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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 weekly to our PEI Community of providers, stakeholders and advocates until the COVID-19 event lessens. To review previously released resources visit our website.
Feel free to share these links with coworkers, on social media and in communications to your staff, stakeholders and community members.
Find a COVID-19 Testing Site Near You
The State of Texas has a new interactive map of all the locations in Texas where you can get a COVID-19 test. It even allows you to use geo-location to hone in on your community and to search for testing sites by zip code.
The map provides contact and other basic information for each testing site, including the type of testing offered Search in your area now.
ACCEPT Youth Resources
Allies Cultivating Change by Empowering Positive Transformation (ACCEPT) offers a variety of resources including youth-driven online support and peer resources to manage social distancing. Visit the ACCEPT TEXAS website for additional information.
Texas State Releases Student Connection Guide for Educators
The Texas School Safety Center has released “How to Stay Connected with Students in a Time of Disconnection.” This five-step process provides suggested guidelines for schools to assess what resources they have and how to use those resources to reach all students.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR)
This request outlines the agency’s funding needs for fiscal years 2022 through 2023. You can share your ideas and recommendations about what should be in the LAR by sending an email to DFPSLARSuggestions@dfps.state.tx.us. The deadline for comments is May 31.
Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Dallas Independent School District (DISD) today launched Operation Connectivity, a statewide initiative to deliver internet connectivity and device solutions for school districts, families and students in Texas. The initiative now aims to provide internet connectivity to hundreds of thousands of students statewide. Access the full press release on the Governor's website.
The PEI "Real Talk" section is LIVE on our parenting help site HelpandHope.org! We are always on the lookout for new questions to cover for Real Talk; here's the latest questions for you to consider:
Send your advice to peinews@dfps.state.tx.us. We look forward to supporting parents and caregivers with real answers!
NAMI Texas Online Programming
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The National Alliance on Mental Illness in Texas is offering a variety of online programming to support and educate people living with a mental health condition and their family and friends in Texas. A complete list of online resources can be found on the NAMI Texas website.
Webinar: Home Visiting Service Delivery as States Re-Open: Q & A Session with HV Models.
Join the National Alliance of Home Visiting Models on May 20, at 2:00 p.m. as they offer updates on home visiting service delivery. This webinar will cover the impact of phased re-opening of states could have on home visiting. A live Q & A session will follow. Register now
Economic Mobility Toolkit
The Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center has published a toolkit to address economic mobility. Aligned with the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework and the Head Start Program Performance standards, the toolkit can also be adapted for home visiting programs to partner with families on their goals for financial capability, education and employment. Learn more at the ECLKC website.
Webinar: Implementing Culturally-Responsive and Trauma-Informed Telehealth Services and Family-Centered Practice During COVID-19
This recorded webinar highlights equity and safety issues with telehealth counseling. Panelists outline ways to create safer virtual environments with children and adult survivors of domestic violence and abusive partners. Click here to access the recorded webinar.
Updated Toolkits from the Texas Council on Family Violence
The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) has released toolkits for advocates and battering intervention and prevention programs (BIPP) on their website. The toolkits offer guidance, updated guidelines and resources with information on providing care during the coronavirus pandemic.
May is National Water Safety Month
The American Red Cross wants to ensure that every member of the family becomes water competent. This means being water smart, having swimming skills and knowing how to help others. Children and adults should learn to swim so they at least achieve the skills of water competency: be able to enter the water, get a breath, stay afloat, change position, swim a distance and then get out of the water safely. Learn more.
Keeping Children Safe Wherever You Go - Tipsheet Now Available
Parenting is hard and the extra stress of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is making it harder. PEI has created two new tip sheets in English and Spanish for providers to share with parents.
Ideas for How to Stay Close to Friends and Family Despite Coronavirus
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Video call grandparents,
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Participate in virtual gatherings with friends,
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Call neighbors to check-in,
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Spend quality time with your housemates without screens,
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Set up a Facebook or FaceTime playgroup for older children,
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Go outside for a walk and point out the sights you see with younger children,
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More ideas available online.
Getting your Graduate Ready for College?
StudentAid.gov has updated information and resources for parents and children applying to or already in college who are affected by the coronavirus. They also offer checklists for parents and students applying for financial aid for the first time.
PEI Communications would like your help to make our messaging and information the best it can be for your needs. Please take a moment to provide feedback on our electronic communications with this survey. Your responses will help guide our communications efforts for providers, stakeholders and the PEI community.
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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