage Eating During Stay-at-Home
• Affordable Remote Mental Health Counseling – First appointment is free! Mental Health is big part of your overall wellness. The outbreak of COVID-19 may be stressful for people and fear and anxiety can become overwhelming. WRC understands, and is here to help.
• 25 Stay-At-Home Self-Care Ideas 
• Planet Fitness Daily Livestream Workouts
• Headspace Mindfulness App
• Managing Stress for Nurses
• 3 Steps To Stay Healthy During the Pandemic
• Something to Think About – finding gratitude during COVID-19
• ANCHORING HEART Technique: a self-help resource produced by OPUS PEACE
• Tidewell Teams Support Community – Hope Line. Social workers, chaplains and grief counselors are joining forces to help meet the emotional-health needs of our communities through this 24/7 service.
• Tidewell Grief Education and Support Center. (En Espanol)