Examples of what to write to your Legislators. . .

Dear Legislator,

This is how COVID has impacted me and my family (INSERT a short personal story about the challenges you have faced because of the COVID pandemic).

Regards,

Insert Your Name

Your City, State

 

Dear Legislator,

I am writing you to bring attention to the ways children, youth and families have been challenged in North Carolina because of COVID. These are the issues that are of the greatest importance to me and my family (or the clients / people I represent/help).

INSERT your own examples or select issues from the list on our COVID-19 Budget Fact Sheet below.

Sincerely,

Insert Your Name

Your City, State

 

COVID-19 BUDGET FACT SHEET

As the State of North Carolina and local communities move forward, with the development of additional COVID-19 resources and budget reallocations we want to ensure that attention be given to North Carolina’s vulnerable populations, including:

Children and youth not attending school,

  • Difficulty implementing IEP’s for children with disabilities and 504 Plan’s for children with other challenges (i.e. integration, educational supports, etc.)
  • Home health care workers serving children are not making home visits due to COVID-19 concerns
  • Children & Youth not receiving meals during what would normally be school hours
  • Families needing additional resources for housing and food because of job losses
  • Lack of accessibility to services and providers
  • Lack of access to technology and internet that is needed for virtual learning
  • Even if families, children, and youth have access to free technology through school there is not always access to the internet for virtual learning
  • Lack of community partners available to observe, identify and report child abuse and domestic violence.
  • Recruit and retain foster parents

Children, youth, and families needing basic needs,

  • Families need additional resources for housing and food because of job losses
  • Support needed for homeless families that did not file taxes to receive the stimulus check
  • Victims of domestic violence or child abuse having to be quarantined with their abuser with no way out or access to help or support.
  • Recruit and retain foster parents

Children and youth receiving mental health services,

  • Lack of accessibility to services and providers
  • Lack of access to technology and internet that is needed for tele-med/tele-health visits
  • If there is access to the technology and internet for tele-med/tele-health there is a hesitation for utilization by provider agencies due to HIPPA.
  • Lack of community partners available to observe, identify and report child abuse and domestic violence
  • Recruit and retain foster parents

Children and youth who have severe health care needs.

  • Home health care workers serving children are not making home visits due to COVID-19 concerns
  • Lack of accessibility to services and providers
  • Health care disparities are evident in low income areas and health care needs are not being met
  • Lack of access to technology and internet that is needed for tele-med/tele-health visits
  • If there is access to the technology and internet for tele-med/tele-health there is a hesitation for utilization by provider agencies due to HIPPA
  • Lack of community partners available to observe, identify and report child abuse and domestic violence

The pandemic has created issues cross-systems that include but not limited to the items mentioned above. Also, small business and Cares Act funds do not benefit medium size providers who serve the vulnerable populations.