The American Red Cross recently launched a Virtual Family Assistance Center to support families struggling with loss and grief due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Center is a support hub with special virtual programs, information, referrals, and services to support families in-need across Alaska.
Jackie Grant of the American Red Cross: “The Red Cross is still operating in all that we’re doing, we’re just doing things a little bit differently. We’re obviously excited about this new Virtual Family Assistance Center because people are struggling. Sometimes, they don’t know where to turn. If you go on to our website, you can find different areas for help. We have behavioral help, we have spiritual care, and we have health services that people can call-in and get information about.”
Ms. Grant says the resources available to the community offer something valuable to a number of potential families: “The behavioral health assessment really is about emotional support counseling, really mental health for children. The spiritual care really can direct you to a faith-based organization, and also information about virtual funerals, memorial services. Also, health services can be basic medical information about COVID-19, in reference to community services. So, those supports are there with volunteers that are professionals in that field.”
She also is confident in the specialized volunteers working on the back-end of this new project: “All of them are trained. Now, to work in a spiritual area, you have to have that background coming from your profession or your education before doing that. So, everybody is trained either in that area, and also Red Cross trained. These are definitely folks who know how to help, can guide you, and support you where you need to be supported.”
Those without internet access can call (833) 492-0094 for assistance.