May 5, 2020 Managing Mental Health During COVID-19 Join HiMama on May 7 for their HiMama Helps webinar, “Managing Mental Health During COVID-19.” About This online session will cover the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on well-being, as well as practical strategies to manage mental health. Presenters will discuss the following: the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, why and how to prioritize well-being during this time, practical exercises to do when feeling overwhelmed, and additional tips through a creative Q&A session. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
April 16, 2020 COVID-19: Resources for Early Learning Programs 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 Daily Updates from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, PAcast How COVID-19 Spreads, CDC Coronavirus, Social Distancing, and Self-Quarantine, Johns Hopkins Medicine Informational Videos about COVID-19, CDC Why are people wearing masks? Why are people covering their faces?, ZERO TO THREE CDC Report: Coronavirus Strikes All Ages, AARP Stress, Resilience, and the Role of Science: Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Harvard University, Center on the Developing Child People who are at a higher risk of severe illness, CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), AAP COVID-19 and Children: FAQ, CDC Coronavirus Information for Education, PA Department of Health COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel, U.S. Department of Education How Schools Should Respond to State Laws Regarding COVID-19, Child Trends A Message on COVID-19 From the Children’s Bureau, Children’s Bureau Guidance for Providers Revised Interim Guidance for Certified Child Care Facilities Operating During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic, Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning Health & Safety Guidance for Open Early Learning Programs, ELRC Region 5 Guidance for Operating a Child Care Center, OCDEL Guidance for Operating a Family Child Care Center, OCDEL Guidance for Schools and Child Care Programs, CDC 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 COVID-19: Updates for Early Educators & Families in Allegheny County, ELRC Region 5 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 Interim Guidance for Administrators of US K-12 Schools and Childcare Programs, CDC 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 Scholastic Learn at Home: Free Resources for School Closures, Scholastic 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 Small Business Survival Guide to Combat COVID-19, FINIMPACT Online Learning: Education in Isolation, Digital Trends Considerations for Schools, CDC COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness Plan for Child Care Providers, HiMama Early Learning 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 Amid coronavirus, Comcast makes Wi-Fi network free, expands unlimited data to all, TRIB Live Spectrum to offer free internet to students during Coronavirus outbreak, WECT 6 News Zoom CEO Eric Yuan Is Giving K-12 Schools His Videoconferencing Tools For Free, Forbes 3 Ways to Turn Your Classroom Remote in a Hurry, KQED 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 161 Science Documentaries You Can Watch Right Now (No Membership Required), PBS SOCAL 121 Tools for Distance Learning & Strategies for Student Engagement, Albert 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 Early Learning Resource Center, DHS Creative Curriculums, Trust Arts Education NASA at Home – For Kids and Families, NASA Wonderschool Learn-at-Home Ideas, Wonderschool 5 Things To Help Prepare Your Kiddo For School During COVID, LazyOne Home Learning Support, Twinkl Preschool During the Pandemic: Early Childhood Education in Extraordinary Times, ECTA Talking with Children Caring for Each Other, Sesame Street Responding to Children’s Emotional Needs During Times of Crisis, Healthy Children, AAP Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with COVID-19, NCTSN Are your kids anxious about Coronavirus? Dr. G is here to help, Kidsburgh How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus, PBS KIDS for Parents Talking with Your Children about COVID-19, the CDC Online Interactive Game that Teaches Children about Germs and Handwashing, Luma One A guide to keeping your child safe and reassured as coronavirus spreads, CNN Health 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 Coronavirus (COVID-19): How to Talk to Your Child, KidsHealth Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus, Child Mind Institute Are Your Kids Anxious About Coronavirus? Dr. G is Here to Help, Kidsburgh 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 Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs in Emergencies, CDC Prevention COVID-19 Self-Checker, CDC Checklists for Teachers and Parents, CDC FAQs for Administrators, Teachers, and Parents, CDC Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide, Ready PA Parents: Get Your Children Ready for COVID-19, CDC Recommendations for Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Environment, CDC Three ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, MIT Medical Practices to Stay Healthy, U.S. Department of Education Child Care and