As of September 22, 2021      (for our IHSAspires page — see bottom right corner)*

COVID-19 Resources for Head Start 

(*) indicates recently added or updated resources below.

The health and safety of our members, their staff and their families are our primary concern. We encourage you and your staff to comply with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention CDC recommendations and take all precautionary measures. Below are some additional resources which are updated as they become available.

(*)  60-second animation from World Health Organization – https://youtu.be/p3pc9S2JwYo

The steps above are 🔑 to protecting yourself FOR your loved ones . . #StrongBrightFuturesBeginAtHeadStart

Head Start Illinois Updates:

• Email your resources to IHSA – Share YOUR best resources for our Head Start Community with us.

State of Illinois: 

• (*) Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order regarding masks – review the section(s) pertaining to your school/work environments.
• State of Illinois COVID Updates – current numbers by 5:00 pm daily, plus maps for vaccine locations, eligibility & testing sites, and regional status.
• Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigations – (updated) shows settings with requirements and visual aids.
• COVID-19 Response Fund for Chicago Community – As we individually take steps to protect our own families, workplaces and neighborhoods from the virus, let’s not forget impact on our neighbors.  
• COVID-19 Response Fund for State of Illinois – This is the sister fund to the above Chicago fund to raise money to be disbursed to nonprofit organizations serving people across this state.
• Governor Pritzker’s Call4Calm Program to Provide Mental Health Care to Residents – new program allows Illinois residents to talk to a mental health professional FREE during the COVID-19 crisis.  Text TALK to 552020.  Residents will be asked for their first name and zip code and then will be connected to a health care professional in their area.  [Text HABLAR to 552020 for help in Spanish]  The phone number can also be used to seek help and guidance on other critical issues during the pandemic. (text keywords like “unemployment,” “food,” or “shelter,” for more information).
• Governor’s Office of Early Childhood (GOECD) – This office updated and reorganized its COVID-19 pages for easier use — all that and more — including their current newsletter.
• GOECD – Early Learning Council’s All Families Served Subcommittee conducted survey to identify challenges and promising practices from the field in order to elevate creative solutions being developed in communities to better serve young children and their families from priority populations during this public health emergency.
• GOECD – enjoyillinois.com/allinillinois child-friendly content series connecting children & families with educational resources (museums/attractions, etc).
• GOECD – General information for all – https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/OECD/Pages/COVID-19.aspx
• GOECD – For Providers – https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/OECD/Pages/Resources-for-Providers.aspx
• GOECD – For Families – https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/OECD/Pages/COVID-19-For-Families.aspx
• GOECD – new resource – Social-Emotional Learning Toolkit
• GOECD – Stopping the Spread of Hate: A Guide for Responding to Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander Racism during COVID-19 – surging anti-Asian racism & xenophobia.
• IL Dept of Human Services – Services for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence
• IL Dept of Human Services – Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and their fb @IllinoisCCAP
• IL Dept of Human Services – Services for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence
• IL Dept of Human Services – Services for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence
• IL Dept of Public Health – A public health approach to safely reopen out state.
• IL Dept of Public Health – County Level COVID-19 Risk Metrics
• IL Dept of Public Health – school guidance / managing ill students, staff & more! 
• IL Early Intervention – FAQs for EI Referral Sources during COVID-19 – and more!
• IL Early Intervention Clearinghouse – providing guidance, tip sheets and even more tip sheets.
• IL Early Intervention Clearinghouse – (see their current newsletter).
• IL Early Learning – Blogs and Resources related to COVID-19 and see Tip Sheets and NEWS 
• IL Housing Development Authority – here is the emergency rental application and other resources 
• Illinois.gov – Emergency Child Care FAQs
• ISBE – Emergency Rules for Remote Learning Days – about remote learning for school districts. Recommendations for Early Childhood to which you may wish to align your work.
• ISBE – FAQs on Special Education During Remote Learning
• Joint Illinois Agency Release – details what Illinois has done to date keeping children & providers safe.

