Message from the UCLA/VA Veteran Family Wellbeing Center
Upcoming News and Events
- County-wide Survey Regarding Effects of COVID-19 on Veteran-Serving Organizations (including funding needs)
- WeRise Virtual Festival (look for a slate of Vet/Fam events &performances over Memorial Day!)
- LAist West LA VA CTRS Feature
- VA 3 Phase Approach to Returning to Pre-COVID Operations plan
- California Community Colleges Women Veterans Experiences Survey Outcomes Report
Family COVID-19 Informational Resources
- Impacts of COVID-19 on Mental Health Care for Veterans: Improvise, Adapt, Overcome
- Bob Woodruff Foundation White Paper
- Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics, ‘What Does Coronavirus 2019 Mean for Families?’
- US Government Coronavirus Response Page
- US Veterans Administration Resources (Los Angeles VHA Updates)
- US Centers for Disease Control
- LA County Department of Public Health Official Coronavirus Website
- LA County Department of Mental Health, ‘Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks’
Housing Resources
- Updated CES Access Point Directory (LAHSA)
- SSVF Los Angeles Provider Direct Contact Sheet (LAHSA)
- SSVF COVID Response Powerpoint
- 5th Supervisorial District Emergency Renter Assistance Fund (May 20 deadline, specs attached), to find your district see here
Mental Health Resources
- ***For Immediate Emergencies: Call 9-1-1
- Call the National Disaster Distress Helpline: In distress because of a natural or human-caused disaster? Call for immediate counseling 24/7 at: 800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746
- Text CONNECT to 741741 for 24/7 text chat support
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health VALOR Program
- Los Angeles County DMH Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN)
- US Teen Line, LA 310-855-4673
- Call the US Suicide Prevention Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, Veterans press 1
- Call the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention line at (800) 273-8255
- LA County Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN) Referral Link (refer a veteran/family member to a DMH peer!)
- DMH-UCLA Prevention Center of Excellence resources (create a free account for access to libraries)
- Just Ask, Be There, Connect: Layperson prevention slides with LA County emergency and behavioral health support numbers
- Rethinking Experiences of Suffering Webinar (Wed 5/20, 9 am, register for Zoom)
- Navigating Uncertainty handout
Legal Needs
- Google or call your local court system across US
- Los Angeles: The only family law matters that will remain open are Emergency/Ex-Parte matters, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, and/or Custody Contempt Proceedings. Basically, unless it is a life or death matter, it's not going to be considered an emergency in the eyes of the court. (Source: LA Family Law Attorney Stephen Chen).
Financial Assistance & Economic Resources
- LA County America’s Job Centers AJCC Fund for Veterans (time-sensitive)
- 2-1-1 and the United Way COVID-19 Relief Fund: Dial 211 to speak to someone about local assistance needs at any time. The 1-866-211-9966 number you may have seen on social media is only available for residents of Indianapolis. Please be aware that financial assistance related to COVID-19 is not available for individuals everywhere.
- US Department of Labor Coronavirus Resources
- State of California Labor Department Resources for Employers and Workers
- How to Start a Small Business—a Veteran’s SMB Guide with Tools and Financial Resources
Taxes
- See all the changes tax agencies have made to offer coronavirus relief.
- California’s FTB matches IRS deadline extension: The California Franchise Tax Board, which collects state income taxes, will now allow taxpayers to file and pay as late as July 15, matching an IRS extension of the April 15 payment due date.
Employment
- America’s Job Centers of California (Employer and Worker Resources)
- LA County Employer and Worker Help Center
- Amazon announced plans to hire 100,000 additional warehouse and delivery workers — and boost pay — to satisfy rapidly increasing demand for online retail amid the coronavirus pandemic. Grocery chains (including Safeway, Albertsons and Kroger) are also hiring, looking for cashiers, stockers, delivery drivers and more. The hiring sprees come as many consumer-facing businesses face strong virus-related challenges, including closures of stores, restaurants and bars.
Nutrition
- Food Resources By County Service Planning Area - SPA
- Feeding America Master Listing (United States)
- 60 LAUSD Grab & Go Food Centers for K-12 students
- LA West Side Food Pantries (call for availability, Upd. on 3.18 at 6p: following three pantries are currently suspending their service: Delaware Ave, Food Pantry LAX, and St. Ann’s.)
- LA Meals on Wheels
Arts, Fun, Leisure & Exercise
- Virtual Museum Tours
- Virtual National Parks Tours
- Operation Storytime (Various)
- Cincinnati Zoo Virtual Tours (3 p.m. EDT Weekdays)
- Virtual Cooking Classes (8pm CET, 12p PST)
- Fluency & Fitness (a mix of learning & exercise for kids)
- Toddler Yoga (youtube)
- Virtual Field trips
- Astronauts reading stories from outer space
- At Home Art Activities for Kids (Pinterest)
Learning Resources for Kids:
- Amazing Educational Resources Master List
- PBS Media (K-12, all disciplines)
- PBS Kids
- National Geographic Kids
- Scholastic
- Prodigy (math games for all grade levels)
- Typing Club
- National Center for Families Learning
- Khan Academy
- NASA JPL
- Free Extensive List of Online Educational Resources
- 200 Free Kids Educational Resources: Video Lessons, Apps, Books, Websites & More
Learning Resources for Adults
Student Veteran-Specific Resources:
- Current information on GI Bill status from Student Veterans of America
- U-Haul: Providing 30-day free storage for college students
Resource inclusion does not indicate endorsement by the VFWC, VA or UCLA. Resource updates occur with new information.