Welcome to PEI Provider News! Our weekly e-newsletter to providers combines provider resources, stories of interest, exclusive educational opportunities and grant information.
Coronavirus Guidance from DSHS and the Governor is available online for all Texans as we respond 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.
Help and Hope COVID-19 resource page: Visit HelpAndHope.org to find updated resources for providers and the general public.
Coronavirus Resources for PEI Providers: Information on the COVID-19 virus for providers.
It's hard for kids to read emotions through a mask. Here's a tip sheet on how to make it a little easier for everyone, courtesy of Challenging Behavior and National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations.
Starting September 8th, Texas education officials will require all school districts to report COVID-19 infections. Read more at the Texas Tribune.
Be Strong Families is hosting a series of webinars in English (12:00pm CDT) and Spanish (1:30pm CDT) daily. Check out their website for topics including grieving experiences and expectations, family storytelling workshop, self-care for caregivers, financial resilience, and candid experiences of COVID-19.
The Maternal and Child Health Division has published a list of cohort communities for Help Me Grow Texas 2020. The cohort will run from August 2020 to August 2021.
Help Me Grow Texas links families to resources in their community to help meet children’s needs. Community services include agencies that provide health care, quality early learning experiences, and information about healthy development.
Cohort communities were selected based on community readiness, need, capacity, and infrastructure. Each community designated a local organization to lead their communities’ efforts. The 2020 cohort participants are:
- Easter Seals of Rio Grande Valley
Serving: Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy County
- My Health My Resources of Tarrant County
Serving: Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Fannin, Grayson, Hood, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant, and Wise County
- North Texas Area United Way
Serving: Archer, Clay, and Wichita County
- Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center
Serving: El Paso County
- United Way for Greater Austin
Serving: Travis and Williamson County
- United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County
Serving: Bexar County
More information about Help Me Grow can be found at helpmegrownational.org.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has rolled out an enhanced postpartum care services package for eligible women enrolled in Healthy Texas Women, called HTW Plus.
Beginning in September, approximately 90,000 Healthy Texas Women clients will automatically receive this new postpartum care coverage for up to 12 months, which covers diabetes management services, heart and blood pressure treatments, asthma medications and supplies, tobacco cessation, and mental health conditions.
For more information visit the HHSC Newsroom.
TexProtects, the Texas Association for the Protection of Children, and Child Trends surveyed state and local policymakers to better understand knowledge and attitudes about early childhood brain development. Results of the survey, along with recommendations and policy development, can be found on the TexProtects website.
Challenges in Home Visiting: Substance Abuse
Substance abuse and addiction are prevalent, often reoccurring issues in home visiting. Addiction can interrupt a parent's personal growth and interfere with their ability to fully engage with their child. This course will strengthen both new and experienced home visitors’ knowledge and ability to recognize signs of substance use and explore ways to address concerns with a parent in the context of their role as home visitor. Topics include the impact of substance use on family systems, parenting, child development, and safety issues encountered in home visiting.
Note: This Achieve OnDemand learning experience qualifies for .3 IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Full completion and/or attendance of the learning experience, a passing score on any post-test(s), and completion of the end of course evaluation are required to be awarded IACET CEUs.
Managing Difficult Conversations with Skill and Confidence
Learn skills and techniques of how to address difficult situations and manage sensitive issues in the workplace
To take these courses: Type or paste the course names above into the search bar on the PEI Learning Hub.
• Click on the course and select “request” • On your transcript select “launch” to begin • When the video is complete, go to "completed" courses in your transcript • Select "evaluate" to provide feedback
For questions, contact PEITraining@dfps.state.tx.us.
Register for and attend Achieve OnDemand webinars in the Achieve OnDemand portal at a cost of $25.00 per webinar session.
Understanding Substance Abuse through the Family Lens
Date: Wednesday, September 9th Time: 12:00 p.m. (CST) Registration Link
As a home visitor, how do you intentionally respond to situations where substance abuse is present in the families you support? This webinar discusses ways to recognize a family's values and strengths which can help guide you approach when working with a family impacted by substance abuse. We will also explore how substance abuse affects family dynamics. This webinar complements Challenges in Home Visiting: Substance Abuse self-paced course.
Maintaining Boundaries in Home Visiting for Supervisors
Date: Tuesday, September 15th Time: 10:00 a.m. (CST) Registration Link
As a supervisor, how can you help home visitors set and maintain boundaries with the families they serve? The discussion will cover self-awareness, challenges home visitors face, and how to support staff. This webinar complements the Supervising Home Visitors self-paced course.
The Child Welfare League of America will host their annual CWLA Virtual Summit: Advancing Racial Justice, Equity, and Inclusion for Children and Families on October 6th-8th. The summit will explore the following areas:
- Evolution of child welfare services, highlighting learning and innovations developed during the pandemic
- Discussing solutions and goals to achieve racial justice, equity, and inclusion
- Highlighting collaborative approaches for cross-system, cross-sector, and community engagement
- Identifying system, policy, and funding changes needed for improved progress on family strengthening and child well-being
The summit will also feature a series of webinars leading up to the October event dates to provide context and supportive information in advance of the summit presentations. Register today.
|