Fort Wayne UNITED and City Life partnered Thursday night for a virtual panel discussion on exploring and maintaining family relationships during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
UNITED is a local initiative focused on answering the call to advance youth advocacy and help create a safer city for all, but more specifically for black men and boys. City Life is a Christian ministry advocating for change in urban neighborhoods through the raising of indigenous leaders from young people in communities.
Thursday night’s conversation centered on how to effectively manage both positive and negative emotions that may arise among family members during stay-at-home orders, and the best ways to communicate in order to keep peace in the household.
Aaron and Janell Lane of Courageous Healing in Fort Wayne took part in the panel. Aaron says the pandemic and resulting “stay-at-home” orders have given them the chance to be more “intentional” with their kids.
“From sitting down with them and doing projects and homework, to making sure we’re enjoying the show they like to watch. And it takes intentionality to do those things because the busy-ness of life can run you rampant where you don’t have a chance to slow down.”
He added that he and Janell have had crucial discussions to “destigmatize” gender roles around the house in order to ease the division of labor, which they both agreed has been helpful.
As the national conversation shifts to “reopening” businesses, the panel directed attention to the availability of COVID-19 testing in northeast Indiana.
Parkview Vice President of Community Health Sara Giaquinta says the region has made progress in conducting tests, but notes there’s still work to do.
“What we have seen is the progression of only testing the sickest of the sick or those that had a known exposure, to now we’re able to test really regularly people who have symptoms. But we’ve not quite gotten to the point where we can test just anyone regardless of exposure symptoms.”
She noted two Parkview locations are currently administering tests, and that the best way to access a test is by connecting with one’s primary care provider.
The Neighborhood Health Clinic is also providing free testing for those with Medicaid experiencing coronavirus symptoms.
Thursday’s conversation was the second digital collaboration between UNITED and City Life to take place on Facebook; the first took place on April 30, focusing on healthcare during the pandemic, particularly among the local African American population.
You can view both discussions in full -- ranging around 90 minutes in length -- on Fort Wayne UNITED’s Facebook page.
