We have compiled a working list of community resources to assist families during this time.
For questions, please email Program Director, Dana Minor.
Navigating Grief
Check out this helpful toolkit from Good Grief about how you can still honor your loved ones during a pandemic, even if you can't have a traditional funeral.
"During a pandemic, when large groups cannot gather or move freely or easily, funerals may need reconsideration. While seeing (or witnessing) the dead has significant value for many, this may not be possible for every family given the circumstances of the present moment. In order to reconsider what a funeral is and can be during a pandemic, we can look to its foundational elements. If a public funeral is not possible for a loved one, or if an entire family cannot gather, that does not mean a funeral cannot occur once, twice, or multiple times in multiple locations. This is a brief guide to ensure that you and the children in your lives have the opportunity to mourn."
When a family experiences the death of a loved one from COVID-19, traditional ways of mourning and receiving support may no longer be accessible. Much of the below information in this document applies to grieving a death from any cause at this time. Written by Lane Hendricks, Director of Programs and Liz Carson, Program & Outreach Manager at Kate's Club.
"In the midst of personal loss and life changes, grieving children, teens, and adults are needing to alter and disrupt their daily lives even more. Although physical distancing doesn’t mean we can’t still find ways to connect, it’s hard to substitute technology for in-person hugs, tears, and nods of understanding. On top of this, the person we would have turned to for support in all of this might be the person who died."
Read this tip sheet by The Dougy Center that includes information for helping kids, teens, and families already grieving a death, cope during COVID-19
"For many of us, there is grief in the loss of normalcy, and we encourage you to hold space for that. We want you to know you are not alone in the experience, the challenges it may be creating and the feelings that may be surfacing. In response to this, the NAGC (with the support of Alex Cares for Grieving Youth®) has released the booklet "Coping with Change and Loss" to be shared freely with families."
Click here to download this free resource.
"As human beings, whenever our attachments are threatened, harmed, or severed, we naturally grieve. Grief is everything we think and feel inside of us when this happens. We experience shock and disbelief. We worry, which is a form of fear. We become sad and possibly lonely. We get angry. We feel guilty or regretful. The sum total of all these and any other thoughts and feelings we are experiencing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic is our grief." Read more reflections about the correlation between grief and the pandemic by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
While this blog post focuses on elderly grieving people, the majority of the content can apply to any grieving person. Read the blog post here.
While this blog post focuses on elderly grieving people, the majority of the content can apply to any grieving person. Read the blog post here.
Kids Activities and Parenting Resources
Our Group Directors are sharing several activities you can try with your family to help bring a little slice of The WARM Place home with you every week! Check out our WARM Place Wednesday emails:
- Family Feelings Activities
- Activities to Help You Relax at Home
- Creative Ways to Share Your Grief Story at Home
- Making Memories at Home
- Remembering With Our Senses
- Wish-Fulfillment Activities
- Activities to Help Process Anger
- Finding Gratitude in a Pandemic
- Healing Through Kindness
- Creative Ways to Celebrate Milestones at Home
Check out these tips on how to talk to children about the pandemic. For more information read this article from Center for Loss.
This guide by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides information for parents and caregivers about infectious disease outbreaks in your community. Knowing important information about the outbreak and learning how to be prepared can reduce stress and help calm likely anxieties. This resource 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.
Creating an Emotions Map uses non-verbal expression to learn to identify emotions and develop self-awareness. In this activity, children use colors and shapes to explore emotions allowing them to explain how they are feeling without using words. Read more about how to do this activity here.
This website provides a list of resources to help parents give their children educational activities and creative outlets at home. Check out the list here.
The Parenting Center is offering live sessions on their Facebook page to assist with parenting, family, and other relevant topics during COVID19. View their live sessions at 9:30am for English speakers and 1:00pm for Spanish speakers on Thursdays and Saturdays.
HopeKids is offering virtual events such as live story time, craft making, live journaling, and mom's coffee chats. Check out their website here.
Medical Assistance, Mental Health and Special Needs
North Texas Area Community Centers accept most health insurance policies and have a financial assistance program based upon a sliding scale if you do not have insurance. This can help you reduce medical, prescription, and laboratory costs, so you can keep your life in balance. Visit their website here or give them a call at 817-546-6504.
Navigate Life Texas provides resources for kids with disabilities and special health care needs. Visit their website here.
North Texas Behavioral Health Authority has a COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line that is open at anytime: 1-833-251-7544. The phone line provides mental health support for those dealing with COVID-19, including trauma-informed support and psychological first aid for those dealing with stress and anxiety.
Texas Health Resources' Wellness for Life program provides cancer screenings and other health care services through a mobile site. Appointments may be scheduled Monday - Saturday, 9am-3pm by calling 1-855-318-7696. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Alliance Child & Family Solutions serves all ages, providing mental health counseling via telehealth. They accept Medicare, Medicaid, Insurance, Cash Payments, and reduced cash payments based on the Client's income with the Federal Poverty Limits ("sliding scale"). Visit their website to schedule your appointment.
Texas Health and Human Services (THHS) provides a hotline available 24/7 for Texans who are struggling emotionally. Call 833-986-1919 to connect with a mental health professional.
Food Needs
School Meal Finder provides a list of schools providing free meals. Just enter your address in the search box, and a list of schools within the ISD will appear with meal time pickups and locations. Click here to visit their website.
HEB is assisting seniors with grocery shopping needs by appointing a personal shopper by phone. Available Monday-Sunday 9:00am-1:00pm. Call 1-833-397-0080 to speak with a representative.
SNAP Food Benefits is helping people buy the food they need for good health. People also can buy garden seeds with SNAP benefits. SNAP food benefits are put on to the Lone Star Card and can be used just like a credit card at any store that accepts SNAP. Visit their website here.
Tarrant Area Food Bank Partner Agencies across North Texas distribute fresh and frozen food to hundreds of people through Mobile Pantries and Senior Share. If you or a loved one are facing hunger, reach out to their Social Services team, visit the Find Food map or download the pantry schedule.
First Street Methodist Mission provides emergency food, clothing, infant formula, limited financial assistance, and case management services. Email [email protected] or call 817-335-6080 for more information.
Financial and Housing Help
Tarrant County Department of Human Services (TCDHS) is the County's temporary financial assistance program. The mission of TCDHS is to provide social services and economic assistance to individuals and families. Financial assistance is provided to eligible households for rent, mortgage, utilities, food & hygiene items, and transportation on a limited basis.
Call them at 817-531-5620, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. to learn more about their services or visit their website here.
Presbyterian Night Shelter provides housing and employment opportunities. Facilities include designated areas for single adults, families, veterans and those struggling with behavioral issues.
Come to the shelter’s main door at 2400 Cypress Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 at 5 p.m. for assistance.
Currently providing stipends up to $250 for humanitarian relief during this time of hardship, initially prioritizing displaced individuals and those needing support to sustain life due to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. You can apply for Lambda Theta Alpha Foundation's relief fund here.
Pathfinders provides Zoom sessions with tips and tricks on how to manage finances during the COVID-19 crisis. Click here to learn more.
Additional Resources
United Way supports 211, a free and confidential service that helps people across North America find the local resources they need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Every day thousands of people across North America turn to 211 for information and support—whether financial, domestic, health or disaster-related. 211 is a free, confidential referral and information helpline and website that connects people of all ages and from all communities to the essential health and human services they need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
211 can be accessed by phone or computer. A toll-free call to 211 connects you to a community resource specialist in your area who can put you in touch with local organizations that provide critical services that can improve—and save—lives.