Child Abuse Prevention – Tools for Parents

COVID-19 Parenting Resources

We are all living in uncharted territory during the COVID-19 Pandemic. ​Below you will find resources to help navigate parenthood in this unprecedented time.

10 Parenting Tips During COVID-19- TexProtects

​Tips to Keep the Calm at Home- HealthyChildren.org

Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers- CDC

Tips for Staying Connected- Prevent Child Abuse America


Child Abuse Prevention Resources

Due to Quarantine and Social-Distancing, child abuse cases are on the rise as many children have been isolated at home with their abuser. Here you will find tips on spotting signs of abuse and how to report it.

Child Well-being in Texas- Annie E. Casey Foundation

Reporting as a Friend or Family Member- Futures Without Violence

Responding to Child Abuse During a Pandemic- Zero Abuse Project

For more information contact

NewDay Services for Children and Families – MAIN OFFICE:
6816 Camp Bowie Blvd W., Ste 112, Fort Worth, Tx 76116
​Hours M-F: 9am – 5pm
Telephone 817-926-9499
Email newday@newdayservices.org

https://www.newdayservices.org

 

Preparing Church Benevolence Ministry for Increased Requests (COVID-19)

Let me preface this by stating that I’m going to make a few assumptions in my following statements.

At Christ Chapel, we’ve experienced an marked increase in requests from congregants and community members needing financial assistance. In my conversations with nonprofits and others, I think we’ll see a major increase in Benevolence requests at the beginning of June. Right now, we’re experiencing the “calm before the storm”.

  • June is the point when most people will have spent all of their stimulus and other government assistance.
  • We are beginning to see some people maxing out their credit cards in order to pay their bills who wouldn’t normally use debt to pay bills.
  • June will also be about the time that many landlords and lenders will end their grace periods.

All of these culminating factors create a ‘Perfect Storm’ for a large segment of the population. Many have never needed to ask for financial assistance from their church. In fact, many don’t know where to get help. This is an opportunity for ministry.

We (Christ Chapel) are preparing for a 10X increase by mid-June that could continue until the end of September (Q3 2020). That means if we see 6 Benevolence clients per week on average (pre-COVID19), we are preparing for 60 clients per week for a 16 week period (960 clients total). Those numbers are astronomical. However, behind every number is a life, a dream and a story that WE (the Body of Christ) get to step into. What a privilege!

My encouragement to ALL of us is to begin praying, creating and adjusting our benevolence plans, building up benevolence funds (storehouses) and collaborating with our nonprofit partners now.

Suggestions:

  1. Build up your Benevolence fund
  2. Create a Benevolence Policy and Oversight Committee. This will relieve your senior pastor (and other leaders) of the duties of making decisions (Click here for more information)
  3. Create maximum threshold dollar amounts for assisting congregants and/or community (non-congregants).
  4. Create a ‘Continuum of Care’ through a combination of your church’s ministries and nonprofit partners.
  5. Create a ‘Resource List’ for those who do not fall within your church’s Benevolence Guidelines
  6. Know the IRS Guidelines for Benevolence Accounts.
  7. Make a list of what you will consider paying (rent, mortgage, utilities, childcare, etc).
  8. Make a list of what you will NOT paying (credit card debt, tuition, legal fees, car payments, medical bills, etc)
  9. We do not recommend giving cash or gift cards if at all possible, it is better to pay a bill on a client’s behalf.
  10. Create a ‘Service Area’ of zip code you will service
  11. Write a mission statement, guiding scripture and guiding principles for your Benevolence Ministry

Example:
“The Mission of Benevolence Ministry is to point every client to Christ by meeting them where they are and partnering on the path to Biblical transformation (through relief, rehabilitation/reconciliation and development)”

Principles
‣ Stewardship
‣ Customer Service
‣ Biblical Outcomes

I hope this is helpful.

Link: Benevolence Defined and Benevolence Policy

NTACHC: COVID-19 AND HOW WE ARE PROTECTING YOU

OVID-19 Concerns
If you are worried about COVID-19, or are having symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, fever), please call us.  We will talk with you about your symptoms to determine if you need to schedule an appointment for an evaluation and possible testing, if you should go to the hospital or if you should stay at home.  All COVID-19 testing is being done at our Southeast location on Mitchell Blvd.  Should you contract COVID-19, our counselors will follow-up with you to ensure you are recovering well and to offer any other support you might need during that time.

Please call us at 817-625-4254 to schedule a visit for any of your healthcare needs or for any questions.  You may also request an appointment through the patient portal.

Link to site: https://ntachc.org/coronavirus/

Governor Abbott’s Report to Open Texas

APRIL 27, 2020
As established by Governor Greg Abbott on April 17, 2020, by Executive Order GA-17:

Under the direction of Governor Abbott, with the advice of the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the

House, Attorney General, and Texas Comptroller:

Mission: The Governor’s Strike Force to Open Texas will safely and strategically restart and revitalize all aspects of the Lone Star State—work, school, entertainment, and culture.

The Governor’s Strike Force to Open Texas brings together nationally recognized medical experts with public- and private-sector business leaders to achieve this mission.

The Chief Medical Advisors on the Strike Force are health experts who are developing a medical architecture to comprehensively test and trace COVID-19 to enable Texans to gradually and safely begin the process of returning to work and other activities.

The Chief Medical Advisors are working alongside a Special Advisory Council of 39 business leaders representing the state’s regions and industries who are sharing innovative ideas to help businesses strategically open while containing the spread of COVID-19. The Council is collaborating with Working Groups to recommend strategies, statewide standards, and appropriate timeframes to open all sectors of the Lone Star State.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PDF DOCUMENT

White House: Guidelines for Opening Up America Again

President Trump has unveiled Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts. These steps will help state and local officials when reopening their economies, getting people back to work, and continuing to protect American lives.

Proposed Phased Approach:

  • BASED ON UP-TO-DATE DATA AND READINESS
  • MITIGATES RISK OF RESURGENCE
  • PROTECTS THE MOST VULNERABLE
  • IMPLEMENTABLE ON STATEWIDE OR COUNTY-BY-COUNTY BASIS AT GOVERNORS’ DISCRETION

Learn more at this link: https://www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica/