Scholar & Family Resources

Scholars and Families of Steppingstone,

We want to provide you all with the best resources to aid your situation in the face of COVID-19 Pandemic. Please check out the following links below. If you encounter any issues with the links, please contact Christina Watson at cwatson@tsf.org. We wish you health and wellness during this time.

 

Multilingual Resources

• COVID-19 resource guide for immigrants in Boston, with materials available in Arabic, Cape Verdean, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese

• Community health center information from Mass. League of Community Health Centers, with guidance on how to access care and English/Spanish “find a health center” too

COVID-19 health info, access to care & coverage in Mass.

Important: In Massachusetts, ALL residents who are tested and treated for COVID-19 will be covered, regardless of insurance or immigration status. See MassHealth and COVID-19 (also linked below).

• Regular updates on general COVID-19 Resources

• Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Massachusetts

• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) – see this page for handouts in English, Spanish and Chinese; Spanish-language resource hub

• Mass. Department of Public Health COVID-19 resource hub, including printable handouts in English, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole and Vietnamese

• MassHealth and COVID-19 – guidance for patients and applicants, including info for those lacking insurance; note that Connector enrollment has been reopened through April 25

• Switchboard roundup of multilingual resources (excellent and comprehensive)

Coronavirus-related immigration policy and enforcement updates

• Tangible support for undocumented communitites during COVID-19

• American Immigration Lawyers Association COVID-19 resources, updated constantly

• Immigration & Customs Enforcement COVID-19 enforcement update (March 18) & overall guidance, also in Spanish; note, however, that Acting HHS Secretary Ken Cuccinelli has tweeted a conflicting message

• U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services COVID-19 updates (office closures, interviews, oath ceremonies postponed) – also in Spanish

• COVID-19 information for immigrants (Mass. Attorney General, part of a comprehensive guide) – also in Spanish and in Portuguese

• MIRA resources on “public charge” (IMPORTANT: rule doesn’t apply to current green card holders!)

• United We Dream advice on DACA renewals during USCIS closure (thru May 4)

• Bulletin on COVID-19 and “public charge” from U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

• Immigration court hearings partial suspension (WBUR story); also in Spanish

• ICE check-ins in New England to be done by phone (MassLive story)

Resources for workers in Massachusetts

• Updated information about filing for unemployment

• More information / resources on unemployment assistance

• Know Your Work-Related Rights During the Coronavirus (FAQ by Justice at Work, GBLS and Lawyers for Civil Rights); also in Spanish, with an ever-evolving more in-depth FAQ (Google Doc), also in Spanish

• About COVID-19: Employee rights and employer obligations (FAQ by Attorney General’s Office, also en español, em Português, 用中文（表达 )

• Emergency child care for COVID-19 essential workers

• FAQ on Mass. earned sick time requirements (Attorney General’s Office)

• Mass. Dept. of Unemployment Assistance – multilingual resources, incl. claimant booklet in 12 languages, and Mass. Legal Services guidance on unemployment

• Unemployment Insurance online portal – guía en español (Pioneer Valley Workers Center)

• CARES Act update for Mass. unemployment applicants (eligibility was expanded by the federal stimulus)

• Emergency funds for workers (by Mass Jobs with Justice), also in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Bengali, Chinese, Arabic and Vietnamese 

Special relief programs & other helpful resources

• MassUndocuFund – special COVID-19 relief fund created by a group of grassroots organizations, now accepting donations and applications

• 413 Undocu-Worker Solidarity Fund – Western Mass. fund run by the Pioneer Valley Workers Center

• List of mutual aid organizations helping community members (compiled by Mass Jobs with Justice, with listings by city/town and special categories)

• Community resources by ZIP code (Winn Companies)

• Financial Relief: A Handbook for Business Owners – detailed guide to federal, state and local programs from the Boston Mayor’s Office of Economic Development

• Lawyers for Civil Rights – wide range on information in English and Spanish

• Mass. Legal Services resources on COVID-19

Food & Housing Security

• If you need meals

• Project Bread FoodSource hotline – help available in 160 languages to access food resources and apply for SNAP if eligible; see also this map or this list of school-based meal distribution programs

• Crucial information for renters, including Rental Assistance for Families in Transition (Mass. Dept. of Housing and Community Development)

• Free milk at BC High

• Meal Sites for Adults

Academic-Related Resources

• If you need internet access

• Create a weekly schedule

• Support for college access and success

• College admission updates

• Boston Public Schools COVID-19 updates

Equity during COVID-19 school closures (guidance from Mass. Education Equity Partnership)

General Wellness and Time Management

• Create a weekly schedule

• Keep your  your mind and body active

• A great yoga app 

• An app to help you stay calm

• Boston Emergency Services Team (BEST), or 1-800-981-HELP

A National Lens

Steppingstone is an active member of the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA), which connects the people, practices, and innovations essential for eliminating barriers to educational access, and college/career success for historically marginalized students. On their website, NPEA has been compiling information for nation-wide supporters at schools and programs –such as Steppingstone– so that we can be better-equipped to help the students and families we serve. Their website also lists additional college-related resources that may be helpful to some Scholars and families. You can access their website directly here.