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The COVID-19 event continues to affect families worldwide. Strengthening families and communities has never been more important than it is right now. PEI is here to help.
Our program specialists have been compiling family and caregiver resources alongside public health information for you. We will be sending this message out each Friday to our PEI Community of providers, stakeholders, and advocates until the COVID-19 event lessens.
The following links provide reliable and up-to-date information on the current situation regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Feel free to share these links with coworkers and your community on social media and in communications to staff, stakeholders and community members.
Texas Department of State Health Services Coronavirus Information Page: Hospitals, healthcare professionals, local public health, community leaders, and others can find resources throughout this website to help them in their response to COVID‑19.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Coronavirus Information Page: Additional Information and Resources for all DFPS stakeholders.
Coronavirus Resources for PEI Providers: We will update this page with provider-specific information as it develops.
Texas 2-1-1 and AuntBertha.com
2-1-1 Texas, a program of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, is committed to helping Texas citizens connect with the services they need. Information available in English and Spanish.
A similar resource is AuntBertha.com. Additional languages are available.
SAMSHA Resource List
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is offering a considerable amount of resources for download on their website, including:
Supportive Practices for Mental Health Professionals During Pandemic-Related Social Distancing
For mental health professionals, the challenges that accompany social distancing can place significant roadblocks to daily work. This product provides tips for the mental health workforce on supporting behavioral health during social distancing. Visit MHTTC for more information.
Working remote? Stay connected with virtual group activities
Telework can be isolating; stay connected with coworkers by holding trivia games, celebrating birthdays online and engaging coworkers with weekly contests, like PEI staff did this week with "Share a fun family photo." This week's winner was AJ, whose twins are still safe and secure inside Mom. Runners-up included Jennifer's indoors group of sad faces and Brent's family food fight.
Mealfinder Map
Texas parents can now visit the TXSchools.gov MealFinder Map to
find locations near them where local school systems are offering free school meals—both breakfast and lunch—for pick-up while school buildings are closed because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Once parents go to the site, they click “Meal Pick-Up Locations” to bring up a map of locations. Parents can type their address, and the map will zoom into meal pick-up locations that are up and running near them. Be sure to download this Waiver Letter that allows parents to pick up meals.
Parenting During COVID-19
Rebecca Schrag Hershberg Ph.D. talks about her own family experiences as the mother of a 4- and 6-year old, and provides a bulleted list of concrete, actionable tips on how to navigate life at home as a family during quarantine. Parenting During COVID-19
Check instok.org Before you Go Shopping
Grocery stores and pharmacies are working hard to restock items across Texas, but shortages are still a frustration point. Before you hit the road, use instok.org to type in your ZIP code and the item you need to bring up a list of stores in your area that still have stock.
Bright by Text
Bright by Text is a nationwide text messaging service that helps parents and caregivers of children prenatal to age eight make the most of everyday interactions. Through free tips, information, games, and resources, Bright by Text is proven to build nurturing caregiver-child relationships, strengthen families, promote healthy child development, and improve school readiness. Parents will receive 3-5 text messages per week with parenting tips, developmental information, literacy information, and educational activities.
To sign up: Text “#Texaskids” to 274448 or Sign up online.
Employment affected by COVID-19
If your employment has been affected by the coronavirus, apply for benefits online at the Texas Workforce Commission or by calling TWC’s Tele-Center at (800) 939-6631 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday.
Parenting Resources
The American Academy of Pediatrics has multiple resources for parents:
Texas Youth Helpline is for all family members
The Texas Youth Helpline provides prevention services to youth, parents, siblings and other family members who are in need of a caring voice and sympathetic ear. Trained volunteers are on call to provide guidance on youth-related concerns, referral information or simply listen.
Aspen Academy is offering a compilation of family-friendly virtual tours, stories, music, exercise, story times, and other activities. Visit them online.
First Pathways is offering instructional videos of age-appropriate activities that require only simple household items and can be played almost anywhere.
Mindheart.com is offering an online download of COVIBOOK: supporting and reassuring children around the world - the book is an invitation for families to discuss the full range of emotions arising from the current situation.
We invite all our stakeholders to follow DFPS Social Media accounts at the links below, and check in and promote Help and Hope on our website and Facebook pages as we continue to update information and resources. If you have resources to share, send them to peinews@dfps.state.tx.us.
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