Employee and Family Resources (EFR) is offering weekly webinars to help address our stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Past topics include “All about Attitude, Coping with COVID-19, Stress and Resiliency,” and “Navigating Change in Times of Uncertainty.” Access recorded webinars.

EFR has also created a series of podcasts called Emotion Well Podcast. These can also be found on Apple Podcasts.

If life is weighing you down, EFR offers a variety of Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) resources to help you now, or anytime. You can reach EAP by phone (800-327-4692) or visit their website at https://www.efr.org/login/. All EAP benefits are confidential and available 24/7/365.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Join us for a HealthyU BINGO challenge in May—with a twist.

As usual, the goal is to fill up a blank BINGO card (or two) with healthy activities you complete from a provided list. This will be done over the month of May. The twist: Instead of getting together as a group to play HealthyU BINGO for prizes in June, we will set up a video BINGO game using Microsoft Teams.

You are not required to participate in the online BINGO games if you wish to complete the card without the game. But, I think you will have fun!

To get started send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. Deadline to register is Thursday, April 30. All participants will receive an email with an attached packet that includes directions, a list of HealthyU BINGO activities, and a blank BINGO card. You are welcome to make multiple copies of this card.

Please feel free to reach out with questions. This is a great event for your whole family.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has spurred a surge in financial stress and anxiety. It can be a scary, stressful time for many reasons. And, if you have to worry about how to get by financially, the added stress may cause you to feel completely overwhelmed.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to address both your financial situation and your mental health, so you can make the best decisions for you and your family during this difficult time.

First, accept that your life is going to be different for a while and focus on tasks you can control. Prioritize your own physical, mental, and emotional health. Keep active, sleep right, limit alcohol and caffeine, make healthy food choices, practice mindfulness and stay connected to family and friends. Additionally, follow the CDC guidelines to socially distance, wash your hands, and stay home. If the news is creating anxiety, limit your exposure, while still staying informed.

Next, it is time to make a plan. Here are a few suggestions to get you on financial track.

Take stock of where you are with your money. Make a list of everything you own, owe, earn, and spend. This is your starting point and your method to find out where you are at right now.

Start or build an emergency fund. If you are just starting out, aim to put aside $1,000. Begin by taking some of the dollars you might normally spend on dining out and entertainment and put some of those dollars into this emergency fund each month. Over time, build this up to the equivalent of 3–6 months worth of living expenses.

Take a page from Marie Kondo. Take a look at your loan statements, credit card bills, memberships, and subscriptions. What are you paying? Are there better deals out there? Do you really need it right now? For example, since fitness facilities are closed, can you pause or stop your gym membership? There are plenty of free resources that will allow you to keep active while socially distancing.

Swap take-out for home meals. It is always a great idea to help local restaurants by ordering take-out. But if you are watching your finances, reduce take-out dining to once a week and try to create some new recipes at home.

Check your interest rates. If you are using multiple credit cards for your purchases, try to use the card with the lowest interest rate so you will be paying less in interest when you do pay off your bill. Even a few percentage points difference can save you money.

Become familiar with community and government resources.  State and federal governments are continually taking steps, including the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the recent CARES Act, to help provide relief. Check websites such as usa.gov, iowa economic development, and coronavirus.iowa.gov.  Locally, some cities are providing free meals for children as well as other programs to ensure families are getting through this tough time.

Become familiar with the Drake University COVID-19 website.  You will find information, including steps Wellmark is taking to help Drake Health Plan participants with respect to COVID-19.

Keep calm about your investments. Right now you might be tempted to pull out of the volatile markets and retreat to safety. But if you are feeling uneasy, take a deep breath and make an appointment with your financial advisor to go over your portfolio.

Ask for help. If you are struggling financially or emotionally, don’t keep it to yourself. There is help out there. EFR offers a variety of Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) resources to help you now, or anytime. You can reach EAP by phone (800-327-4692) or visit their website at https://www.efr.org/login/. All EAP benefits are confidential and available 24/7/365.

Lastly, take a moment to appreciate yourself. You are going through a hard time and you’re approaching it with incredible resilience. We will get through this together.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

As a participant in the Drake University Retirement Plan(s), we want to ensure you are aware of the options available to you as a result of the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The Act, signed into law March 27, 2020, provides options for you to consider as you navigate financial decisions in the coming months. Learn more about the CARES Act provisions.

— Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

For most, if not all of us, the coronavirus creates anxiety and fear.  We take steps to protect ourselves and our family.  But beyond those basic instincts, there is a common thread among many to reach out and help others. The question then becomes, how?

Much of what you need to know can be found on the Drake University Community Engagement website. The United Way Volunteer website is a great resource as well. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Check on your neighbors. Call or text your neighbors (especially elderly neighbors) to make sure they’re doing okay. If there is anything they need that you can provide, offer to leave it outside their front door. And if you feel comfortable going out, consider knocking on the door of an elderly neighbor and chatting through the storm door to offer a bit of comfort.

