Starfish is cautiously optimistic about the months ahead and moving beyond the hardest years and impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, we remain committed to the goal of keeping our families, teams, and the community safe—particularly our young children. Safety protocols are regularly reviewed and lightened or adjusted to create more freedom for face-to-face interactions only after rigorous consideration. Please reach out if you have a specific need or questions:
- Call us: 734. 728. 3400 (for general information + COVID-specific updates)
- Email us: starfish@sfish.org
- Check back: here for updates (we suggest bookmarking us)
- Follow us on social media: Click to follow our Facebook page
Current Starfish protocols as of June 13, 2022
See also how our decision-making is based on data and regulatory recommendations. Suggested read: Starfish Safe Start Plan details.
Accessing COVID-19 vaccines
Visit Michigan.gov/covidvaccine for resources, FAQs, testimonials, links to your local health department, and other up-to-date information about vaccine availability in Michigan. Click here to access resources in 12 languages. Unless noted otherwise, vaccinations are free. As of June 2022, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized use of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines in children as young as 6 months of age. Visit the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital for information specific to children and adolescents.
The CDC has approved new recommendations for COVID-19 Boosters as of May 2022. A booster dose is recommended for individuals 5 years and older after completing their first COVID-19 vaccine series. A second booster dose is recommended for adults ages 50 and over, and for people ages 12 years and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
Detroit Health Department: Click to visit the DHD site for up-to-date information
- To schedule an appointment: Call 313.230.0505 Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Walk-in welcome at all sites
- Open to: Those who live or work in the city of Detroit
- To find locations: Text your address to 313.217.3732
- Featured locations (Monday-Friday):
- Detroit Health Department at 100 Mack Ave., Detroit (ages 5 to 11)
- Northwest Activities Center at 18100 Meyers Rd., Detroit (ages 5 and above)
- Samaritan Center at 5555 Conner, Detroit (ages 12 and above)
- Community Saturday venues throughout the city
Wayne County Health Department Clinics: Click to visit the WCHD site for up-to-date information.
- To schedule an appointment:
- Call 866.610.3885 Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. + Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Text “wayne vax” to 48355
- Call 866.610.3885 Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. + Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Open to: Wayne County residents and workers
- Featured locations:
- Berwyn Senior Citizen Center, 26155 Richardson St., Dearborn Heights
- Lincoln Park Community Center, 3525 Dix Highway, Lincoln Park
- Livonia Senior Center, 15218 Farmington Rd., Livonia
- Wayne County Health Department, 33030 Van Born Rd., Wayne
Beaumont Health: With the increased availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Beaumont vaccine clinics are no longer open.
Detroit Medical Center: Click to begin the process for scheduling an appointment.
Henry Ford Health System: Henry Ford has closed its large vaccination centers, and offers COVID-19 vaccination at its Primary Care sites only for established patients. Click here to learn more about scheduling an appointment using your Henry Ford Health MyChart.
National pharmacies (select Michigan locations):
- Costco: Click to check eligibility and schedule
- CVS: Click to schedule appointment
- Kroger: Click to check eligibility and schedule
- Meijer: Click to schedule appointment
- Rite-Aid: Click to check eligibility and schedule
- Sam’s Club: Click to schedule appointment
- Walgreens: Click to check eligibility and schedule
- Walmart: Click to check eligibility and schedule
Health resources
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Hotline: 888.535.6136
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Includes links to resources in 12 languages.
- Michigan Stay Well Helpline: 888.535.6136 Confidential emotional support counseling is now available 24/7 at no cost to Michiganders. Michigan Stay Well counselors are available any time, day or night, and language translation is available for non-English speakers. Press 8 when prompted to speak to a Michigan Stay Well counselor.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Includes latest health updates and links to fact sheets, including avoiding racism/stigma surrounding Coronavirus.
Disaster Distress Helpline: 800.985.5990 This 24/7/365 service from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides crisis counseling for people going through both natural and human-caused disasters. It’s free, multilingual, and confidential. You can also text TalkWithUs to 66746.
Support resources
The Wayne County Emergency Rental Assistance Program is offering financial support to landlords and renters. This includes rental arrears up to 12 months, future rent up to 3 months, relocation help, and utility assistance (e.g., electricity, heat, water). Starfish serves as an information hub to assist community families navigate the ERAP application process.
- Where: 26429 Michigan Ave., Inkster
- When: 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesdays
- 30-minute appointments (walk-in)
- Email questions to: Starfish@sfish.org
Detroit city resources for meals, water, housing, navigating unemployment benefits, and more.
United Way 2-1-1 service provides referrals to programs in Southeast Michigan ranging from food vouchers to rental assistance. Dial 2-1-1 OR 1-800-552-1183.
Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency offers rent and utility assistance through their COVID Emergency Rental Assistance Program. For offline assistance call 866-313-2520 (Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park) or 734-284-6999 (other areas of Wayne County).
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Find Shelter tool provides information about housing, shelter, health care, and clothing resources in communities across the country.
DTE Energy is here to help manage your energy bills and preserve utility services. Visit online or call 1-800-477-4747 for more details or to check your eligibility.
Metropolitan Detroit Diaper Bank offers diaper assistance for children and adults. For children’s diapers, visit https://www.detroitdiaperbank.com/diapers/ To inquire about diapers for adults, call 313-356-6470.
Starfish Community Food Distribution Dates: in association with Gleaner’s Community Food Bank are listed below. Biweekly Hiveley Center and Cecil Center dates were discontinued as of June 2021.
- Third (sometimes 2nd) Thursday: Starfish Covenant House Center
- Time: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Location: 1450 25th St., Detroit
- Upcoming: July 14, August 11, September 8
Starfish Safe Start Plan
The Starfish Safe Start Team has crafted a comprehensive and nimble Safe Start Plan designed to support the health and well-being of employees and the families we serve.
- The plan was informed by parents and staff, who were surveyed to establish a comfort-level baseline.
- The Safe Start Team comprises 50 members, representing a 10% cross-section of voices and diversity.
- The protocols constitute recommendations based on guidance provided by federal, state, and local authorities.
- The return to in-person work and service delivery will follow Michigan Safe Start phased guidelines, and each time an executive order is issued we will review for alignment.
Starfish Safe Start: Family Handbook
Transparent and frequent communication with our families surrounding safe-start protocols is critical. As such, we have created a Starfish Safe Start Family Handbook, which includes detailed family health and safety steps. See also: Manual de Reinicio Seguro para las Familias de Starfish. Note: This handbook and the method of family service delivery (e.g., in-person versus virtual education or therapy) may change as new guidelines or directives become available from COVID authorities.
- Check-in health screening, including temperature check
- Face coverings
- Student drop-off and pick-up
- Social distancing steps
- Facility safety, cleaning, disinfecting
- Emergency response steps
Ways to help
Over the last two years, we have been inspired by the resilience and hope of our families, and by the care and generosity that has come from across the community to support our mission. Your gifts have helped Starfish pivot to meet ever-changing needs and—when needed most—remain an unwavering partner and ally for families and children.
The pandemic has pushed us to focus on the crisis at hand and keeping everyone safe. Yet, we know that every family and every child deserves more than the promise of merely surviving another day. Please make a financial gift today so that we can continue to meet immediate needs and strengthen families to create brighter futures for children. We also know that humankind is resilient. And that we are here to offer hope, help people cope, and make the world better. Let’s use this challenging time to commit to caring for our community.