Impact of COVID-19 on Families

Family Voices COVID Parent Survey – Winter 2021

Family Voices of Minnesota is conducting a survey of families whose children, youth, and young adults have extra needs such as disabilities, chronic health conditions, mental health conditions or require other types of extra supports and services (referred to as child or children with extra needs going forward).

The purpose of this survey is to learn about the experiences and concerns of families related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey will take about 11 minutes to complete and is completely confidential. Your personal or individual information will not be shared.

Family Voices of Minnesota will use the results of this survey to improve how we support families and also to inform policy makers and state agency staff about the experiences and needs of families.

If you choose to share your email address and phone number, you will be entered into a drawing for one of two $25 Target Gift Cards, but your personal information will not be shared with anyone.

If you have more than 1 child with extra needs, please base your responses on the child who has the MOST needs, unless you are asked to consider yourself, your entire family, or other children.

Thank you for taking time to complete this survey!

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* 1. What is the age of your child with extra needs?

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* 2. Is your child in a school or education program? If not, please skip to question 6.

Yes

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* 3. What type of school or childcare program(s) does your child/youth currently attend?

Daycare/child care center or private or in-home childcare

Public/Charter School

Private School

Specialized program/behavioral health program

Transition or adult day program

Other (please specify)

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* 4. How is your child currently receiving their schooling as of today?

In-person learning at school (All schooling is being delivered in school)

Hybrid learning (Schooling is being delivered in school, as well as outside of school, e.g. at home)

Distance/online learning (All schooling is being delivered to children by their school, but outside of school, e.g. at home.)

Homeschooling (Your children are being educated at home by you or someone else not part of the school system)

Other (please specify)

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* 5. If your child receives special education services, please select which services he/she is receiving.

IEP

504 Plan

Speech, Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy

Do not know

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Please check any of the following concerns you feel your child has experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020.

Mental or behavioral health concerns (anxiety, disruptive behaviors, self-injury)

Child is not learning very well in current education setting

Lack of medical care from specialists, pediatricians, therapists

Lack of extracurricular opportunities (sports, social groups, etc.)

Lack of social interaction with peers

Lack of motivation and/or engagement with school work

Lack of self-esteem (how they feel about themselves)

Decrease in functional skills (independence in activities of daily living, etc.)

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* 7. Which of the following issues are impacting your child/youth's education compared to before COVID-19 began in March 2020? (Check all that apply)

The services they need can't be delivered virtually

I, as the caregiver do not have the time or training to support the child's learning at home

The way services are delivered is too inconsistent due to changing methods and schedule of delivery.

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Please tell us any areas of improvement your child/youth or young adult has experienced since the COVID-19 Pandemic began in March 2020.

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* 9. Which of the following services do you feel are not meeting your child's needs since COVID-19 began in March 2020? (Check all that apply).

Special Education and Related Services

PCA Services

Waivers or grants

Respite

Mental health services (outpatient)

Medical services (non-mental health)

Dental services

Transportation services

Medicaid/TEFRA

Case Management

Community Supports

None of the above - My child/youth's needs are being met.

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* 10. Which of the following do you think are reasons the services you mentioned above are not meeting your child’s needs as a result of COVID-19? (Check all that apply)

The amount of services my child is getting has been reduced

The quality of services my child is getting is worse

The way the service is being delivered does not meet my child's needs

My child has a greater need for the service as a result of COVID-19

Other (please specify)

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* 11. Has medical insurance for your child changed as a result of COVID-19 and related issues (i.e. loss of parent employment, eligibility changes, etc.)?

Yes

If yes, please describe

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* 12. Have you or another adult in your household had your work hours reduced, been laid off, or permanently lost your job due to COVID-19 anytime in the past 10 months?

Yes

Don't know

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* 13. Since March 2020 when COVID-19 began has your level of worry increased in the following areas? If not, skip to question 14.

Paying for housing (rent, mortgage)

Finding affordable housing

Paying utilities

Paying for transportation (car payment, insurance, public transit fairs, etc.)

Paying the TEFRA parental fee

Getting access to medical insurance

Paying for private insurance (through an employer or on your own)

Paying for medical services, bills, prescriptions, etc. (excluding insurance)

Paying off existing non-medical debt (credit cards, loans, etc.)

Paying for basic needs (e.g. food, clothes, toiletries)

Finding a job

Keeping my job or my hours

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Since March 2020 when COVID-19 began has your level of worry increased in any of the following areas? Please check all that apply. If not, skip to question 15.

Getting medical supplies and equipment (e.g. gloves, masks, oxygen) for my child with extra needs

Getting prescriptions and medications for my child with extra needs

Not being able to get in-home services (PCA, nurse, therapist, etc.)

My child with extra needs getting COVID-19

Who will take care of my child with extra needs if I get sick

My family feeling isolated

My family’s mental health

The mental health of my child with extra needs

Meeting the needs of my child with extra needs

Meeting the needs of my child(ren) WITHOUT extra needs

Planning for the future

Other (please specify)

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* 15. Do you have the necessary technology resources (e.g. internet, cell phone, computer, etc.) at home to meet your family’s needs such as those related to online schooling, virtual medical visits, and other appointments?

I have everything I need.

I have most of what I need.

I don’t have most of what I need.

I don’t have anything I need.

I don’t need technology resources.

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* 16. Overall, how do you feel your family has been able to cope with the challenges since COVID began?

Very good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very poor

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* 17. Which of the following supports have been helpful to you in caring for your child/youth or household during COVID-19? (Check all that apply)

A significant other to help support the household or split responsibilities with

Family and friends living in or outside the home who provide support

Reliable transportation

A flexible job

Childcare

The ability to take time for yourself as a caregiver

Support from another parent or from an advocacy organization

Other (please specify)

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* 18. Is there anything else you would like us to know?

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* 19. What is your relationship to the child with extra needs you answered questions about?

Parent

Grandparent

Sibling

Other family member

Non-family caregiver

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* 20. How would you describe your race (check all that apply)?

Black/African American

American Indian

Asian American

White

Somali

Hmong

Prefer not to respond

Prefer to describe:

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* 21. How would you describe your ethnicity?

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic

Prefer not to respond

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* 22. How would you describe your race of your child with extra needs you answered questions about (check all that apply)?

Black/African American

American Indian

Asian American

White

Somali

Hmong

Prefer not to respond

Prefer to describe:

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* 23. How would you describe the ethnicity with your child with extra needs you answered questions about?

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic

Prefer not to respond

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* 24. In what county do you live? (drop down)

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* 25. Were you aware of Family Voices of Minnesota before taking this survey?

Yes

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* 26. Would you like to receive the Family Voices of Minnesota monthly electronic newsletter? If so, please enter your email address below

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* 27. If you would like to be entered in a drawing for one of two Target gift Cards please enter your contact information below:

Name

Phone number

Thank you for taking your time to complete this survey!