Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources

Equip yourself with information from credible, reputable sources

The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) [En Español] offers information and frequent updates on COVID-19’s spread, severity, risk assessment, etc.

• Subscribe to the CDC’s email and text message service

The World Health Organization (WHO) [En Español] is the leading international public health organization. They direct global health responses and offer resources on COVID-19. They also provide many of their resources in a variety of languages.

• Mental health and psychosocial [En Español] considerations for various groups during COVID-19 outbreak, including caregivers of children and health care workers

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has extensive research-based information on COVID-19

• NIH director’s recommendations about physical (social) distancing

The League of United Latin American Citizens, an organization dedicated to advocating for Latinxs in the United States, has a FAQ guide [En Español] about COVID-19.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also offers COVID-19 resources.

• Tips for social distancing, quarantine, and isolation during an infectious disease outbreak

Be mindful of and stop stigma

False information has created or worsened prejudice which can lead to discrimination against groups of people, especially people of Asian descent.

• Read the CDC’s guidelines to reduce stigma
• Read UNICEF’s guide to prevent and address social stigma [En Español] associated with COVID-19

Be aware of scams and fraud

Be careful of COVID-19-related scams and fraud. The Federal Trade Commission has tips to help you identify COVID-19 scammers [En Español].

General financial assistance

• The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides financial assistance for both individuals and small businesses.
• Need help paying bills: needhelppayingbills.com
  • Information on assistance programs, charity organizations, and resources that provide help paying bills, mortgage and debt relief (financial, rent and governmental assistance)
• 211 / 211.org
  • Referrals to agencies and community organizations that offer emergency financial assistance
  • To access:
    • Dial 211 from any phone, or
    • Visit 211.org and search for contact information by zip code
• Aunt Bertha: Auntbertha.com
  • Online resource that connects users to free and reduced cost local resources such as medical care, food, housing, transportation, etc.
  • Website can be converted to Spanish.
• Help When You Need It: helpwhenyouneedit.org
  • Nationwide listings of private and public resources for food pantries, stores that accept food stamps, assisted living facilities, domestic violence and homeless shelters, mental health and substance use treatment, free clinics and legal and financial assistance
• Help With Bills: USA.gov/help-with-bills [En Español]
  • Information about government programs that help with bill payment, temporary assistance, jobs/unemployment, credit, etc.

Assistance with medical care/hospital bills

• Healthwell Foundation: healthwellfoundation.org [En Español]
  • Provides financial assistance for underinsured to afford critical medical treatments through “disease funds” (note, typically for chronic physical diseases—not mental health conditions).
• Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN): panfoundation.org
  • Provides underinsured patients with financial assistance through disease-specific funds that provide access to progressive therapies. Spanish-language calls accepted.
• Patient Advocate Foundation: patientadvocate.org [En Español]
  • Helps federally- and commercially-insured people living with life-threatening, chronic and rare diseases. Offers co-pay relief program as well as other resources and services.
• Rise Above the Disorder: youarerad.org
  • Resources for finding a therapist, answering mental health questions and applying for grants to cover the cost of therapy
• The Assistance Fund: tafcares.org
  • Foundation providing patient advocates to help people get financial assistance for co-payments, prescriptions, deductibles, premiums and medical expenses. Spanish translation service available.

Assistance with prescription medication

• Online advice for getting help paying for medications
• Blink Prescription Assistance: blinkhealth.com
  • Individuals (with or without insurance) pay upfront for medication online and then take a voucher to their pharmacy. Accepts calls 8 a.m.-10 p.m. M-F, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Weekends (ET). Spanish language option by phone.
• GoodRX: goodrx.com
  • Online database that allows you to compare current prescription drug prices at pharmacies in order to find the lowest cost.
• Medicine Assistance Tool: medicineassistancetool.org
  • Search engine for many of the patient assistance resources that the pharmaceutical industry offers
• Needy Meds: (800) 503-6897 needymeds.org
  • Offers a helpline and information on financial assistance programs to help defray cost of medication. They have a Spanish guide.
• RX Assist: rxassist.org
  • Directory of free and low-cost medicine programs and other ways to manage medication costs.
• RX Hope: rxhope.com
  • Free patient assistance program to help people in need obtain critical medications
  • Online coupons for downloading/printing. Can be brought to the pharmacy to see if it will give consumer a lower price.

Assistance with accessing food

• Feeding America [En Español] is a national organization that operates food banks throughout various states to reduce hunger
• Although various school districts have closed, some are still providing free breakfast and lunch to children between the ages of 2-18. Check online with your local school district.

Small business assistance

• Consult your bank or lender to see what loans you qualify for or what is most beneficial for your business
• Contact your state’s department of small business services. There may be local programs that provide financial assistance to small businesses affected by COVID-19. In some areas, businesses may qualify for low-interest loans and employee retention grants.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID-19 resource page provides a list of relief programs and offers guidance to small business owners
• Small Business Majority also has COVID-19 resources

Losing a loved one can be deeply painful, and you deserve support. The types of gatherings and social experiences that many people would usually have after the death of a loved one are often not possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s important to seek alternative types of support. Your mental health is especially important when experiencing loss or grief.

Many funeral homes and faith communities are offering new virtual ways to connect, and many local organizations offer grief support services. A good place to start is to contact your local NAMI affiliate through find your local NAMI.

Additional options include:

• Most local hospices offer free or sliding scale grief therapy or can refer people to local grief support. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Association maintains a list of hospices across the country.
• Carson’s Village provides a wide range of free support services to help your family navigate the sudden loss of a loved one
• Grief Share hosts free, in-person grief recovery support groups across the country
• Personalgriefcoach.net offers an online directory of resources and information to help people coping with the loss of a loved one by suicide