| | | The Youth Transitions Team
is partnering with the Higher Education Coordination Commission and each of the
post-secondary institutions across the state to ensure students with a history
of foster care are being supported. Something Resource Parents/Caregivers
may want to consider is reaching out to a former foster youth who is in college
to see how they are doing. Should they be in a dorm, and the school
closes the dorms, are you able to help the youth problem solve where they may
want to go. You can direct the young person to our team at ILP.Central@dhsoha.state.or.us, check our Facebook Page (Oregon ILP) periodically for updates on
resource or tips during this time of social distancing, or check the ILP website. | Youthitem1 | Youth | 1 |
| | | During this time of social distancing, the ODHS
Child Welfare Program encourages Oregonians to check in with families and
continue to engage with child welfare when appropriate.
The COVID-19 pandemic creates many challenges
for families, which could impact child safety, including:
- Lack of access to
medical care
- Lack of face time with
mandated reporters
- Limited access to
regular meals due to school closures
- Known exposure to
COVID-19 or symptomatic people
- Close contact with
someone who is considered high risk if infected with COVID-19
ODHS encourages community
members to check in with at-risk families -- including young children, children
and adults with developmental delays or other medical vulnerabilities, isolated
children and families, and youth and families with severe emotional/mental
health needs – through phone, email, or by safe distance.
Not sure how to check on
your neighbors? These questions will help you ask about family well being.
Sharing resource information for food banks,
unemployment benefits, SNAP availability, and educational resources can be
extremely helpful.
| AbusePrevention1 | AbusePrevention | 1 |
| | | All children in ODHS foster care are eligible for
Free and Reduced meals. This eligibility automatically happens through a data
sharing agreement so Resource Parents wouldn't have signed up or applied for
these resources. Please refer to your school district website to see the sites
where meals can be picked up. | Fosteritem2 | Foster | 2 |
| | | | Visitationitem1 | Visitation | 1 |
| | | My NeighbOR - Every Child, in direct partnership
with ODHS Child Welfare, has launched a comprehensive statewide emergency
response to the fast-growing needs of children and families in Oregon’s foster
care system. The initiative is called My NeighbOR. Oregonians across all 36
counties are being asked to step forward and meet the tangible needs of foster
families and youth in foster care.
| Fosteritem1 | Foster | 1 |
| | | - 211info.org (also by dialing 211) offers connection to
local and regional resources for food banks, housing assistance, and mental
health services.
- Lines for Life, a
nonprofit dedicated to substance abuse and suicide prevention:
1-800-273-8255 or text '273Talk' to 839863.
| AbusePrevention2 | AbusePrevention | 2 |
| | | KEEP services are still available for foster and
relative caregivers! All in-person KEEP groups are moving to a virtual format
on the Zoom platform. We are working with our KEEP partners across the state to
prepare their teams for this transition and expect online KEEP groups to be up
and running in just a couple weeks. We are currently enrolling for upcoming
groups!- If you’ve recently been
contacted by a KEEP recruiter and offered a chance to enroll in an in-person
KEEP group, or you have already enrolled in a group that hasn’t yet started,
you’ll be contacted soon with information about participating in the group
online.
- Foster parents already
participating in virtual groups via the Tele-KEEP program will see no changes
to their services.
For more information visit the KEEP website. | Fosteritem3 | Foster | 3 |
| | | The COVID-19 Family Wellbeing Assessment is a conversation guide provided by ODHS Child Welfare for education staff and community partners to use when interacting with children and caregivers during the Covid-19 related school closures. When it is not possible to see children and caregivers in person, phone calls or quick interactions during food distribution may be the only opportunity to assess whether children are safe. Responses to questions, the tone of an interaction, or an inability to make contact with a child or caregiver, may reveal stressors or circumstances that require a report to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline (ORCAH). ORCAH is still open 24/7 to accept reports of suspected abuse or neglect by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).
| Wellnessitem1 | Wellness | 1 |
| | | | GuidesResources1 | GuidesResources | |
| | | Center for Adoption Support and Education
- C.A.S.E. offers mental health services and educational resources for all members of the adoption and foster community. Visit the C.A.S.E. Website to learn more.
Child Trends
- Child Trends' mission is to improve the lives and prospects of children and youth by conducting high-quality research and sharing the resulting knowledge with practitioners and policymakers. For more information visit the Child Trends website
Child Welfare Information Gateway
- A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provides access to print and electronic publications, websites, databases, and online learning tools for improving child welfare practice. Visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway website for more information.
How to use Cloth Face Coverings
- CDC Guidance on using face coverings including how to make them.
My NeighbOR
- Every Child, in direct partnership with DHS is launching a comprehensive statewide emergency response to the fast-growing needs of children and families in Oregon's foster care system. Learn more by visiting the My NeighbOR website.
National Child Welfare Workforce Institute
- NCWWI 's purpose is to develop and support a child welfare workforce that can equitably meet the needs of the most vulnerable children and families.
National Council on Crime and Delinquency
- During COVID-19 and physical distancing, NCCD will be providing practical guidance for navigating rapidly changing challenges faced by child welfare and justice agencies. Check back frequently for additional resources.
OHA COVID-19 Updates
Oregon Foster Youth Connection
- Empowers current and former foster youth to share their voice and to be heard in key decisions affecting children and youth in foster care. Visit the COVID-19 Foster Youth Resource page to learn more.
Oregon State Police Emergency Declaration
Tribal Information Exchange
- The Capacity Building Center for Tribes works to design and deliver tools and resources for tribal child welfare professionals. To learn more visit the Tribal Information Exchange website.
U.S Department of Education
| WRitem1 | WebsiteResources | |
| | | | Fosteritem4 | Foster | 4 |
| | | A recent policy transmittal (#CW-AR-20-004) has raised concerns among stakeholders and community members. We want to be very clear: DHS Child Welfare in Oregon does not identify a parent’s medical condition as a safety threat and sole reason for removal of children. We do have the capability, within our current rule and procedure, to work with a legal parent/guardian on a voluntary basis, to make a temporary plan for their child(ren) if they are too ill to care for their children. We would explore all options with a parent/guardian in that circumstance including their friends, family and community resources. If we exhausted all options, we could place their child in foster care. This would be a voluntary placement that does not affect a parent’s custodial rights and does not involve the child dependency legal system.
The transmittal was intended to provide guidance to our staff on how to document this scenario in the case management system, should it occur, if the parent is ill due to COVID-19.
| GuidesResources2 | GuidesResources | 2 |
| | | Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) is additional food support for children who are eligible for free or
reduced-price school meals, including youth in care, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Fosteritem5 | Foster | 5 |
| | | | Educationitem1 | Education | 1 |
| | | During this time of social distancing, ODHS encourages Oregonians to check in with families and continue to engage with Child Welfare when appropriate. Use this guidance to help recognize signs of child abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic.
| AbusePrevention3 | AbusePrevention | 3 |
| | | For youth or young adults who have been adversely affected by COVID-19, productive time requirements may be waived. Young adults can be as productive as reasonable given the restrictions of the declared emergency. The caseworker and ILP provider will assist the youth or young adult to identify available resources and steps to obtain needed resources. The maximum rate for ongoing housing programs will be $1,000 (based on need), an increase from $795 per month, including youth who are in the step-down phase of the IL Housing Subsidy Program (months 13-30). The IL Housing Subsidy 30-month requirement and lifetime amount of $7,000 will be waived for the duration of the declared emergency, or until the young adults 23rd birthday, whichever occurs first. If you are a former foster youth and need to connect and receive these services, please contact the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline (800-855-7233, press #1 when call is answered and say "I am a former foster youth calling to request a Family Support Services-ILP case to access Chafee Housing services during COVID-19").
| Youthitem2 | Youth | 2 |
| | | The COVID relief and spending package passed by Congress in December 2020 has temporarily changed the awarding requirements for the Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV). The Chafee ETV Grant can now be awarded to students who might not have qualified before. These changes are effective through September 2021. Please see the changes below. - States may waive the enrollment and satisfactory academic progress requirements (SAP) for Chafee ETV if young people are unable to meet the requirement due to the pandemic.
- Chafee ETV Grant funds can pay up to $12,000 per student, including costs other than Cost of Attendance, to help students to remain in school. Young adults may still be eligible for funds even if they had to leave college or a training program due to COVID. Costs for basic needs like food, housing, and transportation, as well as supplies (laptop, internet, etc.) can be covered under this grant. Students can receive a maximum of $5,000 through the OSAC and financial aid awarding process. Students can request additional funds of up to $7,000 by contacting the Youth Transition Programs to apply.
- Young people through age 26 (up to 27th birthday) who experienced foster care when they were age 14 or older are eligible for Chafee ETV Grant funds. Even if they had to leave college due to COVID-19, they may still be eligible for funds.
- Additional information - ETV flyer - please share with young people and community partners.
The five (5) year cap remains in effect.
| Youthitem3 | Youth | 3 |
| | | | FosterItem6 | Foster | 6 |
| | | Oregon is providing additional funding for education and assistance to young people who are in or have previously experienced foster care. Get help with basic needs, cash, housing, tech equipment, education, transportation and more. Learn more about these resources and your eligibility. | Youthitem4 | Youth | 4 |
| | | | Fosteritem7 | Foster | 7 |