Donate. There are many ways you can do this. Contribute to Drake’s Virtual Food Drive or the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences’ virtual fundraiser for the Food Bank of Iowa. Consider donating blood, or drop off canned goods and toiletries to one of the Drake Neighborhood’s Little Free Pantries.

Put your creative skills to use. You’ve heard the stories of drive-by parades to celebrate a loved one’s birthday; singing, dancing, or playing a musical instrument to lift the spirits of others from a safe distance; and creating fun videos to share with family and friends.  Find out what your passion or talent is and find a way to share it safely. It could be sewing face masks or writing letters to a local nursing home (Ramsey Village is in our Drake neighborhood). How about getting your family together and using chalk to write motivational messages on your sidewalk and driveway? The options are limitless.

Support your local businesses. Many of us are already ordering food from our local restaurants either drive-thru, delivery, or curb-side pick-up. Check online to see what other small local businesses are offering delivery or curbside pick-up options and consider making a purchase.

Find a way to say thank-you to those on the front lines. The best way we can say thank-you is to follow the CDC recommendations and wash our hands, practice social distancing, and stay home if we are sick. If you want to take it a step further, find out if your local hospital is accepting a delivery of a few pizzas. And don’t forget to thank all our front line and essential workers — including our own faculty and staff.

Although we are socially distanced, we are still best when we work together … six feet apart.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

All Staff Council created two more chat groups in TEAMS. A “Parents Group” and a “Wellness Group.” The parents chat allows parents to share challenges as well as ideas on how to make it a positive experience with your children at home. The wellness group allows members to share ways to be active and to be a source of motivation to keep you on track. Both groups serve as a connection point and source of community during this time.

If you would like to be added to the “Parents Group,” please send an email to jenny.jones@drake.edu. If you would like to be added to the “Wellness Group,” please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. Each group is limited to 100 people.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

We have all heard the term social distancing and know the importance of increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. We also know that human connection is essential for good health, especially when life presents situations that create anxiety, and COVID-19 has certainly done that.

The good news is that social distancing (I prefer physical distancing) doesn’t mean being alone. Here are some tips for staying engaged and connecting with others to stay positive and healthy.

Connect digitally. Social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can be a positive way to communicate with others, learn and share ideas.

Combining smartphones, computers, and tablets with videoconferencing software and apps allows you to interact with people face-to-face. Most platforms are free or have a free version.  Microsoft Teams has an “at-work” videoconferencing option.  Other platforms include Zoom, Skype, and Google Duo.

Once you connect, get creative. Start the day with friends over coffee or host an end-of-day happy hour.  Host a digital dinner party or virtual cooking lesson, read a grandchild a bedtime story, play games, or watch a TV show together. Netflix Party allows you to watch a program on Netflix at the same time as other users, pause it together, and chat about it in real time.

Attend a class or event virtually. Fitness clubs, yoga studios, and some local and national attractions like the Smithsonian are offering virtual classes and tours. And, most are free. Drake Group X instructors have created “at home workouts” through their Drake Rec app. Email wellness@drake.edu for more information.

Reconnect with family. Enjoy time at home with your family. And, start checking off those items on your to-do list. Cook and eat together, bring out games and puzzles, paint a room or plant a garden.

Have a neighborhood hangout. Social distancing doesn’t mean total isolation. Driveways, yards, and sidewalks make it easy to set boundaries while allowing neighbors to get outside and connect.

Make a phone call. Sometimes just hearing someone’s voice can be enough to lift both your spirits. Sending an email, text, postcard, or handwritten note are good ways to connect as well.

Remember, if social media becomes too much, it is okay to take a break. Take time to practice self-care and reach out if you are having a hard time coping with current events. You can contact Employee and Family Resources (EFR) at 800-327-4692.

Beginning April 8, EFR is also offering weekly webinars to address different aspects of emotional health. Join EFR on Wednesday, April 8, at 10 a.m. for a webinar on how COVID-19 has impacted our emotional well-being and relationships. During this webinar, they will explore ways to cope and build resiliency.  Register here.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Please join the Human Resources department in welcoming 10 new full-time Drake University employees for the month of March.

Ruben (Esteban) Goetz Gonzales, Arts & Sciences, Research Scholar
Bret Sikkink, Online Programs, Instructional Technology Specialist
Tyler Koehler, Office of Admission, Admissions Counselor
Lauren Sharp, Office of Admission, Admissions Counselor
Heather Winslow, Finance & Administration, Administrative Services Specialist
Julia Gwebu, Finance & Administration, Director, Student Account Services
Stephen Flynn (P/T to F/T), Athletics, Assistant Football Coach
Deana Cunningham, Cowles Library, Information Services Associate
Emily Fleming, Law School, Administrative Assistant
Ryan Wise, School of Education, Dean, School of Education

In light of the recent announcement that undergraduate and graduate students may have the option to convert some or all of their courses to credit/no credit grading, Human Resources would like to remind employees that there is no grade requirement to keep the tuition rebate benefit. If you have questions, please reach out to Anthony Leto, HR systems and recruitment coordinator, at anthony.leto@drake.edu or 515-271-1871.

— Anthony Leto, Human Resources