Covid 19 Resources

OUTREACH WELLNESS LEARNING WEBINARS:

COVID-19 Specific Topics

Mental Wellness during COVID-19
There are no scheduled webinars for this topic at this time. Please see recorded webinars Here

Caregiver Support: Managing Self-Care Durig COVID-19
You can review recorded training Here

Families: Wellness Supports for Children & Tenagers During COVID-19
You can review recorded training Here

Youth Training: Managing Wellness for Youth and Young Adults During COVID-19 (intended for participants ages 14 – 24)
There are no scheduled webinars for this topic at this time. Please see recorded webinars Here

General Mental Health Awareness Topics

Mental Health 101
May 27th 2pm – 3pm (Targeted for youth 14 – 24 years of age) Here

Mental Health Crisis
There are no scheduled webinars for this topic at this time. Please check back at a later time and please see recorded webinars Here

Building Resilience in Youth
May 26th 12 pm – 1 pm Here

My Life is a Gift (MLG): Suicide Prevention
There are no scheduled webinars for this topic at this time. Please check back at a later time and please see recorded webinars Here

Maternal Mental Health
May 22nd 11am – 12pm Here

Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training
May 28th 12pm – 1:15 pm Here

Can’t attend an upcoming training? Want to watch previous trainings anytime?  CLICK HERE

Georgia Hope

https://gahope.org/recovery-services/teletherapy/

Due to COVID-19, all services will be primarily provided via TeleMental Health. This does not limit our services available for individuals/ families. HOPE is here for you.

COVID-19 Ancillary Costs
The HealthWell Foundation just announced a COVID-19 Fund that provides up to $250 in assistance with ancillary costs associated with COVID-19. Grants awarded through the fund will provide reimbursement assistance to at risk or quarantined individuals for delivered food, medication, telehealth copays and transportation costs associated with COVID-19.

11Alive: A financial expert is here to answer your questions regarding coronavirus money concerns

• The Giving Kitchen. Offering financial help to food service workers in crisis due to an unexpected illness, injury, death of an immediate family member or housing disaster in Georgia.
• Meals on Wheels. Delivers meals to seniors.
• Open Hand. Delivers healthy meals to people who might otherwise go without food in Atlanta.
• Aunt Bertha. Find food pantries, housing assistance and cash assistance programs in Georgia.
• Student Meal Pick-Up Information by School District
  Many Georgia families will be able to pick up school meals for their children during state-mandated closures. This a list of how each school district is handling meal pick-up procedures. If you are a school district and your information is not listed or has been updated, email bboswell@gpb.org.
• School Meal Service Flexibilty for Students—GaDOE
  Food insecurity for students who rely on school meals is a major concern if extended school closures become necessary. GaDOE has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for alternate meal service flexibility in the case of extended closures. This will allow schools to serve students meals through USDA-approved meal service options, at approved sites within the community.
• Local Food Banks—Georgia Food Bank Association
  Your community is served by one of Georgia’s eight Feeding America affiliate Food Banks. Find yours here to donate or get help.
• Food Finder
  Food Finder is a mobile app and website created by a Georgia high school graduate that helps students and families find free food assistance programs quickly.
• Unemployment Assistance
  The Georgia Department of Labor is providing online access to unemployment services, partial claim access for employers, and resources for other reemployment assistance. Find your local career center.
• Georgia Gateway
  Apply for Food Stamp and Medicaid benefits. Download an application.
  Go to connectebt.com for Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) or call 888-421-3281 for updates.
  You can also contact the DFCS Customer Contact Center at 877-423-4746 for additional information or to request a paper application. Find your county office.

• Evictions. Some courts have stopped hearing eviction cases during the crisis. If you have been served with an eviction notice, contact the local court to see what their policy is at this time.
• People with FHA-insured single family mortgages cannot evict their tenants for 60 days starting March 18, 2020. If you are served with an eviction notice and you rent a single family home, it may be worth asking whether our landlord has an FHA-insured mortgage.
•  Foreclosures. Several government agencies have announced that they will not move forward with evictions or foreclosures for a period of time.
• FHA-backed mortgages. Beginning March 18, 2020, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced that it will stop foreclosure and evictions for single family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages for the next 60 days. This means, if you have an FHA-insured mortgage:
• A foreclosure cannot happen for 60 days.
• You cannot evict your tenants for the next 60 days.
• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages. Starting March 18, 2020, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) to suspend foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days. This applies to Enterprise-backed single family mortgages.

Online Resources

• Georgia Department Of Education School Closure Information
  
• Talking to Kids about COVID-19
• Supporting Kids During the COVID-19 Crisis
• How to Avoid Passing Anxiety on to Your Kids
• Talking to Kids about Fear and Violence
• Children’s Mental Health Matters – Coronavirus
• Harvard Medical School – How to Talk to Teens About the New Coronavirus
• NASP – Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource

Covid-19 Puppet Show by Kids on the Block

Georgia Public Libraries
While many public libraries across Georgia are closed to slow the spread of COVID-19, some are still offering limited services to help kids keep learning while schools are closed, provide wi-fi for local residents, and more.

