This afternoon, Gov. JB Pritzker announced that schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year to contain the spread of COVID-19. Remote and e-learning will continue in place of in-person classes.

We know many Illinois families were hoping to return to their regular routines by the end of the school year. Students miss their friends and teachers, and parents are eager to watch their children graduate, go to prom, and enjoy other milestones.

But for the sake of everyone’s health and safety, it’s vital that we follow the guidance we’ve received from top health care and science experts around the world. That means continuing to stay home as much as possible.

We are taking the necessary steps to ensure our schools are prepared to handle remote learning: Illinois schools will receive $569 million in federal funding to help equip students with technology and internet access, support teachers in developing their remote instruction skills, and continue providing meals to children and communities during closures. When schools reopen, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will release recommendations to address learning loss and students’ social-emotional needs.

To help you through this difficult time, here are a few resources you may find useful:

Learning from Home

At-home learning presents a unique set of challenges for both students and parents. ISBE has put together a list of free resources and tips to help teachers and parents support student learning while schools are closed. For advice on keeping students engaged in education, visit www.isbe.net/keeplearning.

Families of children with disabilities may need extra support during this time. The Illinois Autism Partnership and Easterseals have developed a School Closure Toolkit to support children with autism through school closures. Other special education resources, including activity ideas and home learning packets, are available on the Easterseals website.

Finding Child Care

With schools and many daycares closed, some essential employees are worried about finding care for their children while they are at work. Find contact information for available resources in your area by searching by your county or zip code here. Essential workers in health care, human services, government, and essential infrastructure may eligible to receive child care through Illinois’ Child Care Assistance Program. Get more information and access application materials here.

Managing Mental Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for many Illinoisans—being stuck at home can be harmful to anyone’s mental health, including children. If you or your child is feeling anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed during this time, there are resources available to help.

Illinois has launched a free-of-charge emotional support text line, Call4Calm, for residents experiencing stress and mental health issues related to COVID-19. To speak with a mental health professional, text “TALK” (or “HABLAR” for Spanish-language services) to 552-020.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) also offers support groups and other resources for individuals who may need help dealing with a mental health condition. Call 800-950-NAMI (6264) or visit www.nami.org to find what resources your local NAMI chapter is offering during the COVID-19 crisis.

Make no mistake: The next few weeks won’t be easy. But in order to protect our friends, loved ones, and neighbors from COVID-19, we must make sacrifices.

Our state is acting with the input of top medical experts, scientists, public health researchers, and epidemiologists—based on their advice, staying home is our most powerful tool to fight the spread of this virus. We have begun to flatten the curve, but we must maintain our course to keep the infection under control and prevent our health care system from becoming overwhelmed.

If you have questions about school closures or need other assistance, my staff is working remotely to support you during this time. Click "Contact Us" above, and we’ll do our best to address your concerns.

Stay healthy. Stay safe. Stay home.

Sincerely,

Pat McGuire
State Senator, 43rd Illinois Senate District

The pandemic has thrown life into disarray for many people in many ways. Keeping up with the latest in relief programs, volunteer opportunities, and public health updates can seem overwhelming. To help organize this information in one place, the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus has created a site dedicated to COVID-19 response information. Click the image above to read more about how Illinois is responding.

The following is information from United Way of Will County related to the resources available for those adapting to the challenges COVID-19 presents us all, as well as information about opportunities for you to do what you can.

Resources Available

To seek assistance we encourage one to call our 24/7 Helpline operated by Crisis Line of Will County; Phone: 815-722-3344; Website: www.willfinduhelp.org.

We also have a Community Resource document that is a compilation of services available and refers to common questions received by our office.  This document and information will soon be on our website https://uwwill.org.  We contract with a Joliet, small business owner to maintain our website and are working with him to expedite the needed updates.  

Opportunities to Help

In order to assess the opportunities to help, we are actively working with community-based partners on identifying their needs.   Currently, we have a survey gathering the in-kind needs, unforeseen hardships, and changes to hours of operations or programs for local organizations.  Initial findings are consistent:

• 65% report financial needs to assist with operations and programs due to increased cleaning/sanitizing costs and/or cancellation of fundraising events.
• 70% report a critical lack of cleaning, sanitizing and proper Personal Protection Equipment including masks and gloves.
• Organizations that rely on volunteer support are experiencing volunteer shortages. 

As we continue our outreach efforts, these opportunities will continue to unfold.  Our Online Volunteer Center: https://uwwill.galaxydigital.com/, is currently equipped with an on-going list of in-kind donations needed, as well as a link for volunteers to give their time. 

Local Donation Fund

With the surge in unforeseen needs, it is critical that these organizations have the resources they need to continue to operate at the highest capacity. A donation to the Will County COVID-19 Response Fund will support the agencies that are ensuring our neighbors can access basic needs in this time of crisis.

• Will County COVID-19 Response Fund Link: https://www.uwwill.org