What is Upbring doing concerning COVID-19?
Our world is a different place than it was just a few months ago. The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has disrupted many aspects of life as we knew it, and we are continuously monitoring the impact of this pandemic. You have our promise that at Upbring, our mission stands steady amid the chaos of these unprecedented times. We remain committed to breaking the cycle of child abuse by empowering children, families and communities.
This page is designed to provide operational updates, helpful resources for families and communities and information for our donors regarding urgent needs.
Operational Updates
As an essential service provider, Upbring will remain open and follow the guidance from the CDC (Center for Disease Control), Federal and State regulatory agencies and local public health agencies.
At all Upbring facilities and offices, we have increased cleaning and sanitization. We have also postponed receiving visitors at our facilities with the exception of DFPS and other state and federal workers that are mandated to visit with the children in our care. Mandated visitors must first pass a health screen evaluation before meeting with children or employees. Vendors and delivery persons are asked to drop packages outside and avoid coming to the receptionist’s desk.
We also made the difficult decision to suspend volunteer and mentoring activities at our Children’s Centers. We have also temporarily suspended off-campus outings with the exception of emergency medical visits.
Updates for Our Concerned Donors
Because of our generous friends, we are able to continuously support children and families in Upbring’s care with wraparound services through our unmet needs fund. This support includes the provision of essential medical supplies and household necessities, educational resources and additional counseling and spiritual care services. Please consider making a gift of any size by visiting our giving page and selecting COVID-19 Relief Fund in the dropdown menu.
Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Resources
Cases of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect skyrocket during times of crisis and intense stress. Remember, ALL Texas adults are considered mandatory reporters if they suspect child abuse or neglect.
Report Abuse: Call 1-800-252-5400 or visit txabusehotline.org
Know the signs of abuse and neglect: Texas Department of Family and Protective Services website
If you are experiencing Domestic Violence: Call 1-800-799-7233 or visit National Domestic Violence Hotline
Federal and State Resources
CDC Resources
World Health Organization
Texas Department of State Health Services
CDC Prevention FAQ
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – News Release
Resources for Children, Families and Communities
School Meal Finder: School Meal Finder
Texas Meal Pickup Locations: Texas Meal Pickup Locations
Texas Workforce Commission: COVID-19 Parent Resources
Educational Resources on COVID-19 geared to children
BrainPOP: (short video, activities, and games) Coronavirus
National Public Radio: Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus
PBS Kids: (videos, games, and activities) How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus
Free Learning Resources for Children
KXAN: Free educational resources for kids stuck at home during COVID-19 Stress Relief and Mental Health Resources
Girls Who Code: Virtual coding curricula so girls (and boys) around the globe can learn to code for free.
Kennedy Center Lunch Doodles: Mo Willems (Muppets, Sesame Street, etc.) invites families into his studio every day to doodle together for the next several weeks.
Live Science: Online tutorials, explorations and a COVID guide for kids of all ages.
Busuu: Free online language learning courses in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
National Center for Families Learning: Webinars, activities and literacy programs for children of all ages.