Impact of COVID-19

In the middle of year 2 and most of year 3 the world experienced the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to be responsive to the needs of schools in the Indianapolis area the team engaged in a large-scale city-wide survey of social/emotional and concrete resource needs of school personnel. Again, community partners were key to obtaining 1,383 completed surveys from across the city/region.

 

The respondents were an average age was 45, mostly female (72.2%) and mostly white (76%). Other races included 12% black/African American, 3% Asian/Pacific islander, 1% American Indian/Alaskan Native, .5% Hispanic, 1% was more than one race,  3% indicated other, and 4% preferred not to specify their race. The majority (87%) were full time staff. Within our reporting we gave results and helpful information for districts and school personnel alike. There were differences by race regarding social support. Specific items that were statistically significant include higher endorsement of interacting with students and co-workers by White personnel and higher use of self care strategies and missing religious services by Black personnel. 43.8% of Black personnel were unable to attend in-person funeral or religious services after a death compared to 35% for White personnel. Black families in general in the U. S. experienced higher death rates overall from Covid. Black personnel endorsed making new supportive connections at a higher percentage than White personnel, a potential indicator of higher resilience and coping.