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Whether your family is living in lockdown, adjusting to unfamiliar routines, coping with new restrictions, or simply trying to make the most of inconveniences large and small, Boys Town is here to help. Downloadable resources and strategies to get you through! Sign up for Daily Dose of Digital Support​  
Get the kids and complete the 2020 Census today! Results determine funding for schools, school lunches, Headstart, Medicare, highways and much more. Be Counted.
You can complete the census – even if you have not received your Census form! It’s easy, simple and confidential and will take only 10 minutes:
  • Go online – www.2020census.gov
  • Call – 1-844-330-2020 or
  • Mail in your completed paper form if you received one.
I heard about expanded family medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Do I qualify?

Employees of private sector employers with fewer than 500 employees, and certain public sector employers, are entitled to take leave related to COVID-19 if the employee is unable to work, including unable to telework, because the employee

  1. is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;
  2. has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19;
  3. is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
  4. is caring for an individual subject to an order described in (1) or self-quarantine as described in (2);
  5. is caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) for reasons related to COVID-19; or
  6. is experiencing any other substantially-similar condition specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Treasury.

Employees should contact their employer or HR Dept for further information. FFCRA Poster
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, & Economic Security (CARES) Act
The CARES Act provides two important supports to families, stimulus payments and expanded unemployment insurance benefits .

 Cornell University Institute on Employment and Disability Guide on stimulus payments, not counted as income for eligibility purposes for Medicaid, SSI/SSDI and similar programs.
Wave of COVID-19 Scams Reported - Federal Relief Funds, Test Kits, Vaccinations

SD Attorney General Ravnsborg reports door to door, cyber, phone and text message scams, sale of counterfeit virus-protection products, phony charity donation requests and other frauds. Read the press release for more information and how to respond and report.
Meeting Basic Needs

We recognize that families are struggling with the many challenges related to COVID-19. Please reach out for support and help during this difficult time.

Call 211 or visit Helpline Center online for resources. A 24/7 hotline and trained team provide support, up to date information, and assistance finding food or meeting essential needs. Free and confidential. Helpline's Statewide Food Distribution List

Schools continue to distribute food during COVID-19 closures. Contact your local school or visit their website for information. Link to statewide school food distribution partners.

South Dakota unemployment insurance claims can be filed online at   raclaims.sd.gov   24 hours a day, seven days a week and is the fastest way to apply for benefits. Or file by phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. (CST) by contacting the Claims Call Center at 605.626.3179. Speech and hearing impaired applicants can call the Relay Service of South Dakota at 800.877.1113.

Families without health insurance due to job loss may be eligible for insurance through the Marketplace Exchange. Visit https://www.healthcare.gov/screener/ or call 1-800-318-2596.

Families experiencing job loss or reduction in hours may be eligible for temporary financial assistance (TANF), food stamps (SNAP), Medicaid/CHIP health insurance coverage for children and other supports . Apply online or call your local Dept of Social Services office, Division of Economic Assistance. TANF applications are not available online, please call your local DSS office.
DIY Face Coverings

CDC now 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. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure. Learn more and find DIY face masks and instructions on usage
Videos:
Just for Fun!

Help your children stay active! It's important to get outdoors, for both physical and mental health. Take a break and enjoy this Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
This e-publication was developed under grants from the U.S. Department of Education Project Grant H328M140021 and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Grant H84MC07994, Family to Family Health Information Center, $96,750; and approximately 5% financed with non-governmental resources. The contents should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by US Department of Education, HRSA, HHS or the Federal Government.