Child Safety and Mental Health --COVID-19 Updates

March 18, 2020

Greetings!

Do you have a safety concern for a child or yourself? Are you experiencing stress related to helping a child or raising a foster or kinship child? How do you find help or resources in stressful times?

Resources and policies are changing daily due to COVID-19. Here are current guidelines and online/text/phone resources that are available now.

Please share your resources, ideas and questions with adam@kidsmatterinc.org . We will be sending out more frequent newsletters to help you keep up.

Kids Matter remains open for phone consults and phone intakes but our in-person support groups and legal clinics are suspended until April 3 to correspond with court closures.

Read Kids Matter Inc.'s latest update on how COVID-19 affects CASA volunteers.

Sue

Susan Conwell, JD

Executive Director

Changes to Procedures Due to COVID-19

Child Safety Resources

414-220-SAFE[7233], the Milwaukee County child protection reporting hotline, is still working. Keep calling to report concerns. In-person visits are prioritized for the most serious issues.

County child abuse hotlines are still working. Here is a resource map of Wisconsin with all county child abuse hotline numbers. Click here .

1-800-4-A-CHILD [1-800-422-4453] is the National Child Abuse hotline.

Open Child Protection Cases

Home Visits: The Department of Children and Families issued interim guidance on March 17 that includes a health risk screening guide for home visits for children in foster care, provides for alternate technology visits such as through FaceTime, Google Duo, Skype, Zoom, etc. Case managers are encouraged to meet with the children on their caseloads more frequently when having contact via technology , and to check in specifically on how the conditions of a placement may have changed or adapted in light of COVID-19.

Kinship offices are still open by phone, and home visits can be conducted remotely.

Read the full WI Department of Children and Families Guidance on Child, Family and Facility Contact During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

Milwaukee County Children’s Court Hearings for all but emergency matters are being postponed. Read Milwaukee County Vel R. Phillips Youth and Family Justice Center COVID-19 Operating Policies and Procedures.

Child Protection Court Hearings : Each county court system is issuing its own protocols. Some are continuing to hold hearings electronically. Here is the WI Supreme Court page that shows interim procedures for all WI Counties. As there are 72 counties, you may have to scroll through several pages for your county court memo. You can likely find this information on your county’s webpage as well. Click here for the full list of county court closures in Wisconsin (click on the tab "court closures").

Mental Health Services

If you or a child already has a mental health service provider, they should be communicating with you directly. If you or a child has a new concern or if you are feeling stress relating to COVID-19, there are online and phone services available.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: Free, confidential crisis intervention and crisis resources. Call 1-800-273-8255.

Crisis Text Line: A national confidential text message service for people in crisis. Text HOME to 741741 in the United States. They are responding to increased anxiety relating to COVID-19.

NAMI Hotline: NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Text NAMI to 741741 or call 800-950-6264 . NAMI has state and local chapters offering help. Click here to find your local office.

Mental Health America: As the number of cases of COVID-19 increase, so does the associated anxiety. MHA has a resource page with lots of links and resources for people who already have a mental health diagnosis and might be feeling increased pressure due to COVID-19. They are also providing local and national resources for people who are experiencing general increased anxiety related to COVID-19.

Click here.

Wraparound Milwaukee Services

Medication Clinic. If your child is already receiving services from Wraparound, work with your assigned Care Coordinator. The Wraparound Medication Clinic is taking phone appointments until further notice. Read the full memo here.

Children's Mobile Crisis Team. The team will continue to triage mental health crisis situations for youth and respond as needed. Wraparound Care Coordinators must call families before scheduled visits to assess the appropriateness of face-to-face contact; phone contact is expected if face-to-face contact is inappropriate. Call (414) 257-7621. Read the full memo here.

Substance Abuse Recovery

This is an important time to support people in their journey to recovery. Here are resources that can help.

Milwaukee County Behavioral Health 24-Hour Crisis Line is (414) 257-7222. Call now if you believe you or a loved one is experiencing a crisis. Adults age 24 and up needing help with non-crisis behavioral health or substance abuse treatment can call (414) 257-8085.

