StandUp for Kids – Orange County
As the new school year approaches, many people have questions on how schools and families are going to react to the changes COVID-19 has made. The USA currently has the highest number of infections and deaths and the trajectory of the pandemic is uncertain. There are numerous hot spots in the country and within California. The CDC continues to strongly encourage people to social distance and wear masks.
Our Executive Director Justine Palmore is strong and steadfast in her resolve to be there when our youth need us. “Families and students are going to struggle to adjust to the new online school year but StandUp for Kids will always do everything in our power to help, whether it’s in person or online. We’ll continue to deliver the support, love and guidance our kids need, as well as food, shelter and safety.”
California, in particular, has had an increase in infections and deaths over the past month. California has a statewide order to stay at home and only leave for essential activities like buying household supplies, working for an essential business, and caring for a family member. On July 17, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that all California schools need to fulfill multiple requirements including lowering the number of cases in a county and requiring masks in order to allow schools to reopen. In the meantime, schools will have distance learning.
At the county level, one month ago the Orange County Board of Education was in favor of having all students go back without requiring masks and other safety precautions. This decision was immediately controversial with people on both sides voicing their opinions and the decision on how to reopen was left to the districts to decide. Many schools originally planned to have a hybrid of in-person and online school before Newsom’s new regulations, while others have opted to either go fully online or fully in person. The Anaheim school district, where many of our youths attend, has plans to have online school until Orange County’s numbers are down and will re-evaluate how to open safely once the county requirements are met.
Many students are going to have to learn to adjust to the online school and StandUp for Kids is going to be there every step of the way. Our tutoring and mentoring programs will continue to run and give support to the at-risk youth who need it. We are in constant communication with the schools and centers that we previously operated in and currently supply support to. If and when it is considered safe to occupy these spaces we will assess the risks and make a plan for supporting our youth in a safe yet impactful way. This pandemic has made things extremely difficult for us to support our youth, but we’ve learned and grown as an organization in the process and feel prepared to support our youth in any conditions. The public response has been overwhelming. Our volunteer ranks have never been stronger and we’re very proud of our Orange County citizens who have stepped up en masse to help our kids.
If you want to join the cause and help students with virtual volunteering opportunities please contact us at [email protected].