Pandemics can cause contagion stigma where specific ethnic, national, racial, or religious groups are targeted with blame. Targeted populations can be subjected to stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, and social exclusion. Learn more by reading “COVID-19: Mitigating Risks for Contagion Stigma” in this week’s Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice section.
Welcome to this week’s edition of Resources of Relevance
(COVID-19-related Resources to Help You Sustain Your Nonprofit through the Pandemic.)
For this week’s edition, I’ve included mental health resources we can all benefit from. There’s a lot of information circulating about how we can maintain our mental health throughout the pandemic, yet they may not all be trustworthy. I’ve included reliable sources so you don’t have to think twice about whether the information is worthwhile.
Do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or if you are looking for a resource on a specific topic not listed. If you have resources you have found helpful that you would like me to share with the group next week, please feel free to email me.
May you remain healthy and know that you are greatly appreciated.
We will get through this together!
Julie Ann
FUND DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING & FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
The National Council for Nonprofits created a handy one sheet that walks you through the new federal loans available for nonprofits in the CARES Act. Download it here:
https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/sites/default/files/documents/cares-act-loan-options-for-nonprofits.pdf
And, if you were as confused as I was regarding the differences between Payment Protection Plan (PPP) Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans, download this helpful comparison created by the Jewish Federations of North America:
http://cdn.fedweb.org/fed-42/2/Comparison%2520EIDL%2520%2526%2520PPP%2520Loans1.pdf
The Nonprofit Marketing Guide is offering a budget-friendly webinar that explores strategic objectives of digital engagement and online fundraising. The “Insider’s Guide to Online Fundraising” will be held on April 21st. The cost is $20 and the recording will be available if you can’t attend live, but you must register before the webinar begins.
https://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/resources/the-insiders-guide-to-online-fundraising/?
LEADERSHIP & POLICY
NOTE: THIS RESOURCE IS TIME SENSITIVE: On Thursday, April 16th, the Independent Sector is holding a virtual “Policy Town Hall on COVID-19 Response” to help nonprofits keep up with implementation of the CARES Act. Experts will share the latest developments from Capitol Hill and how your organization can get involved. Register for this upcoming webinar here: https://independentsector.org/events/policy-town-hall-on-covid-19-response/
What steps should nonprofit boards be taking amidst the pandemic? Joan Garry answers this question and shares tangible strategies in her blog titled, “5 Steps the Best Boards are Taking Right Now.” https://blog.joangarry.com/best-boards/
In this article titled, “Voices from the Field: Tangible, Timely Tactics for Nonprofits during Crises,” the Nonprofit Quarterly answers questions such as, What can nonprofit organizations do to improve their resilience in the face of a crisis?
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/voices-from-the-field-tangible-timely-tactics-for-nonprofits-during-crises/
The Nonprofit Finance Fund is hosting a webinar on Friday, April 17th on common financial strategies for managing in crisis, practical advice for completing a financial scenario plan, and best practices for communicating and reflecting on the financial impact of COVID19. Register here:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5556287859059142413?utm_source=Nonprofit+Finance+Fund&utm_campaign=cda217fed0-covid-19-webinar-resources&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_438cabc00e-cda217fed0-
SmartBrief posted an interesting piece on “Maximizing Your Energy During COVID-19” where they present three strategies for sustaining energy during the pandemic in order to effectively reduce burnout, promote overall health, and increase effectiveness
https://www.smartbrief.com/original/2020/04/maximizing-your-energy-during-covid-19?utm_source=brief
EQUITY, INCLUSION & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Pandemics can produce contagion stigma where specific ethnic, national, racial, or religious groups are targeted with blame. Targeted populations can be subjected to stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, and social exclusion. COVID-19 is highly contagious, invisible during its incubation period, potentially lethal, and lacking effective prevention or treatment. According to professors at George Washington University, “these features foster population-wide fears that can lead to social stigma.” Learn more by reading, “COVID-19: Mitigating Risks for Contagion Stigma” found on the American Psychiatric Association‘s website:
https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/apa-blog/2020/03/covid-19-mitigating-risks-for-contagion-stigma
If you have’t already checked out Racial Equity Tool’s website, it is chock full of tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas designed to support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity and justice. They have collected a comprehensive list of resources specific to COVID-19. You can find it here:
https://www.racialequitytools.org/fundamentals/resource-lists/resources-addressing-covid-19-with-racial-equity-lens?fbclid=IwAR1K7VZHNK_Mp5H6u71M9LCRwoY3n0BrKXZqHNYOCFj-4iaT_xPb8yCJ6_E&mc_cid=0b8dc72f96&mc_eid=dea51cfdb3
In an article titled, “Rural Americans are Vulnerable to the Coronavirus,” the Center for American Progress shared that resources are scarce “for rural America, which has a higher proportion of people vulnerable to the virus—including those who are older and those with disabilities.” Read on to learn more about how other vulnerable populations such as many communities of color and LBGTQ people are impacted in rural America. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2020/03/05/481340/rural-communities-vulnerable-coronavirus/
MENTAL HEALTH
I was recently accepted into Tulane University’s Doctor of Social Work online degree program which begins this August. As a result, I’ve been fortunate to take advantage of an array of benefits such as being notified of some of the amazing work Tulane is engaging in, in response to COVID-19. One example is the Tulane School of Social Work‘s new self-care resources webpage. As a Compassion Fatigue Educator, I found the site rich with creative tools that I plan to utilize personally and professionally. Be sure and scroll down the home page to find a link for parents and teachers where you’ll find information on how to guide children and young adults in recognizing when self-care is needed and how they can facilitate that for themselves. https://selfcaretips.tulane.edu
Sleep is our best defense. When faced with major upheavals in our lives—such as those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic—our body clocks have much more difficulty re-establishing regular biologic rhythms. Your biological clock system may be confused or challenged resulting in the possibility of negative physical symptoms such as disturbed sleep, appetite, energy, and mood. The New York Times published a helpful article with concrete recommendations on how to get some sleep. Find “How to Get More Sleep Tonight by clicking here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/style/self-care/sleep-tips-benefits-coronavirus.html
The New Social Worker online magazine posted a brief yet excellent piece on being vigilant about your own self-care during a crisis and when in a position of leadership. Read “Self-Care A-Z: Strategies During the Coronavirus Crisis: Three Lessons from an Administrator in Crisis Care” for a few practical ideas.
https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/self-care/self-care-strategies-coronavirus-crisis-lessons-administrator/
Finally, if you are interested in contributing to research about how stressors related to the COVID-19 virus affect mental health over time, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is conducting online research. Go here to participate in the Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Study:
ttps://nimhcovidstudy.ctss.nih.gov
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
For those of you in the Grand Traverse County region of Northern Michigan, Rotary Charities has assembled an awesome team to help local nonprofits adapt to COVID-19. Crisis Support Team members are available for free one-hour phone/video consultations. Read more about the type of assistance they are prepared to provide:
https://www.rotarycharities.org/adapting-covid-19/crisis-response-team