Resources for Families During COVID-19 (updated as of 4/6)

COVID-19 has been taking the headlines and impacting the world at every moment. Changes are being made daily, if not hourly, about jobs, schools, social distancing, medical services – the list goes on. Many people are in need of extra resources for their family during this time.

First Care Pregnancy Center is committed to providing you with the best care we can offer you at this time. We remain open with limited services during this time. Please call us for more detailed information, or read about our current services here.

Below is a list of resources our staff have compiled to support you and your family during this time.

General Resources

Food

• SNAP (food stamp) information and application assistance is available over the phone, from the comfort and safety of your home. Call 844-764-5513 or 651-209-7963 or apply online for benefits.
• Restaurants throughout the Twin Cities are providing free meals to those in needs.
• Serenity Church is providing food delivery for those who are immunocompromised, pregnant and/or have a disability (or child with disability) and cannot leave home. Email your name, address, phone number, and number of people in your household to kiley.benson@serenityvillagecc.org and the church will deliver (meats, milk, produce, bakery items) usually within 24-36 hours. They are delivering to Ramsey, Hennepin, and Anoka counties.

Insurance

MNsure is offering a special enrollment period (SEP) for qualified individuals who are currently without insurance in response to the potential growth of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. This SEP will allow uninsured individuals 30 days to enroll in health insurance coverage through MNsure.

This SEP runs Monday, March 23 through Tuesday, April 21. You must select a plan by 11:59 p.m. April 21. Coverage will start Wednesday, April 1. (If you enroll after April 1 and by 11:59 p.m. on April 21, your coverage will have a retroactive start date of April 1.)

https://www.mnsure.org/new-customers/enrollment-deadlines/special-enrollment/covid19-sep.jsp?

Housing

As of March 18^th, 2020, all foreclosures and evictions are suspended through April 30th, 2020 per Emergency Executive Order 20-14 by Minnesota Governor Walz.

Parenting

Connected Families offers information about how to manage sibling conflict.

Spiritual Support & Basic Needs

Contact your local First Care office to speak with a licensed social worker or client advocate to get connected with a local church that can provide you with spiritual support and basic needs care.

Minnesota COVID-19 Hotlines

Please contact the following numbers for questions about:

• Schools, child care, businesses: Call 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504
• Health questions: Call 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903

Resources by County

Hennepin County

Housing: For those experiencing homelessness, please call the following:

Adults: Call 612-248-2350.

Families: Call 612-348-9410. On holidays, weekends, and evenings until 11 p.m., call 211 (mobile: 651-291-0211) and ask for the after-hours shelter team.

Domestic Abuse: Advocacy, orders for protection and safety planning services can be accessed by calling 612-348-5073.

Financial Assistance: Applications for cash assistance, child care assistance, emergency assistance, health insurance, and SNAP are still being accepted. Call to apply at 612-596-1300, apply online or fax in documents to 612-288-2981 (612-288-2982 for child care assistance documents).

Additional Resources: For more information on these resources and more, visit the Hennepin County website.

Ramsey County 

General Support: The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office has formed The Help Team made up of deputy and civiliant employees who will support anyone in Ramsey County who needs assistance as a result of COVID-19. Support includes the pick-up and delivery of prescription medication, pre-paid food, and groceries; delivery of food, medication, and other essentials that have been donated; coordination of the collection of donated items based on current community needs; and, provide referrals, including social services, financial assistance, medical assistance, mental health, and others. Call, text, or email for assistance from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Friday, and from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The phone number 651-448-3874 (call or text) and the email address is HelpTeam@co.ramsey.mn.us.

Food: St. Paul Public Schools provide meals from its food truck every weekday during spring break, March 30-April 3. Unlike the last two weeks, the truck will provide one meal per person, per day. The six locations are the same as this week (Battle Creek, Cherokee Heights, Como Senior, Harding Senior, Highland Park Senior and Johnson Senior), but the times are different. Find the full schedule here.

Housing: Dorothy Day Shelter/Mary Hall is the only shelter that is open for those experiencing homelessness. Beginning Friday, March 27, the shelter will provide 24/7 symptom monitoring, meals, security and transportation to and from the site for individuals experiencing homelessness. Residents will be accepted on a referral basis from Catholic Charities Higher Ground (612-204-8552), Union Gospel Mission (651-228-1800 for women and children; 651-789-7599 for men) and Ramsey County Safe Space (651-266-4483) shelter facilities based on screening protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Housing and Urban Development.

Mental Health: Ramsey County residents who are experiencing stress and mental health symptoms as a result of COVID-19 are encouraged to call the county’s Crisis Team for support and resources. The county’s two crisis lines continue to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Children’s Mental Health Crisis Line: 651-266-7878.
• Adult Mental Health Crisis Line: 651-266-7900.

Additional Resources: For more information on these resources and a more complete list, visit the Ramsey County website.

Olmsted County

Food: Channel One Food Shelf (131 35th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904) is open Monday-Thursday from 8:00am-6:00pm and Friday 8:00am-12:00pm for drive-up/curb-side registration and pick up ONLY. If families are already registered, they can check in with the Channel One “community card” or Channel One ID number. Households can also check in with the name of the head of the household and their birthdate. New households can register curbside with the name of the head of the household and their birthdate, without further verifications.

The Post Bulletin is compiling a complete list of restaurants/organizations offering free food.

Health Insurance: MNSure Health Insurance is providing a special emergency enrollment period between March 23 and April 21. If you do not have health insurance, register now.

Mental Health: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Family Service Rochester has launched new telehealth counseling services, which you can schedule by calling 507-287-2010. After filling out a couple of online forms, you’ll use your smartphone, laptop, or tablet to talk to a mental health professional.

Additional Resources: For more information on these resources and a complete list of Olmsted County resources, please visit The Post Bulletin.