Family Voices United asked current and former foster youth, parents and kinship and relative caregivers:
“What are the ways that the COVID-19 crisis is impacting you and/or your family?”
Some key themes that came out of the responses we received to this question:
● Basic needs like food, housing and financial resources are being impacted by COVID-19.
● Families are experiencing a lack of access to technology and inability to conduct home visits and educational practices.
● Social isolation is impacting the emotional and mental wellbeing of children and families.
● Many Kinship/Relative Caregivers are high-risk for contacting COVID-19.
How to use this paper
Our hope is that the concerns and immediate impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on young people, parents and relative caregivers with lived experience in the child welfare system, are elevated and policymakers as well as other stakeholders will use this document to understand how to maximize support to uplift and protect families during this current pandemic. If you are interested in using the quotes or perspective contained in this document or if you would like to bring young people, parents and relative caregivers to your event or project, email the Family Voices United team at info@familyvoicesunited.org or call 503.717.1552.