COVID-19

• NC Coronavirus Helpline provides education about the virus and guidance on what to do if coronavirus is suspected (open 24 hours, seven days a week): 866-462-3821 or text VIRUS to 336-379-5775
• COVID-19 Triage Plus Helpline answers COVID-19 questions and helps find necessary care regardless of insurance coverage or lack of coverage (open 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., seven days a week): 877-490-6642
• Hope4NC Helpline 24/7 connects callers to mental health and resilience supports: 855-587-3463
• Hope4Healers Helpline for care professionals 24/7: 919-226-2002

• Practice the 3 Ws (Wear a cloth face covering, Wait 6 feet apart, Wash your hands often & use hand sanitizer)
• When you wash your hands, do so for at least 20 seconds in hot, soapy water. Handwashing Steps from the CDC
• Practice social distancing. While out, maintain at least 6 feet between yourself and others
• Cover your mouth (not with your hands) when coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of germs
• If you or your child is not feeling well, stay home
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Regularly clean surfaces that are frequently touched
• Download the SlowCOVIDNC Exposure Notification app – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) has launched an app that will help North Carolinians slow the spread of the virus by alerting them when they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. It is completely anonymous and does not collect, store, or share personal information or location data. 
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• School Planning Checklist for Families from the CDC
• Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit: Guidelines released June 8 to help North Carolina K-12 public schools begin to find a safe way to open to in-person instruction for the 2020-21 academic year
• Lighting Our Way Forward: Guidance developed by the NC Department of Public Instruction for reopening public schools for the 2020-21 school year
• Information from the Exceptional Children Division, NC DPI
• EC Processes: Points for Consideration During School Closure from NC DPI
• US Dept. of Education: Q&A on providing services to children with disabilities
• Accessing Special Education during COVID-19 fact sheet from DRNC
• State Board of Education: FAQs on grading and promotion
• Tips sheet for virtual IEP meetings
• Variety of education resources from Legal Aid NC
• Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Q&A document in response to inquiries concerning implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B provision of services (Sept. 28, 2020)
• Also, see our blog post “Addressing School Concerns During COVID-19” for tips and strategies.
• Watch our webinar on Compensatory Education to learn about these services.

• Social services: Dial 211 for information about and referrals to social services such as food, clothing, shelters, housing, utility assistance, mental health and health resources, employment supports, family support, and more
• Meals for children: Families who need help finding meals for their children ages 18 and younger can text FOODNC to 877-877 to locate nearby free meal sites. The texting service is also available in Spanish by texting COMIDA to 877-877.
• No Kid Hungry NC list of food distribution sites during school closures
• Find your local food bank
• Unemployment Insurance information and FAQs
• WellCare: Coronavirus Resource Guide
• Internet map to find free or low-cost internet service for students
• Healthy Helping provides $40 per month for fruits and vegetables at North Carolina Food Lion stores for current SNAP recipients impacted by COVID-19.
• The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally-funded program that provides for a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills. More information: English | Spanish

The Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7/365 crisis counseling and support for anyone experiencing distress or other behavioral health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster, including public health emergencies. Calls to 1-800-985-5990 and texts of “TalkWithUs” to 66746 are answered by a network of independently operated crisis centers, which provide psychological first aid, emotional support, crisis assessment and intervention, and referrals to local/state behavioral health services for follow-up care and support.

• MHA: Self-Help Tools
• MHA: Mental Health and Coronavirus
• CDC: Coronavirus – Managing Anxiety and Stress
• SAMHSA: Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
• SAMHSA: Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health: Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak

• COVID-19 Disability Medical Info Form
• Letter to Physicians and Hospitals
• Medical summary form for individuals with autism who may have COVID
• NCDHHS: NC Innovations and TBI Waiver (Appendix K) Frequently Asked Questions on temporary Medicaid flexibilities
• If you are uninsured, you may be eligible for help paying for certain COVID-19 testing costs through the NC Medicaid Optional COVID-19 Testing (MCV) program:
  Online application
  Program fact sheet: English | Spanish

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 page for facts about the virus, tips on prevention and treatment, and other information
• NC COVID-19 page for North Carolina-specific information on the disease, executive orders, resources, unemployment, child care, help for small businesses, and more
• Check My Symptoms, a public website that allows people to enter their symptoms and determine whether they should get tested for COVID-19
• Find My Testing Place, a public website that allows people to input their county or ZIP code and access a list of nearby testing site locations
• CDC’s Share Facts page for a quick summary of facts and myths