Office of Head Start Resources:

• (*) OHS – Get your updates from Head Start – used only to deliver requested information if you subscribe.
• OHS Coronavirus Prevention and Responses – (latest updates)
• OHS Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma – fact sheet: nature of trauma, its effects on children/youth, and ways to help your child. 
• OHS Health Services Management – a wealth of resources here, new and experienced staff will find professional development tools to help keep children safe, healthy, and ready to learn.
• OHS MyPeers – Check it out!! If you are not yet participating on the MyPeers collaborative platform (on ECLKC) you really should!!  There is much information and many resources about COVID-19 on this site.  MyPeers is a virtual learning network where you can brainstorm, exchange ideas, and share resources with early childhood colleagues from across the country.
• OHS Supporting Needs Beyond Head Start (also on ECLKC COVID-19 page.)  Consider reading over it again especially if your staff is assisting with emergency child care at another agency.
• OHS VLOG on COVID 19 (updated regularly) – our own Dr. B along with Kiersten Beigel discusses “Staying Connected to Decrease Family Stress in Difficult Times.”
• OHS Webinar use on-demand (24-7) link to access “Addressing Trauma in Classroom Settings”
• OHS Webinar use on-demand (24-7) link to access “Building Resilience in the Face of Trauma and Adversity”
• OHS Webinar use on-demand (24-7) link to access “Caring for Children in Group Settings during COVID-19”
• OHS Webinar use on-demand (24-7) link to access “Caring for Children in Group Settings during COVID-19: A Follow-up Conversation” (by the NCECHW)
• OHS Webinar use on-demand (24-7) link to access “Family Engagement and Child Welfare”
• OHS Webinar use on-demand (24-7) link to access “Helping Parents Manage Stress During COVID-19”
• OHS Webinar use on-demand (24-7) link to access “Partnering with Families to Address Domestic Violence”
• OHS Webinar use on-demand (24-7) link to access “Supporting Families Affected by Substance Use Disorder”
• OHS Additional Guidance on Funding Applications in Response to COVID (also on ECLKC) – Funding and Administrative Flexibilities; Grantees should have received this through HSES.
• OHS Communication and Connectivity: Family Supports for Remote Service Delivery  (resources) – phones, laptops, tablets, Wi-Fi, and charging capability are critical tools for HS/EHS remote service delivery. Families and children rely on these tools to access Head Start and Early Head Start and other vital health and human services in their communities.
• OHS ECLKC Resources to Support Early Childhood Learning Programs and their Mental Health Outreach –  Tell Me a Story was developed with a focus on adversity and parental depression. Tell Me a Story is part of the Family Connections program (explore more here)
• OHS ECLKC Resources to Support Professional Development for Education Staff (option to subscribe) – Discover resources on ECLKC that education staff can use to support their professional development during center closures and while social distancing.
• OHS ECLKC Resources to Support Teachers and Administrators – Explore this excellent collection of early childhood development resources for teachers and administrators (aka as the Front Porch Broadcast Series).
• OHS Food flexibility: HS/EHS programs may provide meals and snacks to children during center closures. USDA waived group setting meal requirement for closed schools, special state flexibilities.
• OHS Food Insecurity during COVID-19 – Many Head Start families are struggling with food insecurity during the COVID-19 emergency. To meet the needs of school-aged children, the USDA is coordinating several efforts which may apply to siblings of Head Start children.  Check out the information on the Pandemic-EBT.  Illinois is participating. 
• OHS General Disaster Recovery Flexibilities ACF-IM-HS-19-01 (memo)
• OHS Help Celebrate Head Start’s 55th Anniversary – Ideas and resources to help celebrate the 55^th anniversary (1965-2020) of our wonderful Head Start program all year long.
• OHS Managing Infectious Disease: (video) Dr. Bergeron & Dr. Marco Beltran discuss strategies for managing.
• OHS Partnering with Families to Improve Economic Stability during and after COVID-19 (option to subscribe) – Many Head Start and Early Head Start families are affected with job loss and other community impacts related to COVID-19. Learn more about the steps programs can take, now and in the future, to improve families’ financial stability.
• OHS Responding to Grantee Questions on COVID-19 – OHS had received many questions from grantees seeking approval for local decisions about operations. OHS provides general guidance in this Q and A. Grantees may join the MyPeers community to discuss particular situations with their colleagues
• OHS Supporting Child Care During the COVID-19 Crisis – How Head Start and Early Head Start Programs Can Help – this provides clarification on how programs can support, when possible, the use of closed Head Start centers as temporary child care centers for medical personnel and essential workers.
• OHS Trauma and Substance Use – Strategies to Support Families (video series) on substance abuse and its relationship to trauma/painful emotions/stress; learn more how Head Start programs help.
• OHS Temporarily Repurposing Head Start and Early Head Start Centers – Partnering to Support Emergency Child Care During the COVID-19 Crisis. OHS expects Head Start programs, even during program closures, to continue to support enrolled children and families in creative and innovative ways.
• OHS Wage & Benefits Flexibility: In response to COVID-19, OHS advises grantees to coordinate with local health authorities and implement their existing policies and procedures related to closure of Head Start centers during infectious disease outbreaks. 
• OHS Wage & Benefits Flexibility on COVID – Wages and Benefits eligibility timing.   

