ACF is committed to supporting vulnerable children, families and communities at the center of our mission -- those who've felt the brunt of the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This page includes resources and information for ACF's mission-related issues and programs affected by COVID-19. With the COVID-19 situation continuing to evolve, we continue to provide relevant resources to help our grantees, partners, and stakeholders support children, families, and communities in need during this challenging time.
COVID-19 Grants& Funding
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) recognizes the severe impact of COVID-19 on our grantee community. We've provided COVID-19 guidance as it pertains to recipients, i.e., grantees that will be updated continuously.
COVID Resources by Topic
- Child Care
- Child Poverty
- Child Support
- Child Welfare
- Community Services
- Domestic Violence
- Early Childhood Development
- Federal Partner Sites
- Head Start
- Helplines/Hotlines
- Human Trafficking
- Native Americans/Tribes
- Parent and Caregiver Loss
- Refugee Resettlement
- Runaway & Homeless Youth
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Vaccines
- Whole Family Approach
Child Care
- Office of Child Care COVID-19 Resources
- Childcare.gov provides direct links to COVID-19 information provided by each state and territory to help families and child care providers stay informed during this fast-moving and developing situation.
- CDC Toolkit for Child Care Programs
Child Poverty
The COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding economic fallout are devastating lower- and middle-income American families. The American Rescue Plan helps reduce child poverty. (PDF)
Child Welfare
- Children's Bureau COVID - 19 Resources for child welfare agencies, grantees, and professionals
- Guidance on Caseworker Visits via Videoconferencing
Community Services
- Most recent COVID-19 resources from the Office of Community Services
- Grantee Resources for CARES Act funds
- Partnership to Address COVID-19 Spread
Domestic Violence
- National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) COVID resources provide general guidance for shelter settings, faith-based and community organizations, and more in preparing and responding to COVID-19.
- National Network to End Domestic Violence , Futures Without Violence , National Health Center for the Homeless Council , and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resources can be adapted and used by community-based domestic violence programs
Early Childhood Development
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infection Disease Outbreak (PDF)
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Director’s Message: Coping with Coronavirus: Managing Stress, Fear, and Anxiety
Federal Partner Sites
For your convenience, we've provided a list of trusted federal partner websites for COVID-19 related response and resources.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ): How to protect yourself, what to do if you are sick, symptoms, and view cases and the latest updates on COVID-19
- Coronavirus.gov : Protecting yourself from the coronavirus and additional resources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) : Coronavirus general information and updates, clinical & technical guidance, press releases and other resources.
- Department of Agriculture (USDA) : Frequently Asked Questions and USDA actions to respond to COVID-19
- Department of Commerce, Census Bureau : 2020 Census operational adjustments due to COVID-19
- Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) : Information and resources on COVID-19 for schools for children of military members
- Department of Education (ED) : COVID-19 ("Coronavirus") information and resources for schools and school personnel
- Department of Housing and Urban Development : HUD COVID-19 information, resources and fact sheets
- Department of Labor (DOL) : In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) U.S. Department of Labor offers guidance for preparing workplaces for coronavirus
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) : COVID-19 guidance documents, frequently asked questions and other information and resources
- Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) : Coronavirus (COVID-19) information on federal resources, funding announcements and frequently asked questions
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) provides key COVID-19-related guidance and information from HHS for human services program providers and stakeholders, particularly state and local government agencies and faith and community-based organizations
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (OASPR) : The DHHS and OASPR is working with our partners to explore the development of new medical countermeasures and take other actions to enhance health security. On this page you’ll find information and resources to help combat COVID-19.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) : SAMHSA resources, information, and guidance for OTPs
- U.S. Small Business Administration : Coronavirus (COVID-19) small business guidance & loan resources
- USA.gov : Find your local state health department for information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and more.
Helplines/Hotlines
ACF has an important role in helping domestic violence survivors, human trafficking survivors, and runaway and homeless youth,. We support the following hotlines / helplines to serve people in need.
Human Trafficking
Native Americans/Tribes
Parent and Caregiver Loss
Losing a parent or caregiver under any circumstance is a tragic and life-changing event for a child that can impact them in different ways throughout their life.
In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic and fatal overdoses have tragically resulted in hundreds of thousands of children losing a parent or caregiver. It is estimated that more than 200,000 children and youth in the U.S. lost a caregiver due to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 and these tragic losses have been disproportionately experienced in Black and American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Refugee Resettlement
Runaway & Homeless Youth
- RHYTTAC COVID-19
- National Runaway Safeline (NRS) Resources for Youth and Families 1800RUNAWAY.org
Home Free Program: NRS will continue to provide transportation for youth 12-21 years old who are looking for a way home or to an alternative living arrangement. Youth in crisis can call 1-800-786-2929 to initiate the process of using Home Free. - HUD Resources — Homelessness and Preventing Infectious Diseases
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Vaccines
COVID-19 can have serious and life-threatening complications, which is why it’s important for everyone who’s eligible to get vaccinated. Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at keeping you and those in your community from getting COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine will also help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help us get back to normal. Learn more about the benefits of getting vaccinated. Getting informed about COVID-19 vaccines is an important step to help us stop this pandemic.
- CDC COVID-19 Vaccine
- AdCouncil's COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative
- CDC has updated its eligibility guidelines on COVID-19 vaccines to include children ages 5+ .
- Everyone ages 18 and older eligible for a booster shot
- Share and get posters & other visuals to communicate about vaccines