Comcast—60 Days of Free Internet
Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, anyone who signs up for Internet Essentials will receive two free months of Internet service. Comcast is also increasing the speed of the program to 25 Mbps downloads and 3 Mbps uploads for all new and existing customers.

Xfinity WiFi Free for Everyone
Xfinity WiFi hotspots across Georgia are available to anyone who needs them for free—including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. The site includes a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots.

Jigsaw Interactive
Jigsaw Interactive is stepping up to help schools by providing access to virtual classroom software, at no cost, from now through the end of the 2019-20 school year. Any school interested can call 877-571-0004 (x2285) or email customerassist@jigsawinteractive.com to be directed to someone who can discuss specific needs.

Other  Learning Resources

• Scholastic Learn at Home Free Resources
• Smithsonian Distance Learning Resources
• Virtual Field Trips from Discovery Education
• Free Learning Resources from Lakeshore Learning Materials
• List of Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions due to School Closings

Digital Learning Resources

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt—At-Home Learning Support
Educators and family members can access free lesson ideas, blogs, videos, and professional development resources while schools are closed as a result of coronavirus.

Discovery Education
To help parents and guardians provide homebound students meaningful educational experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, Discovery Education has launched Daily DE, which provides a suite of no-cost activities and resources for students and families to help continue learning while schools are closed.

Georgia Public Library Service
Here are online resources to keep you engaged and learning while schools, businesses, and libraries are closed. For example, Georgia Historic Newspapers gives you free access to over 1.5 million newspaper pages; Georgia’s Sanborn maps dating back to 1881 allows you to look up nearby streets, buildings, or landmarks to see how they’ve changed; and Georgia Aquarium’s live aquatic webcams can entertain and educate your kids.

GaDOE Office of Teaching and Learning
GaDOE is advising school districts to develop a plan to continue student learning, if possible, should they need to close for several days—using resources such as study packets, cable access, virtual school, and online classes. These resources from GaDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning are available to support schools’ efforts.

GPB Education
As many Georgia teachers face the possibility of reaching students remotely, GPB is here to help with digital learning contingency plans. GPB Education provides free access to over 300,000 standards-aligned digital learning resources for all grades and subject areas including streaming video, instructional strategies, virtual field trips, teacher resources, and complete lesson plans through partnerships with Discovery Education and PBS LearningMedia.

Georgia Home Classroom
Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), in partnership with GaDOE, is offering broadcast programming and accompanying digital resources that adhere to Georgia’s state standards to provide continued at-home learning.

Students in Pre-K through 12th grade can access free, educational PBS daytime programming designated for each grade level weekdays on GPB-TV. The broadcast schedule includes trusted, educational programming. Additional GPB and PBS programs are also available to stream on gpb.org or the free PBS Video App and PBS KIDS Apps.

In addition to the broadcast schedule, Georgia students and educators can also access an online library of free educational resources from GPB Education, PBS LearningMedia, and Discovery Education, including videos, activities, and associated lesson plans for teachers, that align with Georgia standards.

GPB Kids—for Parents
GPB Kids offers advice to parents on how to talk to their kids about Coronavirus.

Cox Campus
Cox Campus offers free, online courses for early childhood educators, families, leaders, and community members.

iCivics.org
All around the world, schools are closing and transitioning to remote options as a precaution against the spread of Coronavirus. During this time, we want to remind teachers that free iCivics games and other resources are an option to keep the learning going outside of the school walls, staying connected with your students, and providing them with a healthy break from the headlines that can be unsettling.

Ready4K
In response to the unprecedented number of schools, preschools, and child care providers that have closed due to coronavirus, ParentPowered has made its Ready4K virtual parenting curriculum and family engagement tool free for the rest of the 2019-20 school year. Ready4K is an evidence-based whole-child curriculum that offers fun facts and at-home learning activity ideas for children birth through 9, all delivered via text message. Download the application.

Brain Pop
This group of websites has 1,000+ short animated movies K-12. Includes quizzes and more, covering science, social studies, English, math, engineering and technology, health, and arts and music.

• BrainPOP Jr. (K-3): Designed to support critical thinking skills and encourage children to ask questions and make connections. Targeted  kids ages 5 – 9.
• BrainPOP ELL: English language instruction for K-12 English language learners.

Khan Academy
Khan Academy offers free practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empowers learners to study at their own pace.

Mystery Science
Mystery Science provides lessons that inspire kids to love science. During school closures, popular science lessons are being provided for anyone to use for free. No account or login needed.

Prodigy
Prodigy offers engaging, curriculum-aligned math platform designed to motivate first- through eighth-grade students to learn and practice math. No cost, ever.

