Tag: Websites

Links to Support Families During the Coronavirus Crisis

Posted on by Nicol Walsh

Please note that these resources are not affiliated with PAVE, and PAVE does not recommend or endorse these programs or services. This list is not exhaustive and is provided for informational purposes only. PAVE provides a separate resource list to help parents support learning at home: Links for Learning at Home During School Closure

  • WestEd.org, a California-based nonprofit committed to equity for learners of all ages, provides a guidebook with practical support for parents of children birth-5 during stay-at-home orders. Caring for Young Children While Sheltering in Place provides quick links to activity videos (story-based yoga, for example), easy-to-learn songs, arts-and-crafts, sensory play, cooking with kids, and much more.
  • The Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B or airbnetwork.org) provides a downloadable resource guidebook for family caregivers and educators in English, Spanish, and Korean. The guidebook includes ready-to-use forms to prepare for meetings with the school, mindfulness strategies, social stories to support understanding about the pandemic, and more.

  • Mental Health guidance resources specifically designed to support families managing the unique stressors of COVID-19 are available in multiple languages from the Center for Victims of Torture. Language choices include English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and more.

  • The WA State Department of Health provides a Behavioral Health Toolbox for Families Supporting Children and Teens During the COVID-19 Pandemic, published in July 2020. Each age-specific section (toddlers, school-age children, teens) includes information on common emotional responses, helping children heal and grow, and managing feelings and behaviors children may experience.

  • In response to the impacts of COVID-19, Drive-In WiFi Hotspots provide free temporary, emergency internet access for Washingtonians who do not have broadband service to their homes.
  • Is in-person school safe for fall 2020? Doctors from the Infectious Diseases Society of America offer their recommendations in a July 28, 2020, Podcast. Here are primary questions to ask:
  1. Is the rate of infection in the community going down?  
  2. Does the community have a clear protocol for testing and contact tracing?  
  3. Does the school provide a clear protocol for what to do if/when a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19? 
  • The Washington State Hospital Association provides a coronavirus tracking map. Knowing whether cases are on the rise in the community might empower families making decisions related to school planning for 2020-21.
  • Washington Listens is a program to support anyone in Washington State experiencing stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For anonymous support, call 1-833-681-0211, Mon.– Fri., 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. TTY and language access services are available.
  • The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry provides a resource library to help parents and children during the pandemic. Included are articles to help parents talk with children of various ages about COVID-19, stress-management strategies, and teen-specific tools. Some articles are in English and Spanish.
  • Zero to Three offers age-appropriate resources related to COVID-19 for toddlers, parent guidance for self-care, mindfulness tips and activities for young children experiencing social distancing.
  • Washington’s Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) provides COVID-19 guidance for families of children in early learning through the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program. Included is information about the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), how to manage a transition from IFSP to school-based services during the pandemic and tips for telemedicine appointments and protection of confidentiality.
  • The Children’s Trust Fund Alliance provides a variety of tools related to resiliency and how to boost protective factors for children through its Parent Voice programs and resource collections. Included are interactive resources specific to COVID-19 to help parents share ideas with one another through an online network.
  • What Makes Your Family Strong offers printable tools to support family resilience, with cartoon and action-figure art and simple messages.
  • The Tribal Law and Policy Institute (TLPI) provides an Indian Country COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources Page with links to information and resources concerning relevant tribal, federal, and state issues, initiatives, and resources for effectively addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
  • Sesame Street.org has launched Caring for Each Other to provide multimedia materials for families in multiple languages to support children’s well-being during COVID-19.
  • An interactive map on the website of Educational Service District 113 includes information from schools across Washington about where meals are delivered and addresses for where families can pick up free food by “Grab-and-Go.”
  • Most hospitals do not allow loved ones to accompany patients for treatment during COVID-19. A New York doctor has created a COVID-19 Disability Form so families can design a communication plan before a person with Intellectual Disability (IDD) might need medical care related to COVID-19 symptoms. State-specific Disability COVID-19 Forms are available through the Stony Brook University’s website. Questions may be directed to Michelle Ballan, PhD at michelle.ballan@stonybrook.edu.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a series of videos available on YouTube with information about COVID-19 in American Sign Language (ASL).
  • Cómo lidiar con la pérdida: The Washington State Department of Health offers a blog about coping with loss, written in Spanish.
  • Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) provides a downloadable 2-page tip sheet for parents and caregivers during uncertain times. Available in English and Spanish, the guide recommends 10 concrete things families can do today, starting with ways to reassure children.
  • The Child Care Aware of Washington Family Center has expanded operations to serve as the statewide child care response, resource and referral hub during the COVID-19 pandemic. Operated by Child Care Resources, the center supports families seeking childcare, childcare providers needing up-to-date COVID-19 information and safety supports, and employers needing child care options for their workforce: 1-800-446-1114.
  • For state information in multiple languages, visit Washington’s official COVID-19 site, managed by the Joint Information Center, a part of the Washington State Emergency Operations Center.
  • For the most current information about school district meals for students, families are encouraged to check their local district website or call the district office. OSPI provides a list of districts throughout the state, with direct links to district websites and contact information.
  • Washington is among states that have re-opened enrollment for public health insurance due to the pandemic. The Washington Health Benefit Exchange provides information about how to enroll through the state’s Healthplanfinder.
  • The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions has developed a list of financial resources for Washington consumers impacted by the Coronavirus.
  • The Washington Department of Health (DOH)tracks statewide spread of the coronavirus and provides a call center: 1-800-525-0127. Hours for the call center are on the website, which lists frequently asked questions related to symptoms and testing. Note that DOH is waiving certain requirements for tele-health access.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) maintains a page to track national news and updates related to the outbreak.
  • A simply written 8-page booklet about Coronavirus, created by and for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is available for download from the Center for START Services at the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability.
  • The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) has established a webpagefor case managers, home care workers and other service agencies and facilities. Included are linkages to the following downloadable documents:
  • Protecting Immigrant Families provides a downloadable fact sheet called You Have Rights: Protect Your Health. The website offers updates from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): In March 2020, USCIS announced that immigrants can seek testing, treatment, and prevention of COVID-19 without immigration consequences despite a public charge rule that went into effect in February.
  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have relaxed rules in order to give states more flexibility in providing medical and early learning services through remote technologies. The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) has a webpage on teleintervention. Topics include training for families learning to navigate technology for online learning and appointments.
  • com suggests 7 Telehealth Activities ABA Providers Can Use with Children with ASD [Autism Spectrum Disorder]
  • The Child Mind Institute provides access to live video chats with clinicians, telemedicine and more. The agency provides guidance in English and Spanish and offers parents an opportunity to sign up for a COVID-19 tip of the day.
  • The Branch, a program of PAVE, provides sample documents and medical guidance for family caregivers who are responsible for children because of a parent’s military service.
  • The US Department of Agriculture provides guidance about Food and Nutrition services, including information about waivers available because of the pandemic.

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