If you work for or operate an early learning program in Pennsylvania, including public and private schools; child care centers; group child care homes; family child care homes; family, friend, and neighbor care, it’s important to remain calm, prepare, and take precautionary measures. By doing so, you will help to maintain the health and wellbeing of yourself, other staff, and the communities you serve. For up-to-date recommendations and COVID-19 Resources for Early Learning programs, please visit the ELRC Region 5 website.
Continue reading below for a brief overview of COVID-19; information about waivers and enrollment capacity; and a list of resources.
An Overview of COVID-19
COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus not previously seen in humans. Because the virus impacts the respiratory system, common symptoms of infection include fever, dry cough, tiredness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. However, WHO states that some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and diarrhea. After being infected with COVID-19, individuals generally display mild symptoms that begin gradually, but some people who become infected may not develop any symptoms at all and may feel healthy.
To learn more about COVID-19 and the steps you can take to reduce your family’s risk of infection, read our recent news post. This post also includes information about what to do after infection, information on how it spreads, and links to several other organizations and entities that can provide more information.
National Sex Offender Registry Clearances
According to the Department of Human Services Office Child Development & Early Learning Bureau of Certification Services, no exceptions will be made for expired or late National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) clearances after regular child care operations resume. Once regular child care operations resume statewide, staff will not be permitted to return to early learning programs if any of their clearances are expired. For this reason, it is recommended that all staff who require new or renewed finger-print checks should do so as soon as possible at one of the following available facilities.
To learn more about NSOR changes in the last 12 months, please visit ELRC Region 5’s news post.
COVID-19 Resources for Early Learning Programs
Information about COVID-19
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- How COVID-19 Spreads, CDC
- Coronavirus, Social Distancing, and Self-Quarantine, Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Stress, Resilience, and the Role of Science: Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Harvard University, Center on the Developing Child
- Coronavirus Information for Education, PA Department of Health
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel, U.S. Department of Education
- A Message on COVID-19 From the Children’s Bureau, Children’s Bureau
Guidance for Providers
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- Revised Interim Guidance for Certified Child Care Facilities Operating During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic, Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning
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- Health & Safety Guidance for Open Early Learning Programs, ELRC Region 5
- Guidance for Schools and Child Cares, The Pennsylvania Key
- Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), U.S. Small Bussiness Administration
- Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans Immediately Available to Child Care Providers, First Five Years Fund
- Coronavirus Emergency Loans: Small Business Guide and Checklist (English) (Spanish), U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Best Practices for Child Care Programs Operating During COVID-19, ELRC Region 5 and Trying Together
- Staffed Family Child Care Networks Can Navigate A New World Order, Opportunities Exchange
- Coronavirus Information for Education: Pre-K, K-12 Schools, and Higher Education, PA Department of Health
- Coronavirus Prevention and Response, Office of Head Start (OHS)
- Ensuring Students with Disabilities Continue to Receive Services, U.S. Department of Education
- Office of Child Care COVID-19 Resources, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Child Care
- As COVID-19 spreads, most states have laws that address how schools should respond to pandemics, Child Trends
- Coronavirus News & Resources for Child Care Professionals, Families and Policymakers, Child Care Aware of America
- Child Care for Essential Workers during Coronavirus Outbreak, Child Care Aware of America
- Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Outbreak, U.S. Department of Education
- Online Learning: Education in Isolation, Digital Trends
Early Learning
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- Early Learning Resources During COVID-19, ELRC Region 5
- A Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching Through Coronavirus, Teaching Tolerance
- Can Virtual Preschool Be Developmentally Appropriate?, Child Care Lounge
- Information for teachers during COVID-19 school closures, School Closures
- Schools Are Hosting Virtual Theme Weeks to Cheer Up Quarantined Kids, We Are Teachers
- Creative Ways Teachers Are Building Classroom Community Online, We Are Teachers
- Our Favorite Virtual P.E. Resources to Keep Kids Moving at Home, We Are Teachers
- Bringing the Zoo to You, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
- Request a Library Card to Access E-Books & More, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
- Free Distance Learning Plans for K–2 Students and Their Families, Common Sense Media
- History at Home, Senator John Heinz History Center
- A Guide to COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development, Harvard University
- Creative Curriculums, Trust Arts Education
- Wonderschool Learn-at-Home Ideas, Wonderschool
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- Home Learning Support, Twinkl
Talking with Children
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- Caring for Each Other, Sesame Street
