Resources on the Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

March 12, 2020

Last updated on October 20, 2021.

As the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues in the United States, many are working remotely from home, facing quarantines or self-isolation, and encountering disruption to their daily activities. For the elderly, those with preexisting conditions or other health challenges, and other higher-risk individuals, the spread of the virus may also bring anxiety. And for individuals experiencing domestic violence, this public health situation can expose additional dangers.

Advocates working in local programs and shelters are facing additional challenges as they seek to continue uninterrupted services for survivors. In response to the request of guidance and resources for emergency preparedness for domestic violence shelters and programs concerning the novel coronavirus, below are some recommendations and resources.

** We will continue to update this post as new information and resources become available. **

NNEDV Resources

Coalition Guidance for Programs

Resources to Address the Housing Needs of
Survivors in the American Rescue Plan Act 2021

COVID-19: Coalition Guidance for Programs

CARES Act Relief Payments

COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Information & Recommendations for DV Programs

WomensLaw Resources

Online Information Clinic videos:

Restraining Orders: Covid-19 Considerations; for a one-page summary, click here. (English)
Órdenes de Restricción: Consideraciones sobre el Covid-19; for a one-page summary, click here. (Español)

WomensLaw.org website content:

Restraining Order Cases During COVID-19 (English)
Casos de Órdenes de Restricción Durante el COVID-19 (Español)
Virtual Hearings During COVID-19 (English)
Audiencias Virtuales Durante el COVID-19 (Español)

Tech Safety Resources

Resources for Survivors

Resources for Domestic Violence Coalitions and Local DV Shelter Programs

CARES Act Loans for Nonprofits

Funding Opportunities for COVID-19 Relief

Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) Paid Leave Provisions

FFCRA Paid Leave Info for Employers
FFCRA Paid Leave Info for Employees
FFCRA Paid Leave FAQs
FFCRA Poster/Notice for Employees
UPDATED: Leave Tracking and Recordkeeping Under Covid-19: Adjusting for the New Normal from Mintz.com
UPDATED: Department of Labor Issues Guidance for Families First Coronavirus Response Act from Mintz.com
Sample leave policies from the Resource Sharing Project (RSP)

Legal and Court Resources

WomensLaw – Frequently Asked Questions Involving Courts and COVID-19 from Women’s Law at NNEDV
WomensLaw -Preguntas Frecuentes sobre las Cortes y el COVID-19 from Women’s Law at NNEDV
Coronavirus and the Courts Data Visualizations from the National Center for State Courts
State Courts are Responding to the Coronavirus to Protect the Public, While Maintaining Access to Justice from the National Center for State Courts
In Practice: Courts Respond as COVID-19 Fuels Rise in Domestic Violence from the Center for Court Innovation

CARES Act Relief Payments

CARES Act Relief Payments from NNEDV, the Center for Survivor Agency and Justice, and The Community Tax Law Project.

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Information & Recommendations for DV Programs

YWCA_Request for Accommodation – Religious Exemption from Vaccination Form

YWCA_Request for Accommodation – Medical Exemption from Vaccination Form

YWCACVA_Voluntary Vaccination Policy

Global Network of Women's Shelters Webinars

Webinar 1, Wednesday, March 25 Coronavirus and women’s shelters: Planning, preparation and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. View recording.

Webinar 2, Wednesday April 1 Report on Coronavirus Webinar 2: Policy perspectives on protection of victims of domestic violence. View recording.

Webinar 3, Wednesday, April 8 Using technology to support victims during a public health crisis. View recording.

Webinar 4, Wednesday, April 15 at 6 pm ET - Using technology to support victims during a public health crisis. View recording.

Webinar 5, Wednesday, April 22 at 11am ET - Serving survivors with COVID-19 — Sharing success stories and challenges from around the world. View recording.

Webinar 6, Wednesday, April 29 at 6 pm ET - Supporting women at a distance during COVID-19: Updates from Australia and New Zealand. View recording.

Webinar 7, Wednesday, May 6 pm ET - Fundraising to keep shelter services going during a public health crisis. View recording.

Webinar 8, Wednesday, May 20 - Updates from around the globe: Morocco, India, Trinidad & Tobago, and Brazil. View recording.

Webinar 9, Wednesday, June 3 - The Impact of Reopening Communities on Supportive Services. View recording.

Webinar 10, Wednesday, June 17 - Impact of Reopening Communities on Supportive Services. View recording.

Webinar 11, Wednesday, July 1 - Heading Off the Risk of Exploitation. View recording.

