K-State Research and Extension

Updates on Resources Related to COVID-19 for:

Resources for Responding to COVID-19

First a quick resource for individuals, families and community leaders concerning the recent pandemic.

K-State Research and Extension has a Disaster Preparedness Blog on getting information from official sources:

Illinois Extension has a concise, fact based set of resources which includes upcoming webinars on topics ranging form Economic Impact, Ethics and Agriculture:

And the Extension Disaster Education Network has some valuable resources concerning Epidemic Preparedness:

Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans to Help Working Capital Needs

KANSASWORKS Issues Workforce Centers Operations Update

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, KANSASWORKS Workforce Centers will be taking actions to reduce contact and maintain social distancing as directed by the Centers for Disease Control.

KANSASWORKS Workforce Centers will remain open, but with limited services to the public. Individuals should call (877) 509-6757 to ensure their local Workforce Center location is open to in-person visits prior to arriving. Previously scheduled appointments for essential services will still occur unless otherwise indicated. All non-essential services will be provided via telephone, email or online at www.kansasworks.com.

The Public Access Computer area will be closed to the public until further notice. All workshops, large meetings and job fairs through April 5, 2020, have been cancelled. They will be rescheduled at a later date in accordance with direction from state and local officials. This includes testing and meetings for the Youth Employment Program, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Rapid Response.

Any Kansan needing employment or reemployment services can call (877) 509-6757 to schedule a time to speak to a representative. Messages should include the individual’s name, phone number and email address. Calls will be returned in the order they are received. Services may also be accessed via the live chat function at www.kansasworks.com. 

Individual program updates are below.

Dislocated Worker

Individuals enrolled in the Dislocated Worker program will be contacted by a case manager by March 20 to arrange for paperwork to be completed and submitted via email.

Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA)

Individuals participating in the RESEA program should contact (877) 509-6757. When leaving a voicemail message, individuals should be sure to include their full name and phone number for a return call. Individuals who have an assigned case manager should also include their case manager’s name in the message. RESEA staff will return calls as soon as possible. 

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)

TAA meetings scheduled for March 30-31 in the Wichita Community have been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date. Please contact Tonya Carlson at tonya.carlson@ks.gov if you have questions.

Employer Services

All job fairs scheduled through April 5, 2020, including the Statewide Job Fair on April 2, have been canceled. Please call (877) 509-6757 with any questions.

Employers in need of Rapid Response Layoff Assistance should contact Shelly Thompson at Shelly.Thompson@ks.gov.

Additional guidance from the Department of Labor on emergency Unemployment Insurance Filings related to COVID-19 can be found at www.dol.ks.gov/covid19response.

Transitioning to Work from Home

During this time you might find yourself being asked to work from home. This can be an interesting situation to say the least! You may find yourself at a loss of how to navigate your work and life during this time. I know that is where I found myself, even when I have done so in the past, this is quite a bit different (Jaime).

For those of you in this situation, here is a nice and easy guide of Best Practices for Remote Work:

If you find yourself in need of more instructive guidance, Utah State University Extension has a Remote Work Certification course for remote working professionals, managers and businesses (the fee is waved temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic):

Jan and I plan to hold an upcoming webinar (please follow us on Facebook if interested, you will see why in the final article in this email or email us at PRIDE@ksu.edu if interested) on to help community members that need mild to moderate tech support (Jan is definitely the expert in this realm!) in areas that include utilizing Zoom, setting up basics (such as getting a microphone to work), using PowerPoint or tips on Microsoft Work/Excel. We plan on it being more of a Question and Answer Session, so stay tuned. - Jaime Menon, K-State Research and Extension PRIDE, jmenon@ksu.edu  

Being at Home with Kids

And so it is! If you are like Jan and I, we will be now be balancing working from home with our children as school systems work to provide education online. This can be a challenge to be sure, especially when your youngsters get bored (but don't we all!).

At the moment 4-H has some great resources and educational opportunities coming up for youth! K-State Research and Extension is promoting the Wyoming Association of Extension 4-H Agents Facebook Page which is offering Online Virtual 4-H:

And Kentucky 4-H is hosting Virtual Experiences through Facebook:

Not only that, The Smithsonian has opened virtual access to their items, and Google has teamed with over 2500 galleries around the world to provide virtual gallery tours:

These have been useful to me of late, here's to hoping they work for you as well! - Jaime Menon, K-State Research and Extension PRIDE, jmenon@ksu.edu  

Maintaining Mental Health

During these times there is a lot of information swirling out there, enough to make your head spin, and make things seem hopeless. It is easy to say "take your mind off it", that part is sometimes not so easy. That is what brings us to something that needs to be addressed, which means now it is time to talk about what many don't want to: Mental Health.

Oftentimes when there are stressful situations people fail to address mental health, or feel that they are not able to or allowed. It's "easier" to put on a happy face. While society and culture prize those that are resilient, every person faces challenges that can cause them to feel overwhelmed.

Some might find themselves facing some dark times, accompanied with dark thoughts. To address this issue is to expose a vulnerability, and I am willing to do just that if it helps even just one person in these uncertain times. I have been personally affected by losing a close family member and loved one due to anxietyand depression through suicide. When it came down to it my family member did not know where to turn, and did not feel that they could talk to anyone about their problems, so they faced them alone.

I don't want that to be the case with anyone, especially our community members.

Please know that we are all in this "adventure" together. Yes, things feel bleak and overwhelming, but don't forget, through the clouds, even if you don't see it, there is the blue sky, and the sun waiting to reemerge.

First we must face some myths, and dispel the stigma of depression. Here are resources addressing Stress and Depression provided by North Dakota State University and K-State Research and Extension:

Here are some Financial Tips that we have gathered concerning that can assist many of us during this time:

From eXtension concerning Financial Security in Tough Times:

And from the Customer Financial Protection Bureau:

Finally, I will repeat, we are all in the same boat, which means we are all in this together. If you are feeling hopeless or helpless (or know someone who is feeling this way), please reach out to someone. If you are afraid of someone knowing, please do reach out to the confidential resources at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

We will get through this, it will take time, but it will happen, I promise. - Jaime Menon, K-State Research and Extension PRIDE, jmenon@ksu.edu  

There will be a lot of information coming out in the next few weeks. We don't want to continue blowing up your inbox and be counted by your email services as spam, so if you would like to follow us on Facebook to keep informed (such as to the dates of upcoming educational opportunities through online meeting spaces). Click on the image to go to our Facebook Page. Take care and stay well!