Preschool Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist, CDC After Infection What to do if you are sick or suspect that you’re sick with COVID-19, CDC Recommended precautions for household members, intimate partners, and caregivers, CDC 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 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 Updates from the Port Authority Unemployed and quarantined Pittsburghers can receive unemployment money faster, with fewer requirements, Public Source Map: Coronavirus and School Closures, Education Week Governor Wolf Extends School Closure for Remainder of Academic Year, Governor Wolf Exception of Directive to Temporairly Close, PAKEYS Child Care Works Payment Modifications Due to Impacts Related to Corona Virus, OCDEL Schools and Child Care Programs: Plan, Prepare, and Respond, CDC Fact Sheets What You Need to Know about COVID-19 (English) (Spanish) (Simplified Chinese), CDC Fact Sheet from the Allegheny County Health Department Fact Sheet from the Pennsylvania Department of Health Informational Flyers Stop the Spread of Germs, Allegheny County Department of Health Keeping Your Home, School, and Workplace Safe, CDC Helping Children and Families Cope, NCPMI Resources Especially Helpful During the COVID-19 Response, ACDHS OID Mental Health Toll-Free 24-Hour Emotional Support Help Line (866.342.6892), Optum National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1.800.273.8255) Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19, CDC Seven Ways to Cope With Anxiety During the Coronavirus Outbreak, AARP Boxed In: COVID-19 and Your Mental Health, Everyday Health Stress and Coping, CDC Receiving Support 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 Pittsburgh Mutual Aid: Resource Library Many Homeowners Eligible for Temporary Relief From Mortgage Payments, AARP 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 A Round-Up of Multilingual Resources on COVID-19, Switchboard COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions, UPMC CDC Prevention Flyer, RCUSA Additional Resources in Spanish ChildCare Aware of America: Quédese actualizado con las noticias y los recursos más recientes sobre el Coronavirus, Child Care Aware of America COVID-19 Info in Other Languages, CPIR Curated Lists Resources on COVID-19 in PA for ECE Programs and Professionals, The Pennsylvania Key COVID-19 Resource Page, PEAL Center COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information and Resources, NAMI Coping with COVID-19, NAEYC Resources for Early Childhood Policymakers on Preventing and Preparing for COVID-19, NIEER Rapid Response Resources: COVID-19, PIE Network The Social Care Network, Auntbertha Stay-at-Home Resource Page, Tickets for Kids Coronavirus Suite Landing Page, CPIR COVID-19 Resources From Every Hour Counts, Every Hour Counts Free Stuff for Teachers: Tools for a Unique 2020–2021 School Year, Coupon Chief Blog Online COVID-19 Resources for Kids, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Distance Learning Resources, Inclusive Schools Network Recorded Webinars Caring for Each Other, Brazelton Touchpoints and Sesame Workshop Don’t Look Away: Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms, EdWeb Contacts and Information 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 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.
April 3, 2020 Strategies for Virtual Learning for Students with Dyslexia Are you interested in learning about tips, techniques, and strategies that are designed to support students with dyslexia? Join Learning Ally on April 9 for the webinar, “Strategies for Virtual Learning for Students with Dyslexia.” About The thought of accomplishing meaningful virtual learning for students is a daunting one. When you consider the complexities of providing intervention, accommodations, and other supports for students with dyslexia in a virtual learning environment, the task becomes even more intimidating. It doesn’t have to be though! Join presenters for this webinar to learn tips, techniques, and strategies designed to keep your students learning. Presenters make sure you know what students need in order to thrive and leave you with a list of go-to resources that will prepare you to deliver instruction in a variety of virtual technology environments. This webinar will be of value to pre-k through high school teachers and school and district leaders. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
eLearning Teaching Tips: Support for Educators During COVID-19 Are you interested in learning about best practices that support online learning? Join SETDA on April 9 for their webinar, “eLearning Teaching Tips: Support for Educators During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” About In support of the SETDA Coalition for eLearning, SETDA will collaborate with teachers that have extensive experience teaching online to share tips on how to best support online learning. Teachers are being asked to transform the way they teach and to meet diverse learning needs, and they need support. Join this webinar to hear from experienced teachers, ask questions, and share your examples on how to support students in this time of need. This webinar will be of interest to pre-k through high school teachers and school leaders. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage!
