COVID-19 Resources
OFDA Released Information
- OFDA Press Release - January 27, 2021
- OFDA Press Release - January 22, 2021
- State of Ohio COVID-19 Fatality Management Response Plan - 01.08.2021
- COVID-19 Fatality Management Response Plan Flowchart - 01.08.2021
- Ohio Funeral Homes Responsibilities For Paid Sick Leave - 12.09.2020
- COVID-19 Planning for a Surge (Part II) - 12.04.2020
- COVID-19 Planning for a Surge - 11.24.2020
- Updated Recommendation Ohio Funeral Directors Association Urges Member Funeral Homes To Follow Best Practices In Response To Covid 19 - 11.16.2020
- COVID-19 Death Care: Guidance for Hospitals Prisons Hospice Long Term Care and Nursing Facilities: Guidance is based on recommendations from the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Ohio Department of Health. - 8/17/2020
- COVID-19 Guidance for Protecting Against COVID-19 - 06.23.2020
- COVID-19 Death Care: Guidance for Funeral Directors and Embalmers: Guidance is based on recommendations from the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Ohio Department of Health. - 4/20/2020
- Cleveland Department of Public Health - New COVID-19 Guidelines for Death Certificates
- Sub Registrar Information
- Resources to Help Onboard Physicians to EDRS
- OFDA Press Release (please share with your media outlets) - 3.18.2020
- Q & A on Conducting Funerals in Ohio During the COVID-19 Pandemic - 3.18.2020
- eAlert Regarding COVID-19 Resources and Information - 3.17.2020
- Coronavirus COVID-19 Bulletin Update - 3.13.2020
A message from OFDA President, Gary M. Burr, CFSP - Novel Coronavirus COVID-19: Interim Guidance for Deathcare Workers and Employers - 2.27.2020
OFDA Forms
- Authorization To Conduct Id By Photo Due To Covid 19
- Authorization to Broadcast Funeral Service Over the Internet
- Authorization for Viewing of Unembalmed Remains of a COVID-19 Case
- Certificate of Employment
- COVID-19 Liability Risk Notice
- Direction to Record Funeral Service
- Exemption Claim from Face Mask Requirement
- Funeral Home Certification of Employment
FEMA Funeral Assistance Program
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Congress authorized FEMA to provide financial assistance to individuals who incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses after January 20, 2020. Most notably, FEMA shared that the maximum financial assistance will be $9,000 per funeral. Complete program details are available on FEMA's website.
https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance
Funeral Homes are not obligated to assist or permitted to complete registration for applicants but providing guidance would be a great community service and build loyalty with the families you have served.
Funeral Directors should direct eligible parties to:
- Gather appropriate data regarding the decedent
- Make sure they have all necessary personal data when acting as applicant
- Call FEMA at 1-844-684-6333 or TTY:1-800-462-7585 to initiate the process
- FEMA will not call anyone until they have called this number and have applied for assistance
- Be aware of fraudulent callers
- Submit required documentation
- Upload at www.disasterassistance.gov
- Fax to 1-855-261-3452
- Mail to P.O. Box 10001, Hyattsville, MD 20782
Required documentation for submission:
- An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States
- Proof of funeral expenses which includes: the applicant’s name, decedent’s name, total amount, and date that expenses were incurred.
- Insurance or other funds specifically for use towards funeral costs.
Eligible individuals will receive a check by mail, or funds by direct deposit, depending on which option is selected when the application is submitted to FEMA.
OFDA will continue to update our members as more information is provided by FEMA. If you have questions or concerns, please contact our office at 614-486-5339.
- Q&A on FEMA Funeral Assistance Program by OFDA General Counsel, T. Scott Gilligan
- FEMA Funeral Assistance Flyer
PPE/Sanitation Resources
OFDA suggests that funeral homes contact their local EMA to communicate the need for PPE and make an official request. You can find the full Ohio County Emergency Management Directory here.
OFDA encourages our members to contact their preferred vendors first, but if products are unavailable, to utilize the list of providers below.
OFDA does not endorse any of the below PPE providers. Our legal counsel has reviewed this information and while they see no obvious concerns, each funeral home should judge with caution their interaction with any companies over the internet especially in times such as these.
- Affordable Supply Company - Face Masks, Hand Sanitizer
- Commercial Cutting - Protective Gowns
- 3D Industries - Face Shields
- Gardiner- Air Quality: Contact Steve Ripepi at sripepi@whgardiner.com
- Hilton Funeral Supply - Gloves and other items
- Kelco Supply Company - Body Bags
- Laird Plastics - Face Shields
- Messenger - Sanitizer: OFDA Member Promo Code: HOCL10 for a 10% Discount on your first order of HOCl Surface Sanitizer
- Rock Flower Paper - Face Masks
- Royal of Akron - Body Bags: Contact Steven Capaldo at royalofakron@aol.com
- RSM Medical Uniforms LLC: Contact Kathryn Walsh at walshkrmmu@gmail.com
- The Shamrock Companies - Tim Berry
- Sparx Hockey - Face Shields
- The Industry Source - Facemasks
- TSSi - Facemasks - Body Bags
State of Ohio Government Agencies
- Checklist for Avoiding Group Gatherings - Ohio Dept. of Health
- Checklist for Businesses/Employers - Ohio Dept. of Health
- COVID CareLine: A new, toll-free number and emotional support call service created by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Governer of Ohio: Mike Dewine Website
- Director's Stay Safe Ohio Order - April, 30, 2020
- Official Director's Order to Limit and/or Prohibit Mass Gatherings - March 12, 2020
- Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Website
- ODJFS Provides Common WARN Number to Speed Processing of COVID-19-Related Unemployment Benefits - Ohio Dept. of Jobs and Family Services
- COVID-19 Signage for Businesses & Other Organizations Who Want to Use Them
- Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics
Other Helpful Links
Agencies or Organizations
- Coalition to Stop the Spread
- Cremation Association of North America (CANA)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Addressing PPE Needs in Non-Healthcare Setting
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- United State Department of Labor
- World Health Organization (WHO)
Grief Resources
- Good Grief: access the podcasts, booklets, and other forthcoming materials at a webpage created for COVID-19
- Remembering A Live COVID-19 Information Hub
- Grieving Alone & Together: Responding to the loss of your loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Grieving Alone and Together by Dr. Sara Murphy,
- The Healing Power Of Art - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Elizabeth Lewis
- Condolences in the Time of COVID-19 by Dr. Alan Wolfelt
- Writing to Heal Stress, Grief and Loss by Elizabeth Lewis
- The Art of the Freeze by Dr. Alan Wolfelt
- Grieving a Coronavirus Death: Help for Special Circumstances by Dr. Alan Wolfelt
- Loss in a Pandemic: Nurturing Uncertainty with Self-Care by Dr. Sara Murphy
- Healing Place Meditation by Elizabeth Lewis
- Nurturing Hope in Difficult Times by Dr. Alan Wolfelt