National Head Start Association Resources:

• NHSA Resources to support our children in the wake of the violent mob in the US Capitol 
• NHSA Addressing Racism and Injustice with Young Children – providing resources for Early Childhood Educators
• NHSA COVID-19 Policy Resources for Parents and Caregivers – Review these resources to learn how you can help families access federal aid during this challenging time.
• NHSA’s Kitchen Table Talk – National survey results of the impact of COVID-19 on Head Start services.  Interesting results!  Also, discussion points on reopening.
• NHSA’s Kitchen Table Talk (of past weeks) – Kitchen Table Talks included support for how we can continue to provide mental health supports for our communities. Ryann Summers from AllMentalHealth not only shared COVID-19 specific mental health resources, and also led us through a short mindfulness exercise. Rachel Miller talked about CloseGap, a child-facing wellness tool that both parents and Head Start staff can use to check in on Head Start kids. We also heard from Weddy Moore from the National Domestic Violence Hotline about an issue that is at the top of many of our minds. The Hotline advocates are available 24/7 both on their website and at 1-800-799-7233 to talk confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship.

Other Important Resources and Information:

• AbuseLawsuit.com – Offers legal support & resources for survivors of child sexual abuse & other abuse areas. 
• (*)  AddictionResource.net – Be sure to check out the Illinois list below for help in finding the treatment program that is right for you or your loved one.
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) www.HealthyChildren.org offers information for parents & providers on COVID-19. Especially note the section about masks for children over 2 years of age.
• American Addiction Centers (AAC) hosts FREE virtual meetings weekly, adopts the slogan “progress not perfection” to create a safe, confidential, and accessible forum for those in or seeking recovery.
• Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) – Informational and Educational Resources
• Bedtime Stress & COVID – Wellness Tools for Kids – parents/kids: strategies keep bedtime calm & stress-free. 
• Bright Smiles Bright Futures – sign up for your workshop (and obtain a dental hygiene kit for each participating child) – offered by Colgate!
• CDC – Guarding Against Stigma Related to Coronavirus 
• CDC – Guidance for Operating Child Care Programs during COVID-19  . . (with March 12th changes).
• CDC – How Coronavirus Spreads – US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• CDC – Prevention and Treatment  
• CDC – Resources on Re-Opening Schools, Childcare, and Small Businesses – these resources are from Kimberlee Belcher-Badal, Exec. Dir. of the National Workforce Registry Alliance: (#1) Guidelines for Re-Opening Schools and Day Camps, and (#2) Guidelines for Re-Opening Child Care Providers, and (#3) Guidelines for Employers and Small Businesses  
• CDC – Running Essential Errands –  in addition, for even more helpful guides and suggestions (along the left-hand side of that same webpage), check out their menu!
• CDC – Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick 
• CDC – STOP the Spread of Germs (flyer) 
• Chalkbeat / Educational Reporting in Chicago – Pre-K for all: COVID-19 battle slows pace of Chicago preschool expansion – COVID-19 has slowed the pace of pre-K expansion in Chicago.
• Chicago Children’s Museum – Continue to check out the new resources for parents and caregivers. Both the “Parenting Playbook” and the “Recipes for Play at Home” have great ideas!
• ChildCare.gov (webinar) – Discussion Regarding Guidance for Child Care Programs that remain open.
• ChildCare.gov now Provides Families with State and Territory Level Information About Child Care and COVID-19.  Could help us learn what other states are doing during this pandemic.
• Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential – CDA Renewal Amnesty Program details – extended deadline to June 30, 2020 (anyone with a CDA credential expiration date as far back as January 1, 2010 may complete the renewal process and activate their credential. All applications and payments ($125) must be submitted online (no exceptions or extensions granted).
• Child Trends – Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• ECTA (Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center) supports state Part C and Section 619 programs in developing high-quality early intervention and preschool special education service systems, increasing local implementation of evidence-based practices, and enhancing outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families.  This site provides state Part C and Part B, Section 619 programs with the latest information on funding and guidance during the COVID- 19 pandemic.  Read about these and more.
• Erikson Institute webinar (on Health, Early Childhood and COVID-19) from Policy & Leadership Department — Erikson’s Associate Vice President of Policy Cristina Pacione-Zayas and Vice-President for Policy and Operations Mitch Lifson at Voices for Illinois Children will discuss the conditions that contribute to ongoing health disparities and high rates of COVID-19 virus infection experienced by communities of color. The presentation will also provide insight on the State of Illinois investments in early childhood health programs and services.
• Erikson Institute – several webinars on: Emergency Child Care – Child Development and Emergency Child Care – Health Guidance and Supporting Families Virtually During the COVID-19 Outbreak  
• Florida State University’s COVID-19 Resources (free resources) – FSU developed the Partners for a Healthy Baby curriculum, so there will be items for sale on this website, but there are free resources also. 
• Illinois Action for Children Learning Activities – Check out these resources for e-learning, play, discovery, and more! Check back often as they continue to update with more resources.
• Illinois State University – Choosing Pancakes Every Time – What’s important for families (and early learning educators) to focus on during COVID-19
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities – During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak (March 2020) this Q&A document outlines states’ responsibilities to infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities and their families, and to the staff serving these children.
• Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMH) – advances/impacts mental health of young children & early childhood staff); find resources & webinars for mental health consultants. 
• Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) – one of the best webinars you will see!!!
• Learning Genie – Free Family Engagement Tool – keep families connected with educational content to provide awareness how to protect families and staff during COVID-19 emergency
• MASK Up and Live Campaign – challenge is launched -check it out!  70+% of Chicago COVID-19 deaths are minorities. Here’s a good link to information about wearing mask when venturing outdoors.
• National Association for Down Syndrome – lists COVID-19 resources to assist individuals with Down syndrome & their families during this unprecedented time. (See Q&A in English/Spanish.)
• National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning (NCECDTL) – Home Visiting Series–Planning Virtual Home Visits and Socialization Activities with Families (06-10-20 webinar / 2–3 pm CST) – discover how to plan and individualize virtual home visit and socialization activities with families. Learn about effective virtual engagement practices and available resources to assist your continued work with families.
• National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness – Transitioning-Back-to-School FAQs – provides additional resource links.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) – HELP GUIDE for Parents and Caregivers to help families cope with COVID-19 in Spanish & English
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) – Trauma-informed care and secondary traumatic stress
• National Public Radio (NPR) for Kids: Goats and Soda – stories of life in a changing world and more.
• New America shares very nice article: A Socially Distant Birthday for Head Start
• Protecting Immigrant Families in Illinois (PIL-IL) – What Immigrant Families in Illinois Should Know during the COVID-19 Pandemic – webinar in Spanish and similar presentation in English recording and slides, plus COVID-19 and public charge resources (learn more).
• Ready Rosie FREE resources – In case your program doesn’t already use Ready Rosie, this is a Healthy at Home: Toolkit for Supporting Families affected by COVID-19.
• Ready4K – Free Access: a virtual parenting curriculum and family engagement tool is now FREE for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.
• REL Midwest Early Childhood Education Research Alliance – It Takes A Village: How Community Organizations, Schools, & Families Can Support Early Literacy (19-minute documentary) Program highlights how community organizations can incorporate literacy development into their work with children and how they can effectively partner with school districts to promote early childhood literacy.
• REL Midwest Early Childhood Education Research Alliance – On Course for Reading Success: Best Practices for Teaching Beginning Readers (quick reference guide) – The guide identifies research-based instructional practices for teaching beginning readers, along with the level of evidence behind the practices and core literacy skills to target for early screening and progress monitoring.
• Sesame Street – Caring for Each Other – Our friends on Sesame Street are here to support you during the COVID-19 health crisis.
• Shriver Center on Poverty Law for economic and racial justice – COVID-19 Resources for Individuals and Families in ILLINOIS – info and resources to aid communities and more! (updated regularly)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – COVID-19 Talking With Children
• Switchboard – A Round-Up of Multilingual Resources on COVID-19 – learn more from the “switchboard” a one-stop resource hub for refugee service providers in the United States.
• The CENTER: Resources for Teaching and Learning – check out their NEXT month’s Training Calendar.
• Vibrant Emotional Health – nonprofit that has provided mental health services and support for over 50 years. Vibrant administers the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, funded by SAMHSA.
• World Health Organization (WHO) – Daily Situation Reports from the World Health Organization 
• World Health Organization (WHO) – Got 1-1/2 minutes?  Break the Chains of Transmission
• Zero to Thrive – guides geared toward families with young children, multilingual COVID-19 infographics

 

*Need a break from all those facts & figures? 

Visit our IHSAspires page!

 

 

 

 

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