The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the kids supported by Boys & Girls Club (BGC) Metro Los Angeles hard. Over 2,500 youth have been unable to receive their BGC experience and support so desperately needed. 54% of BGC Metro LA members do not have access to the internet or technology to use it. Virtual programming and resources offered were simply not available to more than half of the BGC members. Then with a nearly 30% reduction in offerings due to COVID-19, the crises worsened.
The critical issues for their youth became 1) learning loss due to lack of access to virtual resources, 2) lack of supervision heightening child abuse and neglect, and 3) increased mental and emotional health issues “based on the new normal” in the youths’ everyday life.
BGC Metro LA teamed up with Feed the Children to provide take home activity ‘grab & go kits’ as well as meals to the youth and their families. Unified Caring Association (UCA) was brought in to provide emotional support tools for the youth and their families as a part of this program. Sunbuddy (for ages up to 12) and Moonbud (for ages 12 to 112) packages, each with emotions dictionaries and decks of cards, are included in the take home kits to help address the mental and emotional health issues emerging at home.
For more information about Sunbuddy and Moonbud emotional support tools, contact UCA directly at info@UnifiedCaring.org or call 844.341.8222 to speak with a member of the UCA Care Team.