COVID-19 Resources

Family and Public Resources

Health

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Coronavirus information page - Information on how to help prevent the spread of the virus, what do if you’re sick and statistics on country-wide cases can be found. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) COVID-19 page - Statewide information about the disease, active cases, tests conducted, recovered patients and more can be found with frequent updates.

Hogg Foundation for Mental Health COVID-19 resources. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Coronavirus Resources.



Food/Nutrition

Nutrition programs from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services. Texas WIC special update for foods - More options for for the milk, bread, rice, pasta and eggs that clients can buy at the grocery store. Find school meals for students - Enter your location to find free school meal information.



Unemployment

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) - File for unemployment and requestpayment. TWC has encouraged individuals previously deemed monetarily ineligible for unemployment benefits to reapply online starting Sunday, April 5. This date marks the beginning of a new quarter and as such the base period for unemployment benefits and those previously ineligible may now qualify.

Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas - In spite of the challenges presented by COVID19, Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas is continuing to serve job seekers, essential workers and the business community through phone, email and online communications.



Childcare and support

Help for Parents to Weather the Coronavirus - Advice from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services for parents. Child support and COVID-19 - Information on the state’s child support division amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Childcare options for Texas Frontline Workers - A new resource portal from the Governor's office that allows front-line essential workers to find available licensed child care near their home or work. The website also provides each center’s operating hours and number of available seats by age group. Deep East Texas Workforce Solutions - Child care assistance from Deep East Texas Workforce Solutions has been expanded for essential workers to ensure that these critical workers can continue to complete their work while their children are receiving care. Coronavirus Resources for Prevention and Early Intervention Stakeholders and Providers - The Texas Department of Family and Proective Services has gathered resources for caregivers and families to help through the COVID-19 pandemic.



Scams and fraud

The Federal Trade Commission warns about COVID-19 scams - Scammers are taking advantage of fears surrounding the Coronavirus, the FTC offers tips to avoid falling victim to a scammer.

United States Department of Justice information on COVID-19-related crime - This page includes further information as well as information to report fraud, price gouging, hoarding and more. Report unlawful sales of medical products to the United States Food & Drug Administration. Disaster Scams - Further information from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, as well as resources to report scams.



Additional resources

Get Parenting Tips from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Holiday Celebrations and Small Gatherings.

Help and Hope COVID-19 Resource page.

FCC Consumer Help Center.

The Texas Department of Family Protective Services hub for COVID-19.

Help For Parents.

Tax relief information from the IRS - The IRS is offering tax help for taxpayers, businesses, tax-exempt organizations affected by COVID-19.

Get My Payment - Assistance from the IRS for those who have yet to receive their stimulus payment.

Non-filers: Act Now - Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability insurance beneficiaries with dependent children and who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes need to act by Wednesday, April 22, in order to receive additional payments for their eligible children quickly. SSI recipients need to take this action by later this month; a specific date will be available soon.

findhelp.org/ - Find food assistance, help paying bills, and other free or reduced cost programs, including new programs for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social Security and COVID-19 - The Treasury Department launched a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for eligible individuals who do not normally file a tax return, and also announced that it would begin making automatic payments.

  • How do I get my COVID-19 economic impact payment? - The Social Security Administration created a document to help you quickly and easily determine whether you need to take any action to receive your economic impact payment, or a payment for your qualifying child. The document also explains when the Internal Revenue Service, not the Social Security Administration, will issue the payment.

Career Advice for Recent Grads: Navigating the Pandemic from the American Planning Association



Students

Back to School Tips - Advice from the FCC on internet connectivity during the pandemic. Resources and Solutions to Providing Connectivity by Connected Nations - Previously, many of these students could use the library or local businesses to access the internet and complete their homework assignments. The same goes for their parents who could use WiFi at these locations to apply for jobs, access health records, buy less expensive goods online, and more. But as you know—most, if not all, of those locations are now closed to the public. So, what can families who fall into the gap that we call the Digital Divide do? Connected Nation staff has been working to compile resources and solutions for those who need it the most.