frequently asked questions and answers from keeping Families strong town halls

During these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever to respond rapidly to support and strengthen families. The Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families (the Partnership) hosts regular town hall conversations to create space for professionals and leaders in communities throughout Colorado to connect with each other as they work to keep families strong during this Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.  
What is the purpose of the Keeping Families Strong during COVID-19 conversations?
​The purpose of the Keeping Families Strong during COVID-19 town hall calls are to create a space for professionals working to strengthen families across the state of Colorado to discuss new and heightened challenges experienced by families, share resources and collaborate on innovative ways to support families in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.
​How often are the conversations hosted?
Currently, the calls are hosted one Tuesday each month from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Visit the Partnership blog to find out when the next town hall will be held. 
Who should join town hall Conversations?
Professionals from across the state of Colorado who work to strengthen families, including nonprofit community providers, state and local agencies, and front line family-serving professionals. 

Professionals and volunteers at all levels of organizations are encouraged to join these conversations to share adaptations, responses and needs to strengthen families during these unprecedented times, including but not limited to:
  • child care providers,
  • Collaborative Management Program providers,
  • food banks,
  • family resource centers,
  • Essentials for Childhood sites,
  • Trust Fund sites and
  • Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Where can I find the notes from the town halls?
Meeting summaries and notes following each town hall are posted on the Partnership Blog. Below is a quick reference guide to resources and questions that have come up during the town hall conversations.
Where is the BEST PLACE TO FIND RESOURCES FOR THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES I am working with?
The State of Colorado created an online Stay At Home CO Guide at stayathomeco.colorado.gov. The website is full of free resources, support and activities to help you, your family, and your loved ones, as well as the children and families that you serve. This is the BEST place online to find resources to strengthen families right now. 
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Colorado Crisis Services
We provide free, confidential, professional and immediate support for any mental health, substance use or emotional concern, 24/7/365.

Call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 to speak to a trained professional.
211 Colorado
2-1-1 is a confidential and multilingual service connecting people to vital resources across the state. 
 Call 2-11 or (866) 760-6489     Text your ZIP CODE to 898-211
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CO-HELP
Colorado’s call line for general questions about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), providing answers in many languages including English, Spanish (Español), Mandarin (普通话) and more.
 Call 303-389-1687 or (877) 462-2911

FAQs and resources recommended during keeping families strong town halls

This is a quick reference guide to resources that professionals have highlighted during the town hall conversations, as well as frequently asked questions and answers, by topic. 

If you can not find a resource that was mentioned in a discussion, we encourage you to visit online Stay At Home CO Guide full of free resources, support and activities to help you, your family, your loved ones, as well as the children and families you serve during this time.  That website, which is regularly updated by the State of Colorado based on your suggestions, is the best place to find resources online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ACADEMIC/LEARNING RESOURCES
BABY SUPPLIES
BURIAL ASSISTANCE

Program Purpose
The Colorado Department of Human Services Office of Economic Security burial assistance program provides payments to providers for burial and cremation services of low-income Coloradans. 
  • Burial benefits are used to cover reasonable and necessary costs for burial services. 
  • The maximum 2020 Burial grant is $1500.

Eligibility

  • A person must have been receiving public assistance and/or medical assistance at the time of death.
  • Public assistance for the purposes of the burial benefit is: Colorado Works (CW), Medicaid and/or Adult Financial (AF) programs. AF programs include:
    • Old Age Pension (OAP)
    • Aid to the Needy Disabled State Only (AND-SO) or 
    • AND Colorado Supplement (AND-CS)
  • The total cost of the burial or cremation services cannot exceed $2500.
  • The person’s assets and assistance from the family members are considered.
  • Payment for the burial or cremation services is made directly to the provider(s) of the service.

County Role

  • Determines eligibility and processes applications for the program.
  • Enters and tracks cases in the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS).

State Role

  • Establishes statewide program policy in consultation with the State Board of Human Services and provides county departments with technical assistance, training and consultation. 
  • Regional Representatives monitor the program which 
assists in determining if training or process evaluation may be needed.

Funding
  • The burial assistance program is funded through the Old Age Pension Burial Reimbursement appropriation of $918,364 cash funds and Aid to the Needy Disabled Burial Reimbursement appropriation of $508,000. 
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CHILD CARE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
TANF program is available for things that SNAP does not cover.

Q. Will work requirements for this be waived?
  • No, but at a county level, we are able to interact and see if there is ‘good cause’ for people not being able to meet this requirement.

FOOD ASSISTANCE
  • ​​Food Access
  • Regional Food Banks have moved to a zero-cost model for members, which means that there should not be a charge for food purchases, and in most areas, there should not be a cost for the delivery of food from the regional food banks.
  • The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TFAP) has a large order of food that will be delivered this week to TFAP sites.
  • Local counties can now purchase food for their residents and have it reimbursed from FEMA Public Assistance at 75% of the cost. This request needs to be coordinated with the local emergency management partners, but it is a way that locals can gauge their own needs and fill that locally. 
  • For Family Resource Centers with limited volunteers, the governor’s office has received an outpouring of offers to volunteer, and Help Colorado Now has a database of 10,000 volunteers.  
  • A Crisis Cleanup Hotline (800-451-1954) was launched this week. The website states that "If you are at high risk of COVID-19, you may request food delivery or other services. We will connect you with volunteers (where available) who may be able to help with meals and shopping delivery, medical necessities, such as wellness checks and prescription pick-ups, and pet supplies, such as food.”
  • Grants to Feed Kids - If you're feeding children and families affected by the coronavirus, Share Our Strength is here to help. Schools and workplaces are closing nationwide due to coronavirus. Vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on, and low-income families are struggling with lost wages. We're offering emergency grants to support local school districts and nonprofit organizations in their efforts to ensure kids get the nutritious food they need.  Please visit the website to complete a brief information form, and their grants team will be in touch with instructions if your organization is eligible for funding. 
  • Colorado Blueprint To End Hunger issued 74 grants from the first cycle of funding and they will soon issue a second cycle COVID-19 Emergency Hunger Relief Fund. ​​
HOMELESSNESS ​
IDEAS FOR WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED WHILE SOCIALLY ISOLATED
Physical, Mental & behavioral health and social support RESOURCES ​

UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITIES

WI-FI/SMARTPHONE DATA RESOURCES
  • XFINITY IS OFFERING FREE HOTSPOTS
  • CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS WILL OFFER FREE ACCESS TO BROADBAND FOR 60 DAYS TO HOUSEHOLDS WITH K-12 AND / OR COLLEGE STUDENTS
  • AT&T IS REMOVING DATA CAPS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR WIRELESS AND WIRED CONNECTIONS (SEE “CUSTOMER OFFERS
  • COMCAST IS INCREASING ACCESS AND SPEEDS TO THEIR INTERNET ESSENTIALS PROGRAM ($10 / MONTH BROADBAND); NEW FAMILIES GET 60 DAYS FREE
  • T-MOBILE IS SUPPORTING K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH A DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM
  • PARTNERS FOR A HEALTHY BABY MADE THEIR DIGITAL CURRICULUM TEXTABLE.
  • A LIST OF TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS COMPILED BY THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CAN BE FOUND HERE. 
Resources for TRANSLATING ANTI-RACISM INTO ACTION
Resources in Spanish can be found at: