COVID-19 impact report reveals the struggles of local families

LAKEPORT >> “How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted families with young children in Lake County?” That was the question the First 5 Lake Commission sought to answer when they published a lengthy online survey in June. In the process of sifting through the 269 individual responses to the survey, they not only gained insight into the struggles faced by Lake County families, but they also discovered many unsung heroes in the community that stepped up and made things better for many. The results of the survey have been summarized in the agency’s recently released, 2021 COVID-19 Impact Report, which is now posted in full on their website (www.firstfivelake.org).

First 5 Lake staff worked with evaluation consultants from Social Entrepreneurs, Inc. (SEI) to create and launch the comprehensive online survey. The survey link was then shared with the community through targeted emails to families of young children who participate in the Imagination Library program, as well as through social media posts. Families who completed the survey were invited to enter a drawing for a Wal-Mart gift card or a Golden Poppy

Annual Pass to California State Parks.

The survey asked participating Lake County parents of young children (birth to age 5) about a list of common needs and whether their family had trouble meeting those needs during the past year of the pandemic. Families were then asked to indicate whether the need or barrier was a big problem or small problem and if their need was met. Respondents who indicated their needs were met were asked to provide information about how they went about meeting their needs, whether it was their own resilience, local nonprofit organizations or government agencies, or their own social connections with family and friends that provided the needed support. It was important to the First 5 Lake Commission to not only hear about and understand the struggles families were facing, but also to find out which systems and supports in the community were having a positive impact. First 5 Lake’s Strategic Plan is built around the Strengthening Families© Protective Factors Framework, and the Commission continually seeks to learn more about how the Protective Factors are present and effective within the community, keeping children safe and families strong. With this in mind, the responses to the survey were categorized by the Protective Factors which include parental resilience, concrete support in times of need, social connections, knowledge of child development, and the social-emotional competence of children.

The 11 areas of need included in the survey were childcare, children’s medical care, employment, groceries/food (including baby formula), housing, internet access, personal hygiene items (including diapers), rent/mortgage, transportation, and utilities. Analysis of the survey data revealed that the area where the greatest number of families expressed difficulty during the past year of the pandemic was in paying for utilities (106 out of 269), and 44% of those families noted that this was a big problem for them. This was followed by families reporting they had trouble with employment (105), families reporting trouble meeting childcare or daycare needs (98), and families reporting trouble paying rent or mortgage (95).

• “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

This quote from Fred Rogers, which he shared on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood many years ago, is one that many parents have shared with their children. It turns out it is excellent advice for grown-ups as well. When asked about where they found help with specific struggles during the pandemic, 85 parents (the most by far) shared that it was their social connections with friends and family members that helped the most. Friends and family members stepped up to help with financial support, babysitting, sharing resources, and in many other ways to help parents of Lake County’s youngest children throughout the pandemic, and continue to do so. The next largest number of respondents (54) described relying on their own resilience and perseverance to overcome obstacles. Comments included, • “I sold our belongings and worked double shifts.”

• “My husband worked a lot of overtime to make sure we could pay our mortgage.” • “My husband stopped working to stay home with our child.”

• “We used our own savings and depended on credit cards much more than we normally would have.”

• “My partner was able to work a ton of side jobs in a neighborhood.”

• “I just had to go back to work sooner than I wanted after having a baby (10 weeks).”

• “We were able to set up reasonable payment plans with our utility companies and make supplemental payments as finances allowed.”

For those who described finding concrete support in their times of need through community resources, the most frequently mentioned local heroes were: Lake County Department of Social Services, E-Center WIC, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Redwood Empire Food Bank, North Coast Opportunities, Lake County Tribal Health Consortium, and local and regional Tribes including Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians.