Resources
COVID-19 Resources
January 2021
In slightly more than a month, the number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 in Los Angeles County doubled, going from 400,000 cases on November 30 to over 800,000 cases on January 2, and since November 1, cases have increased by 905%.
Public Health warns that without a change in how everyone observes the recommendations for social distancing, gathering, and wearing masks, Los Angeles County will experience a surge on top of a surge on top of a surge. Hospitals are already over capacity and the high-quality medical care we are accustomed to in LA County is beginning to be compromised as our frontline healthcare workers are beyond stretched to the limit. Sadly, we are seeing increasing numbers of cases within our HRC community in all kinds of settings - independent living, with families, or in licensed care homes.
In this bulletin we want to provide you with information about staying safe and about services and supports for our clients and families.
HRC is here to support you - if you are in need of additional services and supports during this pandemic, please reach out to your service coordinator to discuss what resources may be accessed.
What Services Are Available?
Purchase of Service Policies
Alternative & Participant Directed Services
Due Process and Complaint Information
These websites provide basic COVID-19 information as well as case information, current health orders for the county, testing sites, and resources for assistance.
- City of Long Beach COVID-19 information.
- Los Angeles County COVID-19 information
- Los Angeles County Dept of Public Health COVID-19 Information
- California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response
- California State Council on Developmental Disabilities COVID-19 Information
- One Degree COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resource Guide
Center for Disease Control guidance for people with developmental and behavioral disorder.
COVID-19 Testing
FREE HEALTHCARE:
My Health LA is a no-cost health care program for people who live in LA County that is free to individuals and families who do not have and cannot get health insurance, such as Full-Scope Medi-Cal.
Health care services are provided by non-profit clinics called “Community Partners.” There are over 200 Community Partner clinics in My Health LA. Click here to find a clinic near you. Please call the clinic to make an enrollment appointment and to make sure the clinic is taking new patients at this time.
FREE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT:
With stress, anxiety, and depression on the rise in light of the ongoing challenge of the pandemic, the L.A. County Department of Mental Health’s (LACDMH) 24/7 Helpline at (800) 854-7771 is available to provide mental health support, resources and referrals (LACDMH facility updates are available here).
LACDMH has partnered with Headspace to offer a collection of mindfulness and meditation resources – for free – to all L.A. County residents. The free Headspace Plus subscription includes access to hundreds of science-backed guided meditations in English and Spanish, as well as movement and sleep exercises to help manage stress, fear and anxiety related to COVID-19.
LACDMH is also a part of PsychHub’s COVID-19 Mental Health Resource Hub, which is dedicated to providing free resources to help people address their mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
GUIDES AND GENERAL RESOURCES
Communication First – COVID-19 Communication Rights Toolkit with Printable Patient Accommodations Request Form
Autism Society of America - Online COVID-19 Toolkit
Q&A on COVID-19 and Down syndrome
David Penso List of Activities for People with Autism
Resources for People with Disabilities on COVID-19
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund – If You or Someone You Know is Disabled: Know Your Rights to Medical Care – COVID-19
Disability and Disaster Hotline during COVID-19 from the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies - The Partnership’s Disaster Hotline provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance and resources to people with disabilities, their families, allies, organizations assisting disaster impacted individuals with disabilities and others seeking assistance with immediate and urgent disaster-related needs. The Disaster Hotline is always available for intake calls, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at
(800) 626-4959 and info@disasterstrategies.org.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Stimulus Update from IRS January 2021
Who’s eligible for the second round of Economic Impact Payments? (added January 5, 2021)
Generally, if you’re a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien, you may be eligible for $600 ($1,200 for a joint return), plus $600 for each qualifying child, if you (and your spouse if filing a joint return) aren’t a dependent of another taxpayer on a 2019 tax return, have a social security number (SSN) valid for employment (see exception when married filing joint) and your adjusted gross income (AGI) does not exceed:
- $150,000 if married and filing a joint return or if filing as a qualifying widow or widower;
- $112,500 if filing as head of household; or
- $75,000 for eligible individuals using any other filing status
Your payment will be reduced by 5% of the amount by which your AGI exceeds the applicable threshold above.
You aren’t eligible for a payment if any of the following apply to you:
- You were claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s 2019 tax return (for example, a child or student who may be claimed on a parent’s tax return or a dependent parent who may be claimed on an adult child’s tax return).
- You don’t have an SSN that is valid for employment issued before the due date of your 2019 tax return (including any extensions).
- You’re a nonresident alien.
- People who died before 2020.
- Are an estate or trust.
However, you may be eligible to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on line 30 of your 2020 tax return. Please refer to the instructions for the 2020 Form 1040 for more information.
More Frequently Asked Questions on the Economic Stimulus
- Unemployment insurance - If your employer has reduced your hours or shut down operations due to COVID-19, you can file for unemployment insurance. If you are expecting to return to your job after the dust settles, you do not have to be actively seeking new work during the outbreak. But you must be "able and available to work" to get these benefits, which generally range from $40-$450 per week for up to six months.Disability Insurance - Individuals who are unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) can file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim. Disability Insurance provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50 - $1,300 a week.
- IRS Economic Impact Payment Information Center
- General Relief - Cash assistance program for single adults
- CalWORKS - Cash assistance program for families
- CAPI - Cash assistance program for immigrants
- IHSS Updates
- IHSS is still taking new applications and assessments will likely be conducted via telephone. Families may call the Application Line at 1-888-944-4477.
For existing cases, the state is also allowing telephone reassessments, and there is a hold on any hours reductions through June 30th.
For cases impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically where the person is not going to school/day program, or is losing help (from family/care provider), or additional hours are needed, the County has indicated that an additional 20 hours may be able to be authorized. Have family contact the IHSS Helpline at 1-888-822-9622. - Department of Public Social Services Frequently Asked Questions on CalFresh, IHSS, etc
FOOD, UTILITIES
- Los Angeles County utilities are providing resources and relief to eligible residents. Please visit this web page for future updates.Many utilities, including LA County Public Works, SoCal Edison, and City of Long Beach are not shutting off service for non-payment.
- CalFresh Program - A food and nutrition services program, also known as SNAP. L.A. County is helping enroll low-income residents in the CalFresh Program, which issues monthly electronic EBT benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. Hundreds of thousands of County residents are now newly eligible for assistance because of the pandemic but have not accessed services. Click here to enroll today.
- Department of Public Social Services Frequently Asked Questions on CalFresh, IHSS, etc
- #LetsFeedLACounty is now hosting drive-thru food distribution events three times a week in locations across the County. For the latest information including distribution dates, times and locations, visit https://covid19.lacounty.gov/get-support/.
- 211LA Food Resource Directory and mapping tool that makes locating food resources near you easier than ever. Add your location and filter by type of resource, then click to see detailed information about the resource and how to access it.
- List of Food Banks and Pantries in Long Beach
- Food Finders food bank locations March 2020
- Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
- Christian Outreach in Action offers meals, food and diaper bank and other support services. See link for hours and requirements
- Long Beach Community Table Anyone may come to pick up food during Open Community Hours, without an application or appointment!
- Community's Child (Food bank serves Torrance, Beach Cities, Carson, Lomita, Harbor City and Gardena) . Email referrals to Dede.O@cchild.org
- Expensify.org - This is a program that is striving to help families who receive SNAP benefits by matching SNAP funds up to $50.
- Long Beach Unified School District - The Long Beach Unified School District, which has been offering breakfasts and lunches at 34 sites during school closures, will add a supper meal at 27 of those sites starting Monday, May 4. All three meals (breakfast, lunch and supper) will be distributed during the usual meal service hour of 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- LAUSD Resources for Families During School Closure (Grab & Go food program, education resources for in-home learning, parent resources)
- Everytable - offering FREE FOOD to EVERYONE in greater Los Angeles, this includes delivering meals to seniors at their home. Call the Everytable Helpline at 323-458-6487 for questions and more information. This is also available on Instagram.
Grocery Shopping for Seniors, people with disabilities and others
• Ralphs offering dedicated shopping for senior citizens age 65 and older from 7-7:30 a.m. daily beginning March 20.
• Target is reserving the first shopping hour of every Wednesday to the elderly and those with underlying health concerns.
• Vons, Albertsons and Pavilions will reserve every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m. For senior citizens, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems.
• Whole Foods will open all their stores to customers who are 60 and older one hour before opening to the general public.
• Northgate Market: All 41 Northgate Market locations are reserving the first hour just for seniors and disabled customers.
• Vallarta Supermarkets will be open 7-8am for those 65 and older, pregnant women and those with disabilities.
• Super A Foods is reserving shopping from 7-8 a.m. for those 65 and older.
• Smart & Final will open from 7:30-8 a.m. for customers 65 and older and those with disabilities.
• Stater Bros. Markets: All 169 locations will open at 7:45 a.m. for seniors over 65 years old.
• Big Saver Foods will open from 7:30-8 a.m. for seniors over age 65.
• Walmart will give seniors 60 and older an hour of shopping before stores open every Tuesday. Walmart pharmacies and Vision Centers will also be open at this time.
• Winco offers seniors and those with disabilities early access on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6-7AM
CHILDCARE FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS
covid19.ca.gov/childcare provides access to safe and reliable child care options for working parents, including essential workers and vulnerable populations
The nonprofit Pacific Gateway Workforce Partnership has launched WorkLB, a free electronic platform that helps to connect hourly child care providers with members of the public who suddenly need quality childcare. For more information, call (562) 570-4249.
YMCA of Greater Long Beach
RESOURCES FOR WORKERS DISPLACED BY COVID-19
Work Long Beach is a collaboration of public agencies and providers in the City of Long Beach. Focusing immediately on childcare, they are working to match displaced childcare workers with those who need this service. It offers other services match hourly workers with employers seeking vetted employees.
OnwardCA.org is a new website that aims to serve as a one-stop repository of information and resources for workers displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic.based on the user’s location and personal needs, in three distinct tiers of need:
Immediate sources for monetary aid — from unemployment to industry relief funds for workers to loans and grants for small businesses.
Emergency non-monetary resources — including food, shelter, medicine, groceries, child-care, and more.
Job matching —
to pair up workers’ skills with companies that are doing immediate hiring because of higher demand during the coronavirus-precaution measures, like call centers and deliveries of food and other goods. Job-training resources are also planned for people who need to make a change in career after losing their jobs to the pandemic.
RENTERS/TENANTS
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles - Response and Resources
Los Angeles County Consumer and Business Affairs - Tenant Protections
3/30 News article: Can’t pay your power bill? Don’t worry, you’re safe for now as California utilities suspend shutoffs
LOW OR NO COST INTERNET AND WIRELESS MEDIA RESOURCES
EveryoneOn.org/cetf or call 844 841-INFO Toll Free To find which low-cost Internet and computer offers are available in your area. Note: Frontier low-cost offers are not listed
LA County - WiFi access information for the surrounding area
AT&T has opened all public WiFi hotspots and will not charge customers for any late fees or overages.
California Life-Line Program This government assisted wireless service provides discounted home phone and cell phone services to eligible low-income families and individuals. Qualified customers can receive a free cell phone along with unlimited free minutes and free texts every month.
AT-HOME ACTIVIES AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
Activities to Encourage Speech and Language - Risha Armstrong
Fun Activities - Monique Leotaud
• Scholastic Learn at Home – has free at home lessons for PreK through 9th grade
•edHelper.com - Daily Free Learning Workbooks for Teachers to Share with Parents while Schools are Closed
• ASHA – Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development – tips from birth – 6 yrs.
•DLTK’s Crafts for Kids - DLTK's Crafts for Kids features a variety of printable children's crafts, coloring pages, worksheets and activities including projects for holidays, educational themes and some of our children's favorite cartoon characters.
EXERCISE
LEARNING ABOUT COVID-19 FOR CHILDREN or PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
•• Coronavirus Kids Book
Talking to Children About COVID-19(Coronavirus): A Parent Resource – National Association of School Psychologists – This resource is available in several languages other than English (Spanish, Amharic, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese)
Safety Tips for Self Advocates from State Council on Developmental Disabilities
E news BULLETINS visit http://www.harborrc.org/news
os Angeles County Sheriff's Department warns of COVID-19 online scams and hacking attemptsThe LASD has seen an uptick in fake emails, texts and phishing scams related to the COVID-19 emergency.
They are warning the public not to click on unknown links that appear in cellphone texts or in emails, and instead go directly to trusted sites by typing in the website address.
Here are some of the common tactics criminals are using:
Fake charities. Scammers play on your good intentions by using names that sound a lot like the names of real charities. Be sure to do your research and donate directly to legitimate charities. Pay safely by credit card, never by gift card or wire transfer.
Phishing emails. These emails often appear to be from familiar company names or pretend to be someone you know. Some have been fake emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with information on the virus. With the talk of economic stimulus checks in the news, others can pretend to be from a government agency asking for your private information to send you money. Be assured legitimate government agencies will never do that. These emails are all dangerous because they contain links that if clicked on, can install software or other programs that can steal your private information or lock you out of your data.
More scams and tips on how to protect yourself
GENERAL COVID-19 INFO/UPDATES
• World Health Organization (WHO) – Reliable site with regular COVID-19 updates and guidance
• California Department of Public Health - Guidance Documents: Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Centers for Disease Control – Coronavirus https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html • What you need to know about Coronavirus in ASL
