DCF remains committed to serving essential workers during this challenging time. The resources below will help you apply and find a child care provider in your area if you need one!

• Kansas Hero Relief Program: The Hero Relief Program helps families with essential workers pay child care costs to DCF-enrolled providers, so they are able to continue their work in responding to COVID-19. Find out if you are eligible and apply.
• Finding child care: These resources can help you find a child care provider near you.
  • For some tips and ideas for finding child care, click here.
  • Child Care Aware of Kansas also provides assistance to families searching for licensed child care. Start your search.

Changes in current circumstances, like the unexpected loss of a job, reduced hours, and closed schools may be impacting your family’s ability to get things you need. If you or someone you know need assistance finding food resources in your area, use the tools below, and remember, you are not alone.

• Food banks and pantries: To find and contact the food bank or pantry near you, visit Kansas Food Bank. If you live in Northeast Kansas, locate your local food bank or pantry by visiting Harvesters Community Food Network or Second Harvest Community Food Bank.
• Find Meals for Kids: To locate food options for your children in your community, use the USDA’s Find Meals for Kids search engine.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or “food assistance”): Kansas has temporarily increased the amount of food assistance available for those eligible. Click here to find out if you qualify.
• Emergency Food Assistance FAQs: If you have questions about emergency food assistance available in Kansas during the COVID-19 crisis, review these emergency food assistance FAQs.
• General Food Resources: For an overview of the many food programs and services available to you, review this one-page informational sheet.

The pandemic has affected many people’s ability to pay for their monthly expenses. Luckily, there are programs dedicated to helping people fill the gaps the COVID-19 has created in their operating budget.

• The Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) is a program designed to help income-eligible households with rent, security deposit, and/or utility deposit programs. To learn more, contact your local TBRA program grantee.
• The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program looks to support Kansans who have had a difficult time paying rent, utility, or internet payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • *Wichita residents should follow this link.

The pandemic as resulted in the loss of many Kansas jobs. These resources may help those who can work, find work.

• The Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program was relaunched to help Kansans with job searches and career counseling. Kansans receiving unemployment who are selected to participate in the RESEA program will receive a letter soon with more information. They will also be assigned a Case Manager who will provide necessary documentation.
• The Kansas Department of Commerce also provides resources for those seeking jobs.

Vaccines are an important part of protecting yourself and your children against the COVID-19 virus. New updates regarding COVID-19 vaccines are being released regularly. Get your questions answered with the following resources:

Stay up to date with the latest information you need to know at Vaccines for COVID-19 | CDC for a variety of resources.

For Kansas specific information, including availability, visit the Kansas Department for Health and Environment’s website KDHE Vaccine KS | Official Website (kansasvaccine.gov).

The continued presence of COVID-19 may be stressful for you or others in your life. Fear and anxiety about a disease and its impacts on your life can be overwhelming, stressful, and cause strong emotions. Individuals affected by mental illness may face additional challenges dealing with COVID-19. Below are some resources to help manage stress or connect to emergency assistance.

• If you or someone you care about is feeling overwhelmed, or you feel like you want to harm yourself or others, please:
  • Call 9-1-1.
  • Call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990, or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.
  • Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (TTY 1-800-787-3224) or visit TheHotline.org.
• If you have questions or just need someone to talk to, call the Parent Helpline at 1-800-CHILDREN, or download the app (Apple | Android).
• For CDC recommendations on managing stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, click here. For local resources, visit KDHE’s Mental Health Resources.
• How to Support Children (and Yourself) During COVID-19: This guided resource can help you find ways to support the emotional and physical wellbeing of your family during this time.