November 13, 2019 Supporting Young Children During Transitions Writing for Child Mind Institute, Katherine Martinelli recently authored “How Can We Help Kids With Transitions,” highlighting key tips and advice for parents and caregivers seeking to support their young children. About When it comes to transitions–to kindergarten, a new program, or a new routine–young children often struggle. When children whine, stall, meltdown, or have a tantrum, some parents and caregivers aren’t sure where to turn. In an effort to empower these caregivers, Katherine Martinelli authored an article highlighting eight tips for supporting young children during the transition process, mentioning that these supports may be especially important for children with ADHD, anxiety, autism, or sensory sensitivities. Tips & Advice Create Routines Setting routines for daily activities such as bedtime, taking a bath, or putting away toys can play a big role in reassuring children during such transitions. Preview and Count Down In addition to routines, providing a clear outline of what the day will entail can help children adequately prepare for transitions to come. Caregivers can do this in the morning with their children, paired with countdowns throughout the day. Before each transition, give your child a timeframe and description of what’s going to happen next. Give It a Soundtrack Songs are a great tool to encourage routines and ease transitions. By creating songs for things such as cleaning up, bedtime, and getting ready to leave, caregivers establish a recognizable, fun indicator that a transition is happening. This tip works especially well with young children. Visual Cues Some children may benefit from visual clues, such as a chart or poster with drawings that explain what to expect or the steps of a transition. Parents and caregivers can easily reference these visual cues during the transition to help walk children through the process. Get Their Attention Many parents and caregivers know that simply yelling at children from across the room will only lead to frustration for both parties. Instead, caregivers are encouraged to make a connection with the child to ensure the child is giving their full attention. This could mean eye contact, a hand on the shoulder, sitting next to them, or asking them to repeat back what has been said. Use Rewards Reward systems can be beneficial in schools and at home, especially during the early phases of a new transition. Using rewards such as stickers, snacks, or a point system can be effective in supporting positive behaviors. With this, the reward system can be phased out as a child gets closer to mastering the transition. Implement Appropriate Consequences If a child exhibits negative behaviors during a transition, ignore the negative behavior rather than escalating the situation. However, if a child is egregiously misbehaving, parents and caregivers should implement “appropriate consequences for that behavior that makes the child understand that behavior is off-limits.” Praise Good Transitioning Praise and recognition play a vital role in reinforcing positive behaviors. Martinelli recommends that caregivers be specific in their praise, following up with a reward when appropriate. More Information For more tips and advice on supporting children during transitions, read the full article on the Child Mind Institute website.
