Preparing yourself, household members, and your home for health and other emergencies is always a good thing to do. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers this guidance at Get Your Home Ready for COVID-19.
Please be aware of these benefit improvements and additions, including telemedicine, telecounseling, and financial assistance, now available to Cornell benefits-eligible employees.
ENI Confidential Counseling Services – 1-800-327-2255 – provides services at no cost for up to three visits to benefits-eligible employees and family members. Available 24/7, licensed mental health professionals provide phone or in-person counseling for a variety of stressors and needs.
Faculty and Staff Assistance Program – fsap@cornell.edu, 607-255-2673 - benefits-eligible employees, retirees, and spouses/partners may contact the FSAP by phone to obtain free support. If the volume of calls exceeds the FSAP’s ability to respond in a timely fashion, please consider contacting ENI (above). FSAP is now offering virtual sessions for employees.
Virtual Wellness Resources List - Explore the many ways to improve and/or maintain your physical wellbeing in the comfort and safety of your home for low to no cost. National and local resources for virtual sessions, videos, and Apps.
Office of the University Ombudsman - The Office of the University Ombudsman offers a safe place where community members may discuss problems or issues within the University. Remote appointments available.
Cornell Cancer Support Group – facilitated by the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes - Meets virtually the second Wednesday of each month, 11:45-12:45 pm. Open to faculty, staff, students, and retirees who have been diagnosed with any type of cancer. An opportunity to meet one another, create a community of support, and learn about resources.
There are many reasons that substance abuse can increase in times of crisis – both the development of new substance abuse and a reoccurrence of past substance abuse. Providers and organizations (such as the ones below) remain available to support individuals and their family members:
Alcohol & Drug Council, 607-274-6288 | Providing outpatient treatment, individual/group counseling sessions, and referrals.
Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services, 607-273-5500 | Accepting referrals, conducting assessments and appointments via telehealth, and open for admissions for residence care.
U.S. SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357 | Confidential, free, 24/7, English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Al-Anon and Ala-Teen, 607-387-5701 | for families and friends of alcoholics (virtual meetings)
Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) | for adult children of alcoholics and/or otherwise dysfunctional homes (virtual meetings)
Community Resources
2-1-1 Tompkins/Cortland is now reachable by text. Information and referral services now just a text message away! Just text your zip code to TXT211 or 898211. Texting is available Monday-Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. Call for free and safe rides to Tompkins testing site.
Healthy Food For All & Nourish Tompkins — Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County Since 2006, Healthy Food For All has been providing hundreds of low-income households every year with access to locally grown fruits and vegetables via Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, coupled with nutrition and culinary education. During the pandemic, Nourish Tompkins was initiated to expand services to provide over 10,500 pounds of local produce and 2,000 healthy meals with hunger relief partners to thousands of food-insecure community members. For more info, contact Liz Karabinakis, Director, evk4@cornell.edu / 607-272-2292 x 242
Community Services
FoodNet Meals on Wheels of Tompkins County – 607-266-9553, info@foodnet.org - various programs available to bring meals to seniors and/or individuals under the age of 60 who are ill and/or homebound. Fees vary. Find other Meals on Wheels services by searching NYConnects.ny.gov.
Greater Ithaca Activities Center - Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 -4:00 pm, Cornell distributes 45 lb food boxes containing non-perishables and sometimes perishables like frozen chicken cutlets, milk, and cheese. No application process or forms to complete. GIAC is located at 301 W. Court Street, Ithaca.
Student Loans & COVID-19 Guidance (U.S. Department of Education) - To provide relief to student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 national emergency, federal student loan borrowers are automatically being placed in an administrative forbearance, which allows you to temporarily stop making your monthly loan payment. This suspension of payments will last until Sept. 30, 2020, but you can still make payments if you choose.
CFCU Digital Banking - CFCU Credit Union – digital banking and assistance for loan customers
Smartpath – a financial wellness company offering COVID-19 financial wellbeing classes, webinars, and other tips.
Home Energy Assistance Program - federal program that helps low-income households meet the high costs of home energy. Income and resource eligibility standards change annually. Call 607-274-5264
Helping Others
Volunteer Gigs in Workday
You can use Workday to connect with volunteer opportunities: the links below will take you to Workday's landing page; click the red "Login to Workday" button and 2-step authentication, and you'll be redirected to the volunteer gig.
Big Red Writes - a Cornell pen pal program for employees, retirees, students, alumni, and K-12th grade children of employees.
Find a Quarantine Buddy - created by Cornell students to help foster connections during the quarantine.
Colleague Network Groups - available for men of color, women of color, LGBTQ, veterans, and those with disabilities. Participate in virtual gatherings offered regularly.
Adopt a Grandparent - CHD Living is inviting English-speaking people from around the world to apply online and become a virtual volunteer who will engage with their assigned "grandparents" through video calls.