Helpful Resources During COVID-19

We are Still here for you!

Extension Ashland County is currently working remotely.  Staff will be checking their emails and phone messages, contact info below.

Our Educators are also working on ways to bring programming to you in new and different ways! 

We want to reach out to each of you to offer support and resources in this uncertain time. While circumstances are changing frequently, what remains stable is our commitment to offer you the research and resources of the UW-Madison Division of Extension.

We will be posting resources here as well as on our Extension Ashland County Facebook Page. Please like and share as much as you feel appropriate.  We are all in this together.

Resources

Here are a few resources you may find useful.

Ashland County COVID-19 Page provides information, maps and resources about the coronavirus response in our local area.

News from UW-Madison Division of Extension

Finances
The COVID-19 Financial Resources from UW-Madison Division of Extension offers links to many government sites and other resources where you can turn for more information on topics like applying for public assistance, low-interest small business loans, and more. Check back as this page will continue to be updated frequently.

Small Business Finances

Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) announces targeted grants to Wisconsin-based Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) for small businesses suffering losses due to COVID-19 emergency

Small Business Administration (SBA) Small business owners in all U.S. states and territories are currently eligible to apply for a low-interest loan due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)Learn more here.

FTC Warnings As we’ve seen with other disasters that have taken place, scammers are taking advantage of people’s vulnerability. Learn more here

Nutrition

Many people are struggling to afford the food they need during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Across Wisconsin and the nation, many households have lost some or all of their regular income. Others have lost access to usual sources of food, such as school meals and senior meal programs. The information on the Extension Food Resources to Help Get Through COVID-19 page provides information about public programs and community resources to help meet food needs during this crisis.

Parenting
Many parents are quickly trying to secure care or assess if their children are ready to be home alone. Please share this online (free) program that Extension has developed. Home Alone Online.

Families are figuring out how to live, learn and work—together and separately—all under one roof. Check out some great advice at Education on the Home Front: How to Keep Young Children Learning in the Early Days of COVID-19 . 

The June Co-Parenting class for divorcing or separating parents will be held on June 1, 2020 via Zoom from 4-7pm, please pre-register online.

Youth / 4-H

Check out Wisconsin 4-H’s Fun, Hands-On Learning At Home – Extension educators from around the state created a handy list of easy-to-access activities and curriculum. To save you time, energy, and unnecessary worry, we:

  • Filtered out many activities with hard-to-find supplies and those that needed a lot of adult supervision to be safe.
  • Included activities that encouraged some kind of safe social connection and/or involved getting youth out of the chair and moving.
  • Included high quality, inclusive, and accessible resources for all ages, including parents, caregivers, and families.

Stress/Well-Being
This time of social isolation can be incredibly difficult for us and those we love. This Tip Sheet on Self-Care describes what to expect and ways to mitigate the stress. It also reminds us to take time to be outside each day, connect with loved ones, practice gratitude and get some exercise. Yoga, breathing and meditation (even one big deep breath) can decrease your body’s response to stress.

Maintaining Social connections during Social Distancing is important to our health. Here are a few tips on maintaining Human Connections (pdf,1pg, 435KB)

The UW-Madison Department of Psychiatry has compiled a curated collection of resources from a variety of sources to support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of our community during this difficult time. We hope this guide will offer helpful information, expert tips, coping strategies, tools and best practices to support the well-being of individuals and families, as well as healthcare providers on the front-lines of this crisis and the patients they serve.  COVID-19 Mental Health Resource Guide & Support.

Agriculture

6.5.20_WI_Farm_Support_Program_Announcement : DATCP has $50 million in funding for the Farm Support Program to help those affected by COVID-19. The window to apply is only two weeks long and begins June 15, 2020.

The SBA now accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance applications on a limited basis only, in order to provide unprecedented relief to U.S. agricultural businesses 05-04-2020 EIDL_Ag Businesses_Talking Points

News Release May 3, 2020 on the Success of the Paycheck Protection Program 5-3-2020 Success of PPP to learn more see the U.S. Small Business Administration website.

Heart of the Farm – Women in Agriculture is kicking off Coffee Chats on Fri, May 8th and will continue with mini conference sessions in May to replace the annual one day conference.

Food Safety Fact Sheet for Retail (For both employees and the general public to educate them on how the virus IS NOT spread via produce) from NC University Extension.

Produce Production Food Safety Fact Sheet (more for farmers/producers).

COVID-19 FQA for Farmers Markets: Steps for Markets and Market Managers.

COVID-19 Guidance for Farm Employers from UW-Madison Division of Extension.

WI DNR COVID-19 Environmental Compliance Process Roadmap – April 2020

We are here with you, reach out if you need us.

Main office phone # 715-682-7017.

4-H & Youth Development: doug.liphart@wisc.edu or joy.schelble@wisc.edu

Human Development & Relationships: heidi.ungrodt@wisc.edu

Community Development: lissa.radke@wisc.edu

FoodWIse Nutrition Program: stephanie.bakker@wisc.edu and sarah.tarkington@wisc.edu

Agriculture: jason.fischbach@wisc.edu 715-373-3291 and sarah.degraff@wisc.edu 715-373-3293.

Thank you for your patience as we work through this situation and find new methods to bring our programming to you!