Statewide Parents Advocacy Network (SPAN) Covid-19 Resources

SPAN is Here to Help!

SPAN website with COVID-19 Fact sheet and resource chart

https://spanadvocacy.org/home/spans-covid-19-information-page/

Youtube channel: SPAN Parent Advocacy Network - videos uploaded daily

Facebook Live sessions every Thursday at 3 pm.

Warmline - 800-654-7726  (someone will call you back with help).

Hotlines

NO RECESS? NO PROBLEM!!

NO RECESS? NO PROBLEM!!!

SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S SENSORY AND MOTOR NEEDS DURING HOME INSTRUCTION

Adapted from online resources by Kathryn Polidoro, OTR/L and Jessica Dunn, PT

Here are some suggestions to boost your child’s development and effectively fill time outside
of structured educational activities!

MOVE!

Kids do better when academic time is broken into smaller, more easily achievable segments!       

Take a break from the technology and move your body! Movement has been shown to boost
cognitive development, physical health, and mental well-being.

    -GoNoodle

    -CosmicKidsYoga

    -TheLearningStation 

    -Brain-Breaks.com (click on content and it will show free videos)

Create an obstacle course—no special equipment needed! Walk like animals, jump over pillows, or
use masking tape on the floor to create visuals. Each family member can take a turn at choosing
how you move through the course. (Added bonus if you incorporate a functional component
such as picking up a site word, carrying it across the obstacle course and writing it down at the end!)

Have a dance party! Play your favorite songs and show off your favorite moves.

Animal Walk Race- https://www.cbc.ca/parents/learning/view/12-animals-walks-for-kids-to-get-moving

Go for a nature walk

UNSTRUCTURED play!

         Our kids are so used to having their days planned out for them from school, to
extracurricular activities, to evening routines. Unstructured play leads to cognitive,
social-emotional, and physical development by giving children freedom to explore and
problem solve independently. Limit screen time, go outside, let kids create, allow them to get
messy, and don’t solve ALL of their problems for them.

Teach your kids new things!

        Endless time at home is a great opportunity to practice new skills. Teach your children simple
household chores, how to tie their shoes, or practice new recipes! Learning new skills allows children
to gain responsibility and will boost their independence and confidence.

Coolest shoe tying trick ever!!! Posting to help anyone who is struggling like we were!

Create a safe, calm space

        This is a stressful time. We are out of routine and not able to engage in our regular activities.
It is important to have a safe space to take a break and relieve stress. Use a comfy chair, make a fort,
or offer hugs. Encourage use of coping strategies such as deep breaths, talking about feelings,
listening to music, or squeezing a ball or play doh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEEJT9cYsm0&t=15s (Mindfulness Exercise)

COVID-19 Resources for Parents with Children on the Autism Spectrum

What should the autism community know about the coronavirus outbreak?

https://www.autismspeaks.org/science-news/what-should-autism-community-know-about-coronavirus-outbreak 

 

How to handle clinical care during social distancing and school/program closures

https://www.autismspeaks.org/science-news/how-handle-clinical-care-during-social-distancing-and-schoolprogram-closures 

Carol Gray Social Story: My Story about Pandamics and the Caronavirus 

https://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Pandemics-and-the-Coronavirus.pdf 

 

Youtube Social Story

https://youtu.be/PEAogQYUmV4 

 

From Shrub Oaks

Dealing with Covid-19

Resources for Special Educators, Therapists, & Families

Curated resources for those working with individuals who have developmental disabilities.

Great resources! 

Thanks Ms. Ciaramella!

NJ Human Services

NJ Human Services Works to Protect & Help Maintain Continued Benefits for Residents Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

Actions Address Child care, Seniors, Homeless, Medicaid, Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder and Disability Services 

March 18, 2020

(TRENTON) – To protect the health and safety of the individuals we serve and help maintain vital social service benefits continue to do so, New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson today outlined steps the Department has taken to assist and protect those we serve amid the ongoing work to contain COVID-19.

“During these challenging times, Human Services is committed to continuing to protect and care for those across the state who depend on our critical services,” Commissioner Johnson said. “Human service providers are first responders in this crisis and the health and safety of those we and our community partners serve is our top priority.  We’ve taken steps to offer assistance to child care providers so that they can remain open and continue to provide care; to make it easier for Medicaid beneficiaries to refill their prescriptions early and stock a 90-day supply of their maintenance medications; to protect older residents and individuals with developmental disabilities by moving swiftly to end congregate activities; and to create opportunities to help New Jerseyans receiving opioid use disorder treatment retain access to care. We’re going to continuously review our policies and services as the situation evolves and take all available action to protect our most vulnerable residents.”

