ECS Cares: Family & Student Support
We know that many of our families may be facing new challenges when it comes to employment, finances, food security, mental health, and more. Our school social workers have been gathering resources to help support both our students and their families through this difficult time. We are here for you!
Food Resources
Food Planning During Coronavirus: Ideas for healthy meals while shopping on a budget. This guide contains information on food planning, including what to buy, how much to buy, and preparation tips, plus links to more resources.
Additional Food Assistance Extended Through July: Approximately 350,000 Michigan families will continue to have access to additional food assistance benefits during the month of July as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial Resources
CARES Act Impact on Eviction: Continuum of Care (CoC) Program or Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program participants are covered by a 120-day moratorium on evictions.
Eviction Diversion Program: The Michigan State Housing and Development Authority (MSHDA) Eviction Diversion Program (EDP) is designed to keep Michigan residents who fell behind on their rent during COVID-19 in their homes. Rental assistance in the amount of $50 million is available in the form of lump sum payments to landlords in exchange for allowing tenants to remain in their homes, forgiving late fees and up to 10% of amount due.
Internet Resources
Comcast Internet Essentials: Comcast is offering two free months of internet service if you sign up for their internet essentials program. Households with outstanding debt owed to Comcast may still be eligible for Internet Essentials.
AT&T Low-Cost Internet: Low-cost home internet programs from AT&T.
Social Emotional Learning
Zoo U Social Skills Game: An online program to help students build their social skills.
Helping Children with Big Feelings (PDF): Ideas to help children handle their emotions during COVID-19.
Social Emotional Activities (PDF): Activities to help middle school aged children cope.
Mental Health Resources
Headspace Meditation App: Find calm through mindfulness and guided meditation.
Matrix Human Services: Online interactive youth programming for ages 10-17. Free Samsung tablet for current and new enrollees who qualify while supplies last. Visit their website or call 586-557-4952.
Community First Health Centers - New Haven: Telehealth services are being provided for mental health clients. Visit their website or call 586-749-5197.
Crisis Text Line: Anxious about Coronavirus? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline: SAMHSA has opened a helpline to discuss stress as a result of COVID-19. 1-800-985-5990
Macomb County Crisis Line: Takes calls 24/7. Offers telephone crisis counseling and resources to help in difficult situations. Telephone crisis services are available to anyone in Macomb County. Call 586-307-9100.
Macomb County Children's Crisis Unit: Instead of calling the police or going to the Emergency Room with a mental health crisis, call this number. The Crisis Line will send a mental health team to the home to assist with the crisis. Call 586-985-9100.
Michigan "Warm" Line: Established for the COVID-19 crisis. Peer Support Specialists offer support for anyone who is experiencing emotional distress. This service is for individuals who need someone to talk to. Trained specialists are people who have lived with their own emotional/mental health challenges. Specialists can also provide referral information for those whose needs are more critical. Calls are taken 7 days a week from 10:00 am - 2:00 am. Call 888-733-7753.
Grief and Loss Resources
Parenting Resources
Love and Logic: Love and Logic is offering their Parenting Online class for free for the next three months. This course helps teach effective parenting solutions to end arguing and manipulation, neutralize defiance, replace anger and frustration with empathy, end bedtime battles, and more.
Coping with Extended Time at Home
Stay-at-Home Care Package (PDF): Indoor activities to get kids moving.
Understanding COVID-19
Why We Stay Home (PDF): A children's book explaining coronavirus and why we are staying home.
Georgie and the Giant Germ (PDF): A coloring book explaining more about the virus and reassuring children.
Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with COVID-19 (PDF): Fact sheet and tips for helping children cope.
Additional Activities
Glow in the Dark Moon Phases Mobile
NASA STEM at Home Activities:
Kindergarten-4th Grade
5th Grade-8th Grade
9th Grade-12th Grade
Break up the day with one (or more!) of these activities!
- Have an indoor picnic
- Write a family member a letter (or email)
- Write a friend an email
- Make a D.A.R.E’ing Design Family chart and teach your family how to give each other points
- Clean your room
- Take out the trash
- Help out your family by cleaning the kitchen or bathroom
- Read a book
- Create a comic
- Write a story
- Create an OC (original character)
- Have a dance party
- Do 100 jumping jacks
- Make slime (ASK first!)
- Make a list of things that make you happy
- Make a list of things you want to learn
- Make a list of the places you want to visit one day
- Make a list of three things you want to do better
- Play a game with your little sister or brother
- Play a video game for 30 minutes
- Do 20 push ups
- Eat a healthy snack
- Learn a Tik-Tok dance
- Post something positive on Instagram
- Start a journal
- Create a maze and ask a family member to solve it
- Do a puzzle (you can find lots of puzzles online)
- Learn a new skill on YouTube
- Sort and organize your shoes
- Write a poem or rap
- Find a work out on YouTube
- Pick out your outfits for the next week
- Ask an adult what their favorite movie was when they were your age and watch it
- Draw
- Call a friend
- Call an older family member and tell them about your day
- Write a note (or draw something) for each member of your family telling then something you’re thankful for about them.
- Ask a family member if they need anything
- Build a card tower
- Play a game of hangman with a family member
- Color
