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Spring is here, and with it a variety of resources to manage current events!
 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.
PEI's Help and Hope website has new and expanded resources for supporting families during the COVID-19 crisis. Visit HelpAndHope.org
The Coronavirus Resource page for PEI Providers has been updated with new FAQs and guidance. Bookmark and check back for weekly updates.
The Office of the Attorney General of Texas has updated their website to address particular issues with regard to COVID-19 as it relates to custody, visitation and child support.
Frontline Child Care is new resource portal from the Governor's office that allows front-line essential workers to find available licensed child care near their home or work. The website also provides each center’s operating hours and number of available seats by age group.
Texas WIC has temporarily added more options for the milk, bread, rice, pasta and eggs that clients can buy at the grocery store.
Aunt Bertha has added a zip code search to find food assistance, help in paying bills and other free or reduced-cost programs for the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit https://findhelp.org/
The Texas Workforce Commission encourages individuals previously deemed monetarily ineligible for unemployment benefits to reapply online starting Sunday, April 5. This date marks the beginning of a new quarter and as such the base period for unemployment benefits and those previously ineligible may now qualify.
Bright By Text will host a Facebook Live Event today, April 15th, at 3:00 P.M. Topic: Staying Sane While Staying Home: C-19 Tips for Parents.
The Prevention and Early Intervention Team sported their blue at their All-Staff Meeting during Go Blue Day.
All 70 staff members are working remotely full-time through the COVID-19 crisis and holding weekly all-staff check-ins in addition to team meetings to ensure we are able to provide our grantees with the most updated information to navigate the changing landscape.
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Members of the Navarro County Early Childhood Coalition wore their blue proudly for their Go Blue Day virtual meeting this month. The coalition will host a webinar about the state of Navarro County preschool programs this Friday.
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 Wolf Ranch Shopping Center in Williamson County offered up a massive pinwheel display with the hashtag #goblueforwilco.
To share your events surrounding Child Abuse Prevention Month, please mail photos and information to peinews@dfps.state.tx.us
The Karen Purvis Institute of Child Development has opened up online access to their Trust Based Relational Intervention training. The free 30-day access window ends May 31.
To take advantage of the offer, follow these instructions:
- Visit https://child.tcu.edu/sale,
- Click on "TBRI 101: A self-guided course in Trust-Based Relationships,"
- Select the 30-day access option.
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Save the Date for the 20th Annual Partners in Prevention Conference, the largest annual conference of prevention and early intervention professionals in Texas! This year's conference will be on October 20-22 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (near Reliant) in Houston.
Partners in Prevention is the largest annual gathering of prevention and early intervention professionals in Texas. The conference attracts parent educators, youth service providers, civic leaders, policy advocates, researchers and others with a professional interest in child and family well-being, youth development and juvenile justice.
Our 2020 conference theme is Intersections: 20 Years of Navigating Families to Success. We expect to welcome 900 prevention and early intervention professionals from across Texas as they seek new connections, directions and roadmaps to increase the available opportunities that maximize the potential of the children, youth and families they serve. Here's a breakdown of each days' activities:
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Oct 20 – PEI Grantee Meeting: This day is for PEI provider-focused content. Capacity will be limited to 2-4 staff per PEI contract.
- Oct 21 – PIP full conference day
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Oct 22 – PIP half-day and departure: The closing keynote ends at 1:30 P.M. Concierge will hold onto luggage until the end of the conference.
Event registration will open in June. Reserve your hotel room now.
For questions, please contact pipcon@austin.utexas.edu.
Going to PIP? Start the conversation on your social media accounts!
#pipcon2020
If you have special accommodation needs please contact pipcon@austin.utexas.edu
Activity books are available online for sharing with families and children. Download a PDF for individual coloring sheets for kids to enjoy at home.
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 The 5th Annual Texas Fatherhood Summit returns to Austin on Friday, June 12 at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center (1900 University Ave, Austin, TX 78705) on The University of Texas at Austin campus.
The Texas Fatherhood Summit is hosted by the Child and Family Research Partnership at The University of Texas at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs and the Texas DFPS Prevention and Early Intervention Division. The popular event brings together hundreds of policymakers, administrators, nonprofit organizations, program leaders, local business professionals, and academics from all over the state.
This year's theme is Supporting Families through Innovative Practices. Attendees will learn about research, innovations, and resources to best support fathers with an inclusive, whole family approach.
What you need to know:
Contact cfrpevents@austin.utexas.edu for questions.
Loretta Carter does it for her kids.
“I have two sons; Terrance (19) and Kiowa (26). They are my world, everything I am and do is because and for them,” she says. “So many people tell me that I spoil my boys way too much; my response is that I don’t know when the last moment will be the last, so all of me goes to them.”
Loretta’s ‘giving it your all’ attitude extends to her work as an administrative assistant with the Prevention and Early Intervention Division.
“I would say my role within PEI is to assist not only the staff I’m assigned to but all members of the PEI program area,” she said. “When someone accidentally walks into our office I’ll assist them as best I can with finding where they need to go. This goes with callers too. People just want a resolution to their problems, I know what it’s like when you just want answers…just providing an address or phone numbers gives relief to people.”
Loretta’s road to PEI and administrative work started on her family’s land.
“I was a tomboy when I was young and grew up in the country helping my dad out in the gardens, working on tractors and assisting with the care of all the goats, chickens, pigs, cows to name a few,” she said.
Over the years, supporting her family transitioned into supporting others in office workplace.
“For 30 years I’ve been some type of support staff: Clerk, Secretary, Office Assistant or Administrative Assistant. After all that time I realized that I guess I found my true calling. After 21 years working with the state in some type of support role I truly enjoy the work. I am a natural nurturer, so supporting others really fulfills that part of me. Every day is completely different and that’s one of the things I love about PEI.”
At home Loretta enjoys getting outdoors, photography, cooking, crafting and anything creative “I’m really into making wreaths rights now. But I love all types of arts and crafts projects,”
Loretta’s philosophy on life is all about enjoying it day-by-day, especially with family.
“I don’t really think about the future and I try not to live in the past,” she says. “I just go day by day and take each day as it comes. I now have several great nieces and nephews and love seeing them. They are my everything; kids truly say and do the funniest things. They keep me young!”
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