We know this is overwhelming.

The United States is experiencing a shortage of blood supplies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on giving blood, click on this link:  https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/coronavirus--covid-19--and-blood-donation.html 

Many residents of our local care facilities have been without visitors for some time now. Consider making cards, writing notes of supports, or having kids make drawings for local residents. You can mail those items to the local care facilities in Cedar County! Those facilities include:

Prairie Hills Assisted Living and Memory Care:  219 S Cedar St, Tipton, IA 52772 

Cedar Manor Nursing Home:  1200 Mulberry St, Tipton, IA 52772 

Clarence Senior Living -  402 2nd Ave, Clarence, IA 52216 

Crestview Specialty Care:  451 W Orange St, West Branch, IA 52358 

Mechanicsville Specialty Care:  104 E 4th St, Mechanicsville, IA 52306 

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. This link provides information on making face coverings, both sewn and non-sewn:   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html 

 There is a national shortage of commercially-produced PPE including gowns.  Iowans who would like to support healthcare providers can use this guidance document to construct homemade washable cloth gowns that can be worn by Iowa healthcare providers during patient care.  Visit this site for details:  https://www.fairfieldiowa.com/uploads/4/0/2/5/40254155/gown_sewing_guidance_4.5.20.pdf 

Volunteer Iowa has set up an online volunteer event page for COVID-19-related volunteer opportunities. Opportunities are listed on the statewide online volunteer portal: http://volunteeriowa.galaxydigital.com/need/?s=1&need_init_id=3002

Volunteer Iowa is also working to get volunteer centers, food banks, etc. to populate their volunteer needs on the portal so individuals have a resource to search for volunteer opportunities.

  i-SERV is the Iowa Department of Public Health's secure online registry for individuals wishing to volunteer in the event of a large scale disaster or public health emergency. 

Iowans who are experiencing stress, anxiety or fear related to COVID- 19 can visit Your Life Iowa through the following sources:

 Web https://yourlifeiowa.org

 Call: 855.581.8111

 Text: 855.895.8398

Iowans who may qualify for unemployment due to COVID-19 or under the CARES Act can find information and a link to apply online here: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/

Call 1-800-985-5990

Text: "TalkWithUs" to 66746

Disaster Distress.samhsa.gov

 Taking care of your well-being, including your mental health, is essential during this time. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. Many people may experience stress, fear, anxiety, or feelings of depression. This is normal. There are things that you can do to manage your stress and anxiety. VA has provided resources at https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/coronavirus/

Iowa businesses can receive relief assistance for qualifying business concerns. More information can be found at: https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/businessrecovery.com

Individuals with questions of a legal nature can call the COVID-19 Legal Information Hotline at 1-800-332-0419. The hotline was developed in partnership with Iowa Legal Aid, the Iowa State Bar Association, and the Polk County Volunteer Lawyer Project. The hotline can assist Iowans with business and compliance issues and other personal legal concerns. More information at https://www.iowalegalaid.org/

Medicare Scams and Fraud information: https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus. Iowans can contact Iowa Senior Medicare Patrol for information about scams and to report Fraud. Iowa Senior Medicare Patrol is housed in the Iowa Insurance Division. https://shiip.iowa.gov/smp/

Do you need help with food, utility bill assistance, crisis assistance, disaster assistance, or other help? Contact Community Action of Eastern Iowa at 563-324-3236, or visit  https://www.caeiowa.org/services/ 

 With a toll-free phone number, live chat capabilities and a website, Iowa Concern services are available 24 hours a day, seven days per week at no charge. Iowa Concern provides access to stress counselors and an attorney for legal education, as well as information and referral services for a wide variety of topics.  Call  800-447-1985; language interpretation services are available. Or, visit the website, https://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/   A video about this service can be found at   

https://youtu.be/-fgld6TRGzc

 1-800-273-8255  

 https://emergency.cdc.gov/coping/index.asp 

 Being separated from others if a healthcare provider thinks you may have been exposed to COVID-19 can be stressful, even if you do not get sick. Everyone feels differently after coming out of quarantine. Some feelings include:  Sadness, anger, or frustration because friends or loved ones have unfounded fears of contracting the disease from contact with you, even though you have been determined not to be contagious; and guilt about not being able to perform normal work or parenting duties during quarantine.  Children may also feel upset or have other strong emotions if they, or someone they know, has been released from quarantine.  For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

At this site, you will find a listing of HIPPA-compliant telehealth counseling providers. Visit http://www.feelgoodiowa.com

 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department has expanded home delivered meals, homemaker, and companion services for members who meet specific eligibility criteria described below. Members who meet the eligibility criteria may access these services. These expanded services are available March 13, 2020, through the duration of the emergency proclamation. For more information, visit  https://dhs.iowa.gov/ime/members/COVID19/services?fbclid=IwAR1vi6Gx220brclXiO01f9pxrh1gZ5KkawpyIL5f1YgWpS0uQz_bd1fqJco  

  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html  

  http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html.  