As of today, screenings and services appointments are still being scheduled at the Milwaukee County Comprehensive Treatment Center and Opioid Use Disorder Program. Call to set an appointment (877) 934-0650. Click for more information.

Digital Recovery Support: Online and Mobile Resources

With many substance abuse recovery meetings being postponed, here are some links with information about online/virtual substance abuse and recovery groups recommended by the Recovery Research Institute.

Alcoholics Anonymous :

Online Intergroup AA Click here.

Online Group AA Meetings Click here.

AA Online Meetings Click here.

Narcotics Anonymous :

Virtual NA Click here.

Local NA Online Resource Search Click here.

Family Violence

The Restraining Order Clinic is still open at the downtown Milwaukee County Courthouse. Please call ahead 414-278-5079.

Sojourner Family Peace Center is still open and accepting domestic violence referrals. If you are experiencing family violence, please call the hotline at 414-933-2722.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren/Older Foster Parents/Caregivers in High Risk Groups

You are the heart and soul of our community. We need you to stay healthy. Acknowledge that you are in a high-risk group if you are, and take the precautions necessary. Check out the guidance for people in high risk groups from the Centers for Disease Control and sign up for regular updates here .

Check out Generation United's Fact Sheet for Grandfamilies and Multigenerational Families.

Sexual Assault

Get help 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Call 800-656-HOPE [4673].

General Assistance Hotline

Simply dial 2-1-1 on any Wisconsin-based cell or landline phone. Their website is being updated regularly, but the most current information can be obtained by calling 2-1-1 or using the “Chat Now” button here.

Homelessness

The intake process for homeless families needing shelter remains the same. The individual or family in need should call 2-1-1 from any cell or landline phone in Wisconsin for an intake. Their website is being updated daily, but the 211 phone line has the most up-to-date information. Online ‘chat’ support is also available 24/7 through the “Chat Now” link here .

School Assignments

MPS School Assignments are being distributed at 20 sites around the city from 11am-1pm M-F, and each distribution location will provide enrichment resources and materials to students in hard copy and/or online format. A list of sites can be found here.

Food Resources

Milwaukee Public Schools recognizes that many students rely on school meals to alleviate food insecurity during the week, and with the recent rise of COVID-19 causing schools across Wisconsin to close, MPS will provide free meals to students, beginning Monday, March 16 between 11:00 am-1:00 pm, Monday-Friday. Each distribution location will provide enrichment resources and materials to students in hard copy and online format. Click here for more information.
Click here for an interactive map updated daily that provides a comprehensive list of sites offering meals to children and adults in Milwaukee County. You can search by Zip Code by clicking the magnifying glass. Selecting a site icon on the map will tell you what days and times the meal service is open. Schools and Food Pantries are operating as “Grab and Go” sites with pre-bagged meals or food to minimize personal risk.
The School District of Brown Deer's food service program will be open to all school aged children regardless of whether the student attends the School District of Brown Deer. Click here for more information. Check with your school district about their policies.
Where to find food from the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

Rumors/Rumors/Rumors

Does it sound too weird to be true?

Rumor : “ Court and child protective services order that no grandparents can raise grandchildren due to COVID-19 .” Completely untrue.

Rumor : “ All employers will have to pay employees who don’t go to work.” Some additional employers may have to provide paid sick leave if they have more than 50 employees and fewer than 500 under newly passed federal legislation. This is so new that details are not yet available. New packages are being discussed. Talk to your employer! Read your employee manual to make sure you know your employer's paid sick leave policy. Many employers are issuing COVID-19 specific guidance by email or on the employer's website. Is your employer closing? Click here to file an unemployment claim online.

Rumor : “Don’t worry about paying your taxes.” Tax payment deadlines have been extended to July 15, 2020. As of March 18th, the IRS filing deadline remains April 15, 2020, but you may request a free six-month extension.

The internet is full of wild headlines. We know it can be hard to tell. Reach out and ask! Scammers are out in force. Hit the pause button and ask an expert before you act. A lot of help is still available. If someone is pushing you to make a big financial decision in a few minutes, it could be a scam. Protect yourself from COVID-19 and the people who want to benefit from panic.