Coronavirus Information
for Palm Beach County PARENTS & FAMILIES

 

List of Open Child Care Providers

 

Page Updated: July 2, 2020

Parent & Family E-Mail Blasts/Updates:

 

 

 

COVID-19 | Latest Resources & Information
Online Safety: A Parent's Guide | Free Informative Session
Click Here To Register (https://forms.gle/xEhuBSTQnD5Htd13A)
Benefits & Emergency Food Services Currently Available
Feeding South Florida provides direct-service programs to individuals in need of assistance. This includes benefits application assistance, access to their choice pantry, referrals for longer-term food assistance at a partner agency, and home delivery for qualified individuals. To fill out a client services application, please click this link .
 
For this week's distribution updates in Palm Beach County, please see below:
Information on Grants & Monetary Program Assistance
Mortgage Assistance
Information about mortgage assistance can be found  here .
 
Rental and Utility Assistance
CARES Act Rent and Utilities assistance program information can be found  here .
 
Boynton Beach: Small Business Grants Available
The City's Economic Development & Strategy Department has created the  CDBG CARES Act Small Business Grant Program . Small businesses with 25 or fewer employees, located within the City of Boynton Beach (excluding those within the CRA district), who have experienced a loss of revenue due to COVID-19 and have not receive ANY funding from the CARES Act or any programs funded by the CARES Act are eligible to apply for a grant up to  $10,000 .
 
Applications will be processed on a first-qualified, first-served basis. The online application portal, along with additional details, will be posted on Friday, June 26 at  WhyBoynton.com .
 
Please visit our  Frequently Asked Questions page  to learn more about the program.
 
Additional Questions? Please email  DurganJ@bbfl.us  or call 561-742-6014.
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) Latest News, Updates, and Resources as of June 29, 2020
Florida DEO's Comprehensive Reemployment Assistance Guide
Palm Beach County Re-Opening Info/County Orders
Palm Beach County Order Requiring Facial Coverings in Public
Link to Palm Beach County Order Closing Beaches for July 4th
Governor DeSantis' Executive Orders Related to COVID-19
 

 

 

 

We have moved these topics to their own pages on our site:

Extended (At-Home) Learning
Calendars, Videos, Activities

 

 

 

Click Here For The Application

 Click Here For Instructions

Click Here For The Official Press Release

Please click the links for more information!

 

 

 

Important Updates:

  • You may be wondering why some preschool programs are open and some are closed. Each early learning preschool or child care center can make the individual decision to stay open or temporarily close. Until the State or County make any other determinations, they can continue to provide care.

 

  • If you find that you are having a hard time finding child care, we are here to help. If you have questions about child care options, please call our Family Resource Line: 561.514.3300.

 

  • It is important to know for all re-determinations and child care applications--we can help you online and over the phone. You do not have come in to our office for assistance; we can offer the same great services via phone or online appointments. If you are unable to meet via phone or online, we are here to help you. Please call our Family Resource Line 561.514.3300 to make an appointment.

 

 

 

Recent Webinar & Special Facebook Live! Recordings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Questions

 

The Florida Department of Health has opened a 24-hour hotline and email account for all coronavirus questions:

 

 
 

Helpful Community Resources

We will ongoingly update the below list of local resources that Palm Beach County families may find helpful in these uncertain times.

State and Federal Resources

 
Florida Kidcare Enrollment Update
 
We're always looking for new information & resources to share with you all... Today we're featuring Florida KidCare; what better time to cover the health of your little ones than now. With year-round enrollment, the time to apply is always now!
 
Visit their website here or call: 1.888.540.5437 today.
Census 2020
Parents, it's not too late! If you haven't submitted the census 2020 -- you can still do so! You can submit online or via your smartphone, by phone, or by mail. Many of the programs we implement come from resources allocated by numbers from the census. Please take a moment to click here and complete the 2020 Census today.


 

 

Local Resources

 

 

 

 

As new developments roll out each day, additional content is added that you may find useful as they serve our shared customers. In particular, the Economic Self-Sufficiency (ESS) page (https://myflfamilies.com/covid19/access.shtml) includes information and updates about public benefits. Please check it frequently for additional updates. This website is the fastest way to learn more about changes that are being made during this pandemic and to connect with important resources.