 Responding to COVID-19 can take an emotional toll on you. There are things you can do to reduce secondary traumatic stress (STS) reactions:  Acknowledge that STS can impact anyone helping families after a traumatic event; and learn the symptoms including physical (fatigue, illness) and mental (fear, withdrawal, guilt)  Learn more tips for taking care of yourself during emergency response. Visit https://emergency.cdc.gov/coping/responders.asp

 Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.  There are many things you can do to support your child: Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.  Learn more about helping children cope at https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/helping-children-cope.html

 24/hr. Crisis Line:  1-800-373-1043

Website:  https://dvipiowa.org 

Email address:  dvip@dvipiowa.org 

HACAP food boxes are available by calling   

(563)785-6831. 

In Durant, please call (563)785-6831. 

Otherwise, please call Cedar County Case Management/General Assistance at 563-886-1726

 The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced a Resource Coordination Center to help provide technical resources to livestock producers impacted by processing plant closures. This is a coordinated effort with the Iowa Pork Producers Assoc., the Iowa Pork Industry Center, and ISU Extension and Outreach. Iowa livestock producers can call the RCC at (515) 725-1005, Monday - Friday between 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., or fill out a help form anytime at iowafarmerhelp.com 

 DES MOINES – Governor Reynolds today announced assistance for workers and employers impacted by layoffs related to COVID-19.  The guidance includes information for employees filing for unemployment insurance claims, as well as information on programs available for employers.“Iowa has incredible employers accommodating the needs of Iowans during the disruption caused by COVID-19,” said Gov. Reynolds. “The state of Iowa is doing everything we can to ease the process and shorten the time it will take for Iowans to receive unemployment benefits. All of our state agencies continue to work as one team to lessen the impact COVID-19 will have on our economy and our people.”   “Iowa Workforce Development is taking steps to reduce the impact of these claims on employers who have had to temporarily lay off staff due to closures or slowdowns,” said IWD Director BethTownsend. “IWD encourages all employers to utilize paid leave and telework options for employees before utilizing temporary layoffs.  Iowa Workforce Development will continue to monitor the situation, working with our stakeholders and updates will be released on our webpage.”  Unemployment insurance claims:

•         If you are laid off due to COVID-19 or have to stay home to self-isolate, care for family members or due to illness related to COVID-19, you can receive unemployment benefits, provided you meet all other eligibility requirements. Work search requirements will be waived. Those requirements essentially include working for wages from an employer who claims you as an employee in six of the last eighteen months and have earned at least $2,500 in the same time period. More specific explanation of benefit eligibility can be found at: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/2019-unemployment-insurance-claimant-handbook
•         Claimants can expect to receive payment within 7-10 days after the date the claim is filed.
•         Claims that are filed and identified as a direct or indirect result of COVID-19, will not be charged to employers.  Fact-finding interviews for these claims will be waived and not be held although employers will be notified of claims received. 
•         IWD will process unemployment insurance payments to ensure payment will continue to be paid in a timely manner. 

“The Iowa Workforce Development team is dedicated to providing assistance to employees and employers affected by COVID-19.  Please do not hesitate to contact myself or our team for assistance at 1-866-239-0843,” said Director Townsend.  

https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus-rumor-control

 https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/7/EMS%20Guidance%20COVID%2003192020.pdf 

 https://dhs.iowa.gov/COVID19

Access to child care for essential employees is a high priority. Please have any essential employee who needs child care contact Child Care Resource and Referral for personalized assistance: 

Monday - Friday  8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Talk to a Parent Referral Specialist: 855-244-5301

Email our Parent Referral team: childcare@caeiowa.org

Parent information can be accessed: https://iowaccrr.org/families/

Child Care Resource and Referral are dedicated to contacting all child care businesses and keeping our database as current as possible for openings. We are also available to help address any other child care concerns your county may be experiencing. Please contact us if we can be of assistance to your local planning. https://iowaccrr.org/staff/ 

Regional Directors

Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral

Melissa Juhl – Region 1

Mary Jannsen – Region 2

Deb Martens – Region 3

Lora Patton – Region 4

Becky White – Region 5