PEI Provider News Volume 7, Issue 4

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PEI Provider News
A PEI Newsletter Volume 7, Issue 4

Welcome to PEI Provider News! Our weekly e-newsletter to providers combines provider resources, stories of interest, exclusive educational opportunities and grant information.



Coronavirus Resources

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.

Be Strong Families is hosting a series of webinars in English (12:00 P.M.) and Spanish (1:30 P.M.) 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. 


New DSHS COVID-19 Resources

COVID19 Resource Page Screen Shot

Looking for resources about coronavirus for your workplace and community? The Texas Department of State Health Services has created a page of communications materials in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese for print and web.

Visit the COVID-19 materials hub for: 

Bookmark the COVID-19 Materials Page for more information.


Mental Health Texas Website Redesign Live

Mental Health Texas

The Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council (SBHCC) through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is pleased to announce the redesign of the Mental Health Texas website, mentalhealthtx.org.

This website is a resource to help people locate mental health and substance use disorder services, get information about common mental health conditions and social services, and find crisis hotline services. The website also includes mental health resources related to COVID-19.

If you have any questions please email mentalhealthtx@hhsc.state.tx.us.


September is Kinship Care Month: Celebrating Kinship Families

National Kinship Care Month in September recognizes the importance of grandparents and relatives caring for children when their parents are unable. Kinship care, as it’s commonly called, refers to caregiver grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, adult siblings, and even family friends. 

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation (2018), in the state of Texas, there are 276,800 children living in the care of someone who is not their parent. Across the nation, approximately 2.7 million grandparents and 1.4 million other relatives are providing kinship care for children. 

This month we can all remember someone who has volunteered to be a child’s caregiver and go thank them. That’s a common cause worth celebrating. It’s important to PEI to celebrate these amazing individuals that step in to provide love and support to children in a familiar setting. Their efforts allow children to remain connected with their families and communities while their biological parents work towards stability.

There are many PEI providers that have developed programs to help support these special families to provide a positive alternative to traditional foster care. We hope that you can join us in celebrating, spreading awareness, and appreciation for kinship families.

To learn more, please visit the DFPS Kinship page.


Don't Wait! Get Your Flu Shot Today

Flu Season is upon us. The CDC recommends that everyone six months of age and older get the flu vaccine every season. Bookmark and share these flu-related resources:


Partners In Prevention Banner Logo

Register for the Partners in Prevention Conference

Registration is live for the 20th Annual Partners in Prevention (PIP) Conference and the PEI Grantee Meeting. Grantees should register for both events.

Before you register, please review the following for PEI grantees:

PIP Grantee Meeting (formerly known as Pre-Conference day)

  • October 27, from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. and
    October 28, from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.
  • There is no fee for the Grantee Meeting. PEI is using the discount codes to track how many individuals have registered per contract.
  • A minimum of two and a maximum of six representatives from each grantee (including subgrantee and/or coalition representatives) must attend the Grantee Meeting event. Discount codes have been issued per contract and may be used up to six times each for this event.
  • When registering, please select the Grantee/Subgrantee registration type,
  • If you’d like to register more individuals for the Grantee Meeting please email PEITraining@dfps.state.tx.us to request an exception.

Register for the PEI Grantee Meeting


PIP Conference 

  • October 21-22 (all-day).
  • Each contract should have already received a complimentary registration PIP discount code that can be used for up to four free registrations per contract. Any registrations beyond that will cost $75 per registration.

Register for the PIP Conference

 


Connect with the PEI Learning Hub

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Selecting a Caregiver

In FY2016, ten children died in the care of a child care provider. Of those, four children were being cared for by illegal daycare operations that were unknown to DFPS. Understanding how to select a caregiver is the first step in keeping children safe from harm. 

Topics that will be covered during this webinar include:

  • Different types of child care settings
  • Using the DFPS website for finding child care and information about caregivers/centers and tips for a successful child care search
  • Illegal operations
  • How to maintain safety of children in child care
  • Seeking help with child care for friends, family members, and baby-sitters
  • Interview questions to ask a potential caregiver
  • Protective factors to consider for potential caregivers

Communication

Communication is an essential part of a caring relationship and helps to encourage trusting relationships with other workers and families as well as the individuals you care for. Explore resources, tips, and techniques to improve communication.

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.


Fatherhood Webinar Opportunities

Check out these three fatherhood-related webinars, courtesy of Brazelton Touchpoints, the Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals, and the Child and Family Research Partnership.

Focus on Father Involvement and Co-parenting: Why It Matters

Date: Tuesday, September 29th
Time: 1:00 p.m. (CST)
Registration Link

This webinar will explore the positive impact of fathering and co-parenting on child and family development, and how the Supporting Father Involvement model supports fathers as equal partners in parenting. The presenters will introduce SFI’s Five Domain Model and its engagement tool for tapping father involvement and increasing shared parenting responsibilities. Directors from two community agencies serving diverse families will discuss the impact of implementing the SFI program in their communities.

Engaging with Fathers Virtually

Date: Tuesday, September 29th
Time: 2:00 p.m. (CST)
Registration Link

Field representatives will discuss strategies to increase effectiveness in supporting father engagement virtually. Learn about the opportunities and special considerations they have encountered in their work in the virtual environment.

Texas Fatherhood Summit Webinar (recorded)

The 2020 Texas Fatherhood Summit was adapted into Texas Fatherhood Fridays, a series of free webinars held over four Fridays during June and July. Visit the Child and Family Research Partnership page for details and links to recordings.


30th Annual IUN Forum on Child Abuse & Neglect

The 2020 Indiana University Northwest Forum on Child Abuse & Neglect has gone virtual. Running through October 30th, the forum offers a variety of events of interest to advocates for children and families. Download the IUN Forum Flyer, or review a list of forum dates, speakers, and topics below:


Early Relational Health Webinar Series

This summer, First3Years and the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), in partnership with PEI and the Texas PN-3 Collaborative, presented a 4-Part Webinar Series on Early Relational Health

Early Relational Health (ERH) describes the positive, stimulating, and nurturing early relationships that ensure both emotional security and connections that advance physical health and development, social well-being, and resilience. Links to webinar recordings are listed below.

  • Session 1 explores the science behind early relational health and opportunities to support infants, very young children, and their families through ERH. 
  • Sessions 2 and Session 3 highlighted efforts in child welfare, home visiting, child health, early education, and systems level work to integrate relational health into the fabric of their work with families. 
  • Session 4 provided a focus on sustaining support and resources for ERH through a Policy lens.

Requests for Applications and Proposals

Request for Proposal

The Episcopal Health Foundation has published a request for proposal (RFP) seeking a consultant to conduct a portfolio review of EHF grant and research investments around early childhood brain development (ECBD) to date, and to make recommendations for EHF to maximize strategic investment opportunities to drive continued ECBD advancements in Texas. The deadline for the RFP is close of business, Monday, October 12, 2020.

Requests for Application

The Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Division seeks applications to develop and implement:

Contact Information

All requests, questions or other communication about this RFA shall be made in writing to the Sole Point of Contact addressed to the person listed below. All communications between Applicants and DFPS staff members concerning the RFA are strictly prohibited, unless noted elsewhere in this RFA. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in disqualification of Applicant's Grant Application. 

Jennifer Kim, CTCD, CTCM
Health and Human Services Commission 1100 West 49th Street; Mail Code 2020 Building S Austin, TX 78756
Jennifer.Kim@hhs.texas.gov

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