July 24, 2019 Tips for Managing Air Travel with Young Children Vacations may seem like fun getaways for families, but with them comes an often dreaded necessity: air travel. While flying with young children can be challenging, Macaroni Kid Centreville‘s Jourdan Card highlighted 10 tips to help you travel like a pro. To read Card’s full article, visit the Macaroni Kid Centreville website. Tip 1: Don’t Overpack Your Carry-On It’s tempting to fill your carry-on to the brim, including any and every item your child might want along the way. But lugging around a heavy bag is exhausting, especially when you have a young child or children to look after. Jourdan Card’s rule of thumb is always one extra outfit per kid and an extra shirt for the adults caring for them. Calculating the total travel time, she also prepares one diaper per hour. If your child uses a pacifier, packing several could be useful. You’ll need extra just in case the first one drops on the floor. Caregivers should also prepare snacks, bottles/formula, and any needed medicines or comfort items. Tip 2: Conquer Security Like A Boss Going through security is already a long process, so families are encouraged to prepare ahead of time to avoid additional delays. Card recommends wearing as little extra clothing as possible, because scarves, hats, belts, and other loose items will all have to come off. She recommends simple clothing such as well-fitting pants, a shirt, and tennis shoes. In addition to this, she recommends pulling out any mobile devices, food, and liquids before getting in line so they’re ready to go instead of trying to get them out of the bag last minute. To make this easier, you can put the items in clear, ziplock backs so security can check them quickly as well. Tip 3: Keep Your Hands Available Card recommends babywearing through security, that way you can gate-check your stroller for free. If your stroller is small enough to fit on the conveyer belt, it has to go through, so make sure you know how to fold it quickly ahead of time. If the stroller is too big, it will have to go through the metal detector and receive a manual screening. Tip 4: Potty Break Allow for extra time to get through security and go to the bathroom before your flight. It’s not the easiest process to change a young child in an airplane bathroom, so this is highly recommended! Tip 5: The Muli-Bag System During her family trips, Card usually carries a decent-sized backpack to store everyone’s items. But in addition to that, she packs some reusable grocery bags. Placing each child’s stuff in their own grocery bag, Card allows her children to keep their things separate on the plane, that way the children have easy access to their items and feel control over their items. Tip 6: Bring Your Children’s Favorites In her example, Card mentions that her toddler loved milk. But she learned the hard way that milk isn’t always available on planes. Because of this, she recommends buying some of your child’s favorites in the shops after you go through security. It’ll keep your child calm on the ride. Tip 7: Create A Busy Binder Before going on trips, Card puts together a binder full of ziplock bags, each storing a simple activity. When her kids get cranky or bored during the trip, she pulls them out for some needed fun! Tip 8: Headphones While many airlines have small televisions in the seatbacks, the headphones they provide can often be too big for young children’s ears, which means they’re going to be falling out or off constantly. If you’re going to have access to any digital tech, Card recommends bringing kid-sized headphones so they can watch their favorite shows without disturbing others. Tip 9: Car Seats On Airplanes Double-check that your car seat is TSA approved, there will be a small sticker on the back or side letting you know. If it is, you’re legally allowed to bring your child’s car seat on the plane. However, if you choose to use a car seat in lieu of a lap-held infant (2 and under), each person must have their own purchased seat. Tip 10: Proof of ID It’s not guaranteed to happen, but some airline staff may request proof of your child’s age. Card recommends being prepared by carrying a copy of your children’s birth certificates just in case. *Information collected from Macaroni Kid Centreville
November 19, 2018 2018 Child Passenger Safety Recommendations Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for children four years and older. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated the Child Passenger Safety policy statement and technical report based on new evidence gathered over the past 10 years. The documents will be published in the November issue of Pediatrics. The updated guidance advises children to ride rear-facing as long as possible. Two years of age is no longer a specific age criterion when a child changes from a rear- to a forward-facing car safety seat. View the AAP New article. Recommendations Angela Osterhuber, Ed.M., Director, PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, PA Traffic Injury Prevention Project (TIPP) offers this advice: Secure infants and toddlers in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of the car seat. In Pennsylvania, children younger than two years must be secured in a rear-facing car seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat that has an active passenger-side front airbag. If the airbag inflates, it will hit the back of the car seat, right where the baby’s headrests, and could cause serious injury or death. Traveling rear-facing is safer than forward-facing. Call TIPP at 800/CAR-BELT x24 (in PA) for help with questions about the new recommendations. Additional Tips Car seats must be used correctly to properly protect your child in a crash. The AAP’s parent magazine, HealthyChildren.org, has an article titled Car Seat Checkup with other car seat tips for families, such as: The safest place for all children younger than 13 years to ride is in the back seat regardless of weight and height. If an older child must ride in the front seat, putting the child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness may be the best choice. Be sure you move the vehicle seat as far back from the dashboard (and airbag) as possible. Information provided by NAEYC.