- Responding to Children’s Emotional Needs During Times of Crisis, Healthy Children, AAP
- How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus, PBS KIDS for Parents
- Washing Your Hands, CDC
- How to Wash Hands, Sesame Street
- Hand Washing for Kids: 5 Easy Steps to Teach Hand Hygiene, Moms Against Cooties
- Kick Germs to The Curb While Singing This Daniel Tiger Song!, Fred Rogers Productions
- A Guide to COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development, Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
- Healthy at Home (Toolkit), Ready Rosie, The Creative Curriculum, and Teaching Strategies
- Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus, Child Mind Institute
- Helping Kids Who Are Worried About Coronavirus, Counselor Keri
- Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times, UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute Autism Team
Prevention
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- Practices to Stay Healthy, U.S. Department of Education
After Infection
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- What You Should Do If Caring for Someone with Coronavirus, American Red Cross
- Employee Rights, United States Department of Labor
Impacts on Child Care, School, and Work
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- U.S. Department of Education Releases “COVID-19 Handbook, Volume 2: Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs”
- Information for Pennsylvania Employees Impacted by COVID-19, Office of Unemployment Compensation
- Coronavirus & Paid Family Leave, Single Mom Defined
- Create a Backup Child Care Plan, Child Care Aware of North Dakota
- Coronavirus and School Closures, Education Week
- Coronavirus Information for Education: Pre-K, K-12 Schools, and Higher Education, PA Department of Health
- Ensuring Students with Disabilities Continue to Receive Services, U.S. Department of Education
- To Close or Not? How Superintendents Decide to Shut Down Schools, Education Week
- Unemployed and quarantined Pittsburghers can receive unemployment money faster, with fewer requirements, Public Source
- Map: Coronavirus and School Closures, Education Week
Fact Sheets
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- What You Need to Know about COVID-19 (English) (Spanish) (Simplified Chinese), CDC
Informational Flyers
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- Stop the Spread of Germs, Allegheny County Department of Health
Mental Health
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- Toll-Free 24-Hour Emotional Support Help Line (866.342.6892), Optum
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1.800.273.8255)
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- Boxed In: COVID-19 and Your Mental Health, Everyday Health
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- Stress and Coping, CDC
Receiving Support
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- Support for Helpers During Coronavirus, Fred Rogers Center
- Comcast’s Internet Essentials (offering two free months to new customers)
- PWSA Extends, Expands Shut Off Moratorium in Response to COVID-19, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority
- Neighbors Support – COVID-19 Resources, Representative Sara Innamorato
- COVID-19 & Family Resources, Family Centers Network
- Shared Services Central, Opportunities Exchange
- Child Care Centers, DHS
- Information for Pennsylvania Employees Impacted by COVID-19, Office of Unemployment Compensation
- Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets, Center for Parent Information & Resources
Multilingual Resources
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A Round-Up of Multilingual Resources on COVID-19, Switchboard
- COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions, UPMC
- CDC Prevention Flyer, RCUSA
- ChildCare Aware of America: Quédese actualizado con las noticias y los recursos más recientes sobre el Coronavirus, Child Care Aware of America
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Curated Lists
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- Resources on COVID-19 in PA for ECE Programs and Professionals, The Pennsylvania Key
- COVID-19 Resource Page, PEAL Center
- Coping with COVID-19, NAEYC
- Rapid Response Resources: COVID-19, PIE Network
- The Social Care Network, Auntbertha
- Stay-at-Home Resource Page, Tickets for Kids
- COVID-19 Resources From Every Hour Counts, Every Hour Counts
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- Free Stuff for Teachers: Tools for a Unique 2020–2021 School Year, Coupon Chief Blog
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- Online COVID-19 Resources for Kids, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
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- Distance Learning Resources, Inclusive Schools Network
Recorded Webinars
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- Caring for Each Other, Brazelton Touchpoints and Sesame Workshop
Contacts and Information
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- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
www.pa.gov
- Pennsylvania Department of Health
www.health.pa.gov
1.877.72.432584 | 1.877.PA.HEALTH
- Allegheny County Health Department
www.alleghenycouty.us
412.687.2243
- Allegheny County Alerts (COVID-19 Alerts)
www.alleghenycounty.us/alerts
- United Way
www.pa211sw.org
Dial 2.1.1 | Text Your Zip Code to 898-211 (Text Alerts)
- United States Department of Education
www.ed.gov/coronavirus
Email: covid-19@ed.gov
- Optum (Free Emotional Support Helpline)
866.342.6892
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
suicidepreventionlifeline.org
1.800.273.8255 (English) | 1.888.628.9454 (Spanish) | 1.800.799.4889 (Deaf or Hard of Hearing)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline
www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline
1.800.985.5990 | Text (English): TalkWithUs to 66746 | Text (Spanish): Hablanos to 66746
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
More Information
For more information about COVID-19, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or World Health Organization (WHO) websites.
