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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 once a month to our PEI Community of providers, stakeholders and advocates until the COVID-19 event lessens. To review previously released resources visit our website.
The Texas Education Association released new guidelines regarding their back-to-school plan for Texas schools. More information can be found online on the TEA website.
Coronavirus Guidance from DSHS and the Governor is available online for all Texans as we continue responding to the pandemic. Information changes weekly; it's a good idea to bookmark this page for the most up-to-date, accurate information on current response efforts.
Additional COVID resources:
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Help and Hope COVID-19 resource page:Visit HelpAndHope.org to find updated resources for providers and the general public.
- The Department of Family and Protective Services has updated its front page to include coronavirus information and testing resources. Visit https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/ to see all the new changes.
- The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has an interactive map of COVID-19 testing locations. Visit tdem.texas.gov to find one of the 400+ testing locations nearest you.
- The CDC has a helpful tip sheet and information for helping children cope with emergencies.
"M" spoke to us recently for the Parent to Parent page on Help and Hope:
As a noncustodial parent, parenting and working a full-time job already comes with its unique set of challenges. Parenting and working a full-time job during a pandemic is even more complicated...more.
We encourage you to send your questions, advice and experiences to peinews@dfps.state.tx.us. We appreciate you sharing your stories and thoughts to help validate the challenges all parents are facing right now.
Here's some new online resources to support and guide your work with Texan families in July.
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Resources to Support Children with Disabilities: The Administration for Children and Families' Office of Head Start has developed resources to virtually support children, families and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic including tools for working with infants and toddlers with disabilities and a simulation to learn about and practice using a relationship-based approach to talking with families about developmental concerns.
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Be Strong Families hosts a series of COVID-related webinars in English (12:00 p.m. CDT) and Spanish (1:30 p.m. CDT) daily. Check out the website for topics including grieving experiences and expectations, family storytelling workshop, self-care for caregivers, financial resilience and candid experiences
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Dr. Chris Greeley and Dr. Quianta Moore released a policy paper through Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy discussing the future impact of the coronavirus pandemic on children today. The paper covers brain development, the impact of socioeconomic stress, parental maltreatment, opportunities for intervention and policy recommendations for supporting children and families that are most supportive of infant and early childhood brain development.
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Webinar: a Groundwater Analysis of Racial Inequities: Turning the Mirror Inward: Eliminating disproportionality and disparity in public health requires ongoing commitment. Join Joyce James as she draws on her 40-year career experience (from CPS caseworker to Associate Deputy Executive Commissioner of the Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities and the State Office of Minority Health) as she analyzes racial inequities that exist and intersect across systems such as housing, education, law enforcement, financial services, healthcare, juvenile justice, criminal justice, employment and child welfare and. The webinar takes place July 29, 2020 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Register online.
As you may recall, PEI updated its procurement schedule in an addendum to the Fiscal Year 2020 Business plan. We wanted to let our PEI Community know that both the Texas Nurse-Family Partnership Program (TNFP) and the Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support (HOPES II & III) RFA’s will be posted later than we anticipated.
- The TNFP RFA is slated to be posted in the Fall of 2020. Applicants will have 60 days to submit their applications.
- The HOPES II & III RFA is slated to be posted in the Fall of 2020. Applicants will have 90 days to submit their applications.
We expect contracts will be in place for both TNFP and HOPES II & III to begin September 1, 2021. Since the release date for these RFA’s have been pushed back, and we know communities are anticipating their release, we wanted to let you know.
Please send any questions you may have to PEIContracting@dfps.state.tx.us and share this notice with any members of your community who may be anticipating the release of these RFA’s or would be valuable partners.
Summer Meals Program
The Summer Meals Program ensures more Texas children have enough food for an active, healthy life. Healthy, no-cost meals are available to kids 18 and younger and enrolled students with disabilities up to 21 years old.
Bright by Text
Bright by Text provides free tips, information, and resources via text to help all parents and caregivers give every child a bright beginning. Quality information and trusted resources are targeted to parents and caregivers of children prenatal to age eight.
A Parent's Guide to Black Lives Matter
Children's questions about the images, stories, and conversations on racial inequality can be a challenge. A newly released parent's guide to the Black Lives Matter movement can help parents and children to talk about current events in a child-friendly way.
Looking for a Movie Night Under the Stars?
Drive in Movies are still a thing, and there may be one near you! Check out this list of drive-ins from RedTricycle.com
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Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In, Austin, TX
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Galaxy Drive-In Theatre, Ennis, TX
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Stars & Stripes Drive-In, Lubbock and New Braunfels, TX
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Tascosa Drive-In, Amarillo, TX
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Town and Country Drive-In, Abilene, TX
Virtual Summer Camps
Summer is here, and the need for kid's activities has never been more important. Parade magazine published a list of 46 virtual summer camps, from Boy Scouts to coding camps.
Children in Nature with Texas Parks and Wildlife
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