 

ACCESS

To safeguard the public and employees from the spread of COVID-19, all ACCESS storefronts and lobbies are currently closed to public access. With more than 90 percent of customers filing for benefits online or by phone, closing  storefronts to protect our employees and the public is the best mitigation strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The quickest way to make changes or check the status of your benefits, and avoid any wait time, is to use the ACCESS Self-Service Portal, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

  • To apply for food assistance (SNAP), cash assistance (TANF) or Medicaid, individuals should go to https://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/.
  • Clients logging in to the ACCESS Self-Service Portal should go to https://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/.
  • Customers are required to complete an interview to receive benefits. Customers should call 1-866-762-2237 or 850-300-4323 (TTY 1-800-955-8771) to complete an interview telephonically.
  • Customers can order an EBT card, get information about EBT transactions, or report an EBT card as lost or stolen at https://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/ or by calling 1-888-356-3281.
  • If you have trouble understanding English or need help communicating with the Department of Children and Families, Economic Self-Sufficiency Program, please call 1-866-762-2237 or 850-300-4323.
  • If you are an individual with a disability and need help with the application process or other ACCESS services, please find the region point of contact listed at the following website: https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/individual-with-disability/auxiliary-aids-plan.shtml.

 

Recertification Extension

  • To ensure Floridians can safely access SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid benefits, DCF has implemented a six-month recertification extension for individuals and families scheduled to recertify in April or May
  • Extending the recertification period, allows the state to ensure the continuity of, and safe access to, SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid benefits during the current public health crisis and periods of social distancing. For more information regarding Florida’s benefit programs during this time, please visit https://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/ or contact the customer call center at 850-300-4DCF.
  • To check the status of your recertification, log into your MyACCESS account here: https://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/.

 

Work Requirements Waiver

  • At the request of Governor DeSantis, and in accordance with the federal Families First Coronavirus Act, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) will waive work requirements for individuals participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
  • DCF and the Department of Economic Opportunity have partnered to apply good cause statewide for TANF and SNAP recipients normally subject to participate in mandatory work requirements as a condition to receive program benefits effective immediately. The temporary suspension of mandatory work requirements will alleviate any undue burden during this public health emergency on individuals normally required to participate in these programs with no disruptions to the receipt of cash and/or food assistance benefits.
  • To check the status of your benefits, report changes, receive information faster by opting-in to receive electronic notifications, and upload documents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, log into your MyACCESS account here: https://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/.

 

Maintain Medicaid Eligibility

  • We will maintain Medicaid eligibility for current recipients through the last day of the month of the state of emergency. This means no Medicaid recipient will lose Medicaid eligibility during the state of emergency. We are working on notifying recipients who may have received a termination notice in the month of March that their benefits will continue.

 

Extend Time to Complete Medicaid Application

  • During this state of emergency, individuals applying for Medicaid may be unable to submit all the documentation required to process their application. Beginning with applications received in February 2020, we are extending the timeframe for individuals to submit any necessary paperwork to 120 days from the date the application was received. If the Medicaid application is approved, the individual’s Medicaid eligibility effective date will still be the first day of the month that the initial application was received.

 

ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM INFORMATION
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Family Resources

 

 
 
Children May Be Afraid of Masks. Here’s How to Help.
 
If your child is scared of wearing a mask, parents should wear masks too so your child doesn’t feel alone.
 
Some other ideas to help make masks seem less scary are included within the very timely and helpful New York Times article at the link here.


 

 

 

Educational Resources

Free Opportunity for Parents: Connecting with Pre-K Through Literacy Webinar
Early literacy learning involves children practicing, thinking and talking about books or texts with their teachers and parents. During the crucial early childhood years, children will begin to understand that language is part of telling stories, but only if they are provided more opportunities to engage with text comprehension through reading.
 
Parents, watch this FREE webinar to get practical ideas of how you can engage and support your child and his/her teacher on the journey of lifelong reading.
 
To access the webinar, visit the link here to watch now.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Conscious Discipline
Here are some all-new resources for caregivers to use as they help children understand and cope with the many changes they are experiencing due to the Coronavirus.
 
 
"Learning at Home"
Lakeshore Learning
Lakeshore Learning Materials is now offering their new online resources for families, parents and children, including:
 
  • The Kid's Corner
  • Conversation Starters
  • Supporting The Learning Process
 
 
Frog Street Online Learning
Frog Street is now offering more than 250 English and Spanish electronic books, activities and songs to help empower families and educators with the tools needed to influence academic growth at home.
 

 

 

 

 

How to talk to children about Coronavirus

 

 

We are here to be a supportive resource during this time. Please feel free to contact us.

Contact Us

Parents: (561) 514-3300

Providers/Administrative: (561) 214-8000
Send us an email

Accessibility Statement

Special Notice: If you require Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations to participate in any ELCPBC event or activity, please notify Christie Young, Single Point of Contact, by phone at 561-214-7424 or by email at christie.young@elcpalmbeach.org within at least seven (7) days of the event.  Accommodations will be provided at no extra charge.