Editor's note: Many libraries have provided lists of information resources to help their patrons and community during the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The Lyman Beecher Brooks library provides such a guide at http://libguides.nsu.edu/Coronavirus. However, as an HBCU library, we feel beholden to our patrons and community to offer this handy reference of resources that may be of particular interest to minorities and the underserved who are especially hard hit during this pandemic. We will add to these resources as our ongoing research progresses. The following news stories illustrate this sad situation and why we've provided this guide to help people get the information they might need in this trying time.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/07/us/coronavirus-black-americans-race/index.html
WNSB Online Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Center
The Norfolk State University radio station, WNSB 91 FM, provides resources of interest to its urban listening audience. The site includes tenant and voting rights information, tips on staying safe during the pandemic, how to file an initial unemployment claim, and much more.
https://wnsbonline.org/coronavirus/
Shared Harvest, a Los Angeles-based social enterprise launched myCovidMD® and myCovid19.live – a free telehealth and online portal that together, safely connect people to resources in real-time, by real people. The initiative is powered by Community Health Partners (CHPs), a volunteer citizens task force created to reach people that are uninsured, underinsured, homeless and or displaced from a medical home due to Covid-19 and nation-wide quarantine.
SpeakPatrice Presents: “Coronavirus News for Black Folks” is a free newsletter. Subscribers can expect 2-3 emails per week, including a weekly curated round-up of stories, from national news to op-eds to feel good news. Sign up now to get full access and never miss an update.
https://speakpatrice.substack.com/
Urban Institute
The Urban Institute studies "...what it takes to strengthen social safety net programs, dismantle structural racism, protect workers and families, and build community resilience." They will be updating the page regularly "in an effort to provide clarity, insight, and evidence-based solutions as this global crisis evolves.”
https://www.urban.org/features/covid-19-policies-protect-people-and-communities
NAACP
The NAACP's mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination... since 1909"
https://www.naacp.org/ and https://naacp.org/coronavirus/
City of Norfolk
Norfolk Department of Public Health/Virginia Department of Health is closely monitoring the outbreak of a respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.
https://www.norfolk.gov/4835/Coronavirus-Disease-2019
Food Bank of Hampton Roads
The Foodbank is working with partners to implement modified distribution models to provide food safely to seniors, children and low-income families during the COVID-19 Crisis.
https://foodbankonline.org/covid-19/
National Alliance on Mental Illness
AMI Virginia’s COVID-19 Protocol to Affiliates Increased Cyber Security Risk HIPPA Compliance and NAMI Online Programs DBHDS announcement about restricting visitation to state hospitals due to COVID-19 COVID-19 Information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Information from the Virginia Department of Health CDC Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19
https://namivirginia.org/mental-health-resources/covid-19-resource-section/
U.S Department of Education
Health officials are currently taking steps to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 ("Coronavirus") into communities across the United States. Coronavirus.gov offers the most up to date information about this rapidly evolving situation.
https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus
National Association of School Psychologists
Families across the country are adapting to the evolving changes in daily life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most schools, places of public gathering, and nonessential businesses are closed, and parents and other caregivers are faced with helping their families adjust to the new normal
Medicaid.gov
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus named “Coronavirus Disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).On January 31, 2020, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19
https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/disaster-response-toolkit/covid19/index.html
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for more severe complications from COVID-19.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Coronavirus and COVID-19 webpage
The EEOC established this page to consolidate relevant coronavirus and COVID-19 information and to answer questions from the public about the EEO laws and COVID-19.
https://www.eeoc.gov/coronavirus/
Student Financial Aid
We at Federal Student Aid are actively monitoring the new coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak. If you’re concerned about your studies or loan repayment, we can help you understand what to do in certain circumstances. You may be able to temporarily stop making your payments to provide relief to student loan borrows during COVID-19 national emergency.
https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/coronavirus
Government Benefits
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak has presented many challenges for people across the United States. The Benefits.gov Program recognizes the difficulties that many are facing and wants to help citizens find the assistance they need, whether it be unemployment, healthcare, temporary assistance, or food and nutrition.
https://www.benefits.gov/news/article/393
United Way of Hampton Roads
Individuals and families seeking assistance can call the hotline at 757-858-7777 or submit a request here and be connected to various resources through our Unite Us system. We will provide triage, conduct a needs assessment, connect the client to resources being offered by our partner agencies, and follow their progress.
https://unitedwayshr.org/coronavirus/
Hampton Road Business Outreach
The Department of Labor published information that gives small amount of guidance with regard of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that was recently enacted. This Act will take effect on April 1, 2020 and applies to employers with fewer than 500 employees.
Virginia’s Department of Social Services
The Virginia Department of Social Services develops and administers programs that provide timely that provide timely and accurate income support benefits and employment services to families and individuals in the Commonwealth. These programs assist citizens as they transition from dependency on public assistance programs to self-sufficiency.
https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
DHCD is making available current CDBG funding to small cities, towns and rural areas to respond to local needs related to COVID-19 response. DHCD is also closely monitoring availability of funding for all localities through the recently passed CARES Act.
https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/covid-19
Norfolk State University
Norfolk State University has been transforming lives for generations of students. Your generosity is essential so that we can continue to fulfil this vital mission.
https://alumnirelations.nsu.edu/emergencyrelieffund
Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry
Social vulnerability refers to the resilience of communities when confronted by external stresses on human health, stresses such as natural or human-caused disasters, or disease outbreaks. Reducing social vulnerability can decrease both human suffering and economic loss.
https://svi.cdc.gov/index.html
Internal Revenue Service
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced that distribution of economic impact payment will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required most people. However, some taxpayers who typically do not file returns will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the economic impact payment.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman Infants and Children
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
Center for Public Integrity's QA on Learning Gaps in Distance Education
Internet access is a scarce commodity for many Americans. Just 56 percent of adults in households earning below $30,000 have broadband internet at home, and about 17 percent of adults access the internet at home through a smartphone only. Internet access, Public Integrity has reported, is “the civil rights issue of our time." This Question and Answer page can help parents anticipate the challenges they might encounter as children learn at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://publicintegrity.org/health/coronavirus-and-inequality/yawning-gaps-in-learning-expected-during-pandemic/
United Way of South Hampton Roads
"Our purpose is to be there for those who need us most, so we’ve stepped up to help our nonprofit partners and our hardest hit neighbors during this critical time. We believe that with our existing relationships with cities and schools, health and human service agencies, and corporate partners, we are uniquely suited to respond to this community need."
https://unitedwayshr.org/coronavirus/
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