Actions taken by the Department of Human Services include:

Supporting Individuals and Families with Children:

                       Child Care

• Waiving parent co-pays in state’s child care subsidy for parents who request it due to impacts from COVID-19;

• Providing an additional $100 per child per month to child care providers for children in the State child care subsidy program to help child care centers remain open during this critical time to support working parents, emergency and essential personnel; and

• Making grant funding available to child care centers to support cleaning supplies or services.

Cash, Shelter and Food Assistance

• Automatically extending for 60 days WorkFirst New Jersey cash assistance to individuals whose case is up for renewal in March or April;

• Extending all Emergency Assistance cases through April 30; 

• Deeming the current state of emergency as a good cause exemption for the work requirements in WorkFirst New Jersey and SNAP and suspending all adverse actions for non-compliance;

• Convening New Jersey food banks and community pantries to focus on preparedness planning and distribution; and

• Working with homeless shelters to address cleaning and self-isolation policies.

NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid

• Covering COVID-19 testing, visits for testing, and testing-related services at no cost;

• Waiving costs for COVID-19 testing, visits for testing, and testing-related services in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP);

• Covering 90-day supplies of prescriptions for maintenance medications and early refills of prescriptions in Medicaid and CHIP; and

• Directing hospitals to waive cost sharing for uninsured individuals who are eligible for charity care for medically necessary testing and testing-related services for the COVID-19 virus.

Supporting Older Residents

• Mobilizing nurse care managers at Medicaid health plans to call high risk populations to identify and address their critical needs including supplies such as durable medical equipment and food;

• Allowing older residents receiving prescription drugs through Medicaid or the state prescription drug assistance program (PAAD and Senior Gold) to refill their prescriptions early and receive 90-day supplies of   maintenance medications;

• Working with our county partners to ensure that those receiving home-delivered meals continue to have access to food;

• Partnering with counties to end congregate dining in senior centers while helping to ensure that participants continue to have access to food;

• Working with counties to support telephone outreach to seniors known to be socially isolated;

• Encouraging health care providers to use telehealth for routine visits, as appropriate;

• Working closely with community and institutional providers to ensure resident needs are met; and

• Conducting telephonic outreach for our most vulnerable residents seeking enrollment in social service benefits.

Supporting Individuals with Disabilities:

• Temporarily closing congregate day programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and supporting this transition;

• Providing flexibility to families to quickly hire workers and working closely with program providers and direct support professionals during the closure;

• Releasing guidance for community providers of services to the developmentally disabled on COVID-19 preparedness;

• Keeping residents who are deaf or hard of hearing informed through American Sign Language videos, interpreters at State emergency response press conferences, and other activities; and

• Conducting outreach to clients who depend on our Personal Assistance Service Program for individuals with physical disabilities and our Traumatic Brain Injury Fund to ensure needs are being met.

Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services:

• Issue guidance to Opioid Treatment Programs, which provide essential medication such as methadone or buprenorphine to individuals with an opioid use disorder, on ensuring the safe provision of medication including take-home medication;

• Releasing guidance mental health and substance use disorder providers on preparedness and response, including ensuring continued access to services for individuals in need of services; and

• Working closely with community providers to identify and ensure needs are met.

Source Link

Great Resources from the Waldwick Police Department Nixle Message!

RESOURCES TO LEARN, EXPLORE & STAY ENTERTAINED

With many Waldwick residents and their children staying home in an effort to stop the spread of Coronavirus, we are sharing the list below that you can use to learn, explore, and stay entertained. Please post in the comments with other resources you have found valuable.
 
Scholastic Learn at Home, day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing:
https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
 
Bedtime Math, keep your kids’ math skills sharp – without screen time!:  http://bedtimemath.org/fun-math-at-home/
 
Amazing Educational Resources, google doc compiling educational resources:
http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/
 
Google A Day Challenge Questions Divided by subjects:  
https://www.google.com/insidesearch/searcheducation/lessons.html#challenges

A Google A Day --- New Questions every day to answer:
http://www.agoogleaday.com/
 
Google Search Lesson Plans:
https://www.google.com/insidesearch/searcheducation/lessons.html
 
The New York Times Learning Network, teach and learn with the Times: resources for bringing the world into your classroom:
https://www.nytimes.com/section/learning
 
The Kennedy Center - Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems - every day new posts at 1pm:  
https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/
   
12 famous museums offer virtual torus you can take on your couch:
https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
 
The Metropolitan Opera House will host “Nightly Met Opera Streams” from its famed Live in HD series:
https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-to-offer-up-nightly-met-opera-streams/
 
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Facebook hosts a Home Safari Facebook Live each weekday at 3pm EDT where they highlight one of their amazing animals and include an activity you can do from home:
https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo

You can also sign up for a Nixle Account HERE