Resources for Survivors and Their Children

For Survivors

Domestic Violence and Stimulus Payments from the Center for Taxpayer Rights, The Community Tax Law Project, and the National Network to End Domestic Violence.
Updates and Information about COVID-19 from Futures Without Violence
Staying Safe During COVID-19 from the National Domestic Violence Hotline
Path to Safety: What is a Safety Plan? from the National Domestic Violence Hotline
Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health: Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Tips for Helping a Friend Experiencing Domestic Abuse during COVID-19 from NNEDV
Consejos para ayudar a un/a amigo/a que sufre violencia doméstica durante la COVID-19 from NNEDV
Seeking Help Online: National Resources & Considerations for Safety and Privacy During a Public Health Crisis from NNEDV
CARES Act Relief Payments from NNEDV, the Center for Survivor Agency and Justice, and The Community Tax Law Project.

For LGBTQ Survivors

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guide from the National Center for Transgender Equality

Tips for When Staying Home Isn’t the Safest Plan from the New York City Anti-Violence Project

For Youth/Children

Resources for Kids and Families from Futures Without Violence
Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic from Child Trends
Coronavirus Resources: Resources for Community-Based Service Providers from the National Network for Youth
COVID-19 and Homelessness: Strategies for Schools and Early Learning Programs from SchoolHouse Connection

Serving Older Adults and People with Disabilities

What do Older Adults and People with Disabilities Need to Know about COVID-19? From the Administration for Community Living

Serving Survivors Living with HIV

What People with HIV Need to Know About the New Coronavirus from POZ Magazine
Resources for women living with HIV experiencing IPV (and their friends and family who want to help them) from Positive Women's Network

Serving Immigrant Survivors

Analysis: The Impact of COVID-19 on Immigrant Survivors of Gender-Based Violence from the Tahirih Justice Center
You Have Rights – Protect Your Health from Protecting Immigrant Families

CARES Act Relief Payments

CARES Act Relief Payments from NNEDV, the Center for Survivor Agency and Justice, and The Community Tax Law Project.

Resources for Survivors in Other Languages

- ¿Su cónyuge o ex-cónyuge tomó su pago de impacto económico de alivio tributario por el COVID en el 2020?
- WomensLaw -Preguntas Frecuentes sobre las Cortes y el COVID-19 from Women’s Law at NNEDV
- What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (In ASL) from the NYC Office for People with Disabilities
- Mantenerse segurx durante COVID-19 from the National Domestic Violence Hotline
- COVID-19 Information in Many Languages from the Endangered Languages Project
- Lo que necesita saber sobre la enfermedad del coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) from the CDC
- Downloadable Fact Sheets in Multiple Languages from the CDC
- CDC Resources in Languages Other than English
- A Round-Up of Multilingual Resources on COVID-19 from Switchboard

Resources for Homeless Assistance Providers and Continuums of Care

Health Preparedness for Homeless Assistance Providers from the HUD Exchange for Homeless Assistance Providers
Infectious Disease Preparedness Among Homeless Assistance Providers from the HUD Exchange for Homeless Assistance Providers
Infectious Disease Toolkit for Continuums of Care from the HUD Exchange for Homeless Assistance Providers
COVID-19 and Homelessness from National Alliance to End HomelessNess
An Influenza Pandemic Planning Guide for Homeless and Housing Service Providers from the Public Health – Seattle & King County
Shelter Health: Essentials of Care for People Living in Shelter from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council

General COVID Info from the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO)

General Guidance about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) from the CDC
Prevention of Coronavirus from the CDC
Resources for Homeless Shelters from the CDC
Resources If You Are at Higher Risk from the CDC
Resources for Community- and Faith-Based Leaders from the CDC
Resources for Travelers and Travel-Related Industries from the CDC
Information on COVID-19 and Pregnant Women and Children from the CDC
Faith-based & Community Organizations Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist from the CDC
Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities from the CDC
Frequently Asked Questions from the CDC
CDC Resources in Languages Other than English
Basic Protective Measures against the New Coronavirus from WHO
Getting Your Workplace Ready for COVID-19 from WHO

Identity Theft Resources

From the Identity Theft Resource Center

What You Need to Know: Symptoms, Prevention, and Hygiene

Symptoms of the coronavirus are fever, shortness of breath and coughing. These symptoms can be associated with a number of illnesses including Influenza (flu).

The following are basic preventative actions to help stop the spread of COVID-19:

Make wearing a mask a normal part of being around other people. The appropriate use, storage, and cleaning or disposal are essential to make masks as effective as possible.
Regular hand-washing with soap and water.
“Social distancing” of 6 feet to prevent and reduce the risk of infection.
Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough.

Domestic violence (DV) programs should contact their local health departments for more guidance and updates about COVID-19. Additionally, as advocates are not medical professionals, advocates should rely on the assessment of a health professional when it comes to the need to have someone in a quarantine situation. In line with best practice and FVPSA regulations, programs cannot require survivors to submit to tests or evaluation in order to access services.

If you have any questions or need any technical assistance, please contact NNEDV’s CTA team at capacity_ta(at)nnedv.org.