Guidance in Addressing COVID-19

Coronavirus is impacting individuals, families, communities, organizations, and state and local governments throughout the United States. FYSB wants to share with you guidance in a number of areas, which is continuously being updated.

• Measures to address COVID-19 in your community, including at home, in childcare settings and schools, homeless centers, at work, and in faith-based settings: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html
• Information for higher-risk and special populations: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/index.html
• Guidance to help owners, administrators, or operators of shared (also called "congregate") housing facilities — working together with residents, staff, and public health officials — prevent the spread of COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/shared-congregate...
• Information specifically related to domestic and international travel: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
• General Frequently Asked Questions, including how it spreads, symptoms, and what to do if you are sick: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html

FYSB grantees can find COVID-19 information related to specific programs here:

• FY 2020 Coronavirus Supplemental Funding Guidance: ACF Reporting Requirement for the FYSB RHY Program: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/resource/fy-2020-coronavirus-supp-fundin...
• FY 2020 Coronavirus Supplemental Funding: Examples of Allowable Uses of Funds for the FYSB RHY Program: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/resource/fy-2020-coronavirus-supp-fundin...
• COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions: Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Program: www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/resource/covid-19-faqs-for-rhy-program-grantees
• Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center - www.rhyttac.net
• National Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Preventing & Managing the Spread of COVID-19 Within Domestic Violence Programs - https://vawnet.org/news/preventing-managing-spread-covid-19-within-do...

FYSB grantees are encouraged to work closely with your state and local public health authorities. If you are unable to find federal guidance to address your concerns or are encountering challenges in implementing your programs as a result of COVID-19, please reach out to your federal program manager.

Resources are included below and this site will be updated as new information becomes available.

New Supplemental Guidance on Child Care (Released 3/31/20)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted a Supplemental Guide for Child Care. Written in collaboration with the Offices of Child Care and Head Start for a variety of child care settings, this resource provides guidance specific to child care on issues such as:

• Social distancing;
• Child pick up and drop off procedures;
• Cleaning and disinfecting of toys and bedding;
• Safely caring for infants and toddlers; and
• Food preparation and meal service.

In addition, the Guidance document provides numerous links to resources that provide even greater detail, including information regarding children’s risks concerning the COVID-19.

Supporting Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Questions to Consider
The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) (2020)
Responses to several questions regarding options as related to the education of homeless youth and community responses to unaccompanied minors.

The Child Welfare Information Gateway has prepared a list of disaster preparedness and response resources shown below. These resources are organized by preparedness (before a disaster), response (the immediate aftermath), and recovery (the longer term reconstruction/healing phase).

• Preparing
• Responding
• Recovering

Children and Disasters
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Offers resources to address children’s needs throughout preparedness planning, response, and recovery efforts during and following a disaster.

Children and Disasters
American Academy of Pediatrics
Provides audience-specific information and tools to equip families to respond to natural and man-made disasters.

Caring for Children in a Disaster
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016)
Provides information and resources to help families and service-providers prepare and respond to disasters.

Disaster Planning for Child Welfare Agencies

Provides an overview of disaster planning for child welfare agencies. Outlines the reasons child welfare agencies should develop disaster plans, provides an overview of plan development, points to resources for creating preparedness plans, and highlights State and local examples.

Supporting Survivors of Domestic Violence

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: Staying Safe During COVID-19 - https://www.thehotline.org/2020/03/13/staying-safe-during-covid-19/

For supportive crisis counseling and safety planning, contact:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline
  https://www.thehotline.org
  1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) 
• StrongHearts Native Helpline
  https://www.strongheartshelpline.org
  1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) 
• Futures Without Violence, Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Updates and Information, COVID-19 - https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/get-updates-information-covid-...
• National Network to End Domestic Violence: COVID-19: Coalition Guidance for [Domestic Violence] Programs - https://nnedv.org/resources-library/covid-19-coalition-guidance-progr...
• National Network to End Domestic Violence: Best Practices When Using Mobile Devices for Advocacy - https://www.techsafety.org/resources-agencyuse/mobilecomputing-bestpr...
• CDC: Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers - https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Interim-Guidance-f...
• CDC: COVID-19 Resources for Businesses and Employers - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/bus...

National Disasters
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Provides information and resources to help families in cases of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, epidemics, fires, floods, hurricanes, and more. The webpage also offers resources to help mitigate the psychological effects these events may have.

Disaster Technical Assistance Center
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2017)
Supports SAMHSA's efforts to prepare states, territories, and local entities to deliver an effective mental health and substance use (behavioral health) response during disasters.

Public Health Emergency
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2017)
Provides information and resources on natural and man-made disasters and traumatic events for families and individuals; business; practitioners, clinicians, and responders; and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency planners.