Resources for Families, Children & Youth

Virtual Events and Activities

• The Latino Policy Forum: The Latino Policy Forum has developed a short video to support families to promote early learning at home. The video is available in English and Spanish. The Latino Policy Forum is also offering free virtual workshops to organizations serving English Learners and their families. To review the description of these opportunities, click here. To attend these workshops, please email Rosario Hernandez at rhernandez@latinopolicyforum.org.

• Afterschool Alliance’s considerations page houses many resources and materials for out-of-school providