the US Census Bureau and Kaiser Family Foundation indicating disproportionate negative impacts of the pandemic on communities of color. This resource from SAMHSA’s Office of Behavioral Health Equity [OBHE] offers an extensive set of recommended actions, with associated resources, that can help to address significant obstacles to adequate behavioral health treatment, services and supports for Black and Latino Americans.
People of Color Create Their Own Mental Health Services On-Line: Describes five examples of mental health platforms, apps, and organizations that people of color have created to support the well-being of their communities. As our nation’s current mental health workforce is predominantly White, access to mental health services for people of color can be hindered by socioeconomics, stigma, language, or cultural barriers. Some Black, Latinx, Asian American and Native American people have created digital spaces and organizations to address mental health needs of their communities.
Twitter Analysis Can Help Practitioners, Policymakers and Researchers Better Understand Topics Relevant to American Indian/Alaska Native [AI/AN] Youth: Provides an overview of learnings from a recent analysis of Twitter engagement around AI/AN-focused hashtags. Child Trends’ interactive data visualization displays the top 50 hashtags for each month between January 2015 through July 2020. The brief shares key implications for practitioners and policy stakeholders who work with AI/AN communities, or on issues relevant to these communities; and includes recommendations for interpreting these Twitter data.
National Indian Child Welfare Association COVID-19 Resource Page: Includes information for frontline workers, children, families/caregivers, and system leaders (including webinar/learning and grant opportunities), a large section of pertinent federal guidance, and links to numerous additional selected resources.
COVID-19 Cases by IHS Area: Reports data from Indian Health Service [IHS], tribal and urban Indian organization facilities on number of COVID-19 tests completed, and positive and negative test results, that can help inform local planning for social distancing, school reopening, and gatherings of many individuals.
FindHelp.org: Presents a meaningful on-line search tool inviting families to search for free (or reduced) cost services (e.g. medical care, food, housing, education, transportation, job training, legal aid) by zip code. Specific COVID-19-related programs and services are also currently featured. This tool, curated by Aunt Bertha, a Public Benefit Corporation, can be used (along with 211.org) by school social workers to link students and families to instrumental support through the current emergency.
2-1-1 -- United Way: Connects visitors to a community resource specialist in the local area who can help to find critical resources and services that can improve - and save - lives. Through a toll-free call to 2-1-1, or a visit to the website, one can find information about:
- Supplemental food and nutrition programs
- Shelter and housing options and utilities assistance
- Emergency information and disaster relief
- Employment and education opportunities
- Services for veterans
- Health care, vaccination and health epidemic information
- Addiction prevention and rehabilitation programs
- Reentry help for ex-offenders
- Support groups for individuals with mental illnesses or special needs
- A safe, confidential path out of physical and/or emotional domestic abuse.
Supports for Students and Families Experiencing Homelessness During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Provides K-12 schools, school districts, regional education agencies, state education agencies, and their community partners with information on supporting students and families experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the REMS TA Center offers an overview of data on students and families experiencing homelessness and of homelessness resources available to students and families. The National Center for Homeless Education shares considerations for 