Freckle
Freckle helps teachers effectively differentiate instruction and practice across math, ELA, social studies, and science.

Supporting Younger Learners at Home

For all ages: 49 Fun Physical Activities

Vroom: Boost learning from birth – 5. Available for iOS and android phones, this app is filled with fun and simple learning activities for mealtime, bathtime, bedtime, or anytime.

Toddlers
Everyday learning activities for toddlers and 3-year-olds

Fun, simple activities to engage your toddler and 3-year-old in learning

Fun art, science, math and literacy activities for toddlers and threes

Great ideas to keep your toddlers busy and learning

Tons of simple and fun activities to encourage literacy and school readiness

20 learning activities for toddlers and threes that use items easily available around the house

Preschool—3- and 4-year-olds
25 Indoor Play Activities from a Preschool Teacher

20 Indoor Activities for Kids (besides screens)

Literacy Resources

Renaissance myOn
To ensure that students have at-home learning opportunities during this time of school closures, Get Georgia Reading and Renaissance are partnering to provide readers free, anytime/anywhere access to digital books and news with myON. Unlimited, 24/7 access makes it easy for students to continue reading and learning at home. Students can read online using any Internet-enabled device, or read offline with free mobile apps.

PBS Kids Writers Contest 2020
The deadline for GPB Education’s 2020 PBS KIDS Writers Contest has been extended to April 10. This is the perfect writing activity for students in K-3 to engage in while they’re learning at home.

e-READ KIDS
This collection of e-books and audio books is for kids in pre-K through fourth grade. A mix of fiction and nonfiction titles can be downloaded onto computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Rivet
With over 2,000 leveled books for kids in K – 2, quality reading practice has never been easier. The app features an engaging, kid-friendly interface and reading support on every page.

Sightwords.com
The Georgia Preschool Association sponsors resources to help teach your child to read.

Words2Reading
Words2Reading brings families, caregivers, and teachers the best resources in developing early language skills and reading readiness from birth to age 8. Grow your young reader through easy-to-follow videos, links, downloadable documents, e-books, and audio clips all available online.

Háblame Bebé
The Háblame Bebé app, available for both IOS and android, supports Spanish-speaking parents in delivering abundant language nutrition to their infants and young children.

The OrganWise Guys
Access a wide array of engaging activities such as coloring sheets, short videos, recipes, and more to get kids excited about healthy living. Here are some video resources to help our kids stay healthy:

• Wash Your Hands Before You Eat for Good Health
• Wash Your Hands After Using the Bathroom
• Learning How to be a Germ Killer

Storyline Online
This award-winning children’s literacy website streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations.

Scholastic Learn at Home
Even when schools are closed, you can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys. Every day includes four separate learning experiences, each built around a thrilling, meaningful story or video. Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers. Just find your grade level and let the learning begin.

Teaching Our World: The Coronavirus—Scholastic
Scholastic created this collection to help you ease children’s fears and empower them with age-appropriate information. These teaching resources were carefully prepared to help your students understand what is being done to keep them safe and how to prevent germs from spreading.

Cómo Hablar con los Niños Sobre el Coronavirus
Las noticias relacionadas con la enfermedad COVID-19 y el coronavirus están por todos lados, desde las portadas de los periódicos hasta el patio de juegos en la escuela. Muchos padres se preguntan cómo hablar con sus niños sobre la epidemia para que estén tranquilos y no se preocupen más. A continuación encontrará algunos consejos de los expertos del Child Mind Institute.

Online Resources

• VoxATL For Teens, By Teens. Where Teens talk and Atlanta listens.
• LEAP- Virtual Online Mentors https://www.mhageorgia.org/leap/
• Pathways Transitions Program, Private Mental Health Services http://www.pathwaystransitionprograms.com/about.html
• Stand Up for Kids, Unaccompanied homeless and at-risk youth https://www.standupforkids.org/
• Psychology Today, Teen Groups https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/adolescents-teenagers-14-to-19/georgia
• UNICEF, Information https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/how-teenagers-can-protect-their-mental-health-during-coronavirus-covid-19
• CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

SBA Loan Application Information
SBA disaster assistance is now available to the entire state of Georgia. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Georgia small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). These loans can provide vital economic support to help small businesses overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact.

Department of Labor Assistance for Employees
Governor Brian Kemp and Labor Commissioner Mark Butler issued a statement regarding the Georgia Department of Labor Assisting Workers during this difficult time. Commissioner Butler is mandating that all employers electrically file a partial claim on behalf of their employees if the current situation has deemed it necessary for you to significantly reduce hours or temporarily lay off workers.

Please go to https://dol.georgia.gov/ to begin the process.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Elizabeth Scott, Region 3N Coordinator for the Georgia Department of Labor at 404.859.8907 or elizabeth.scott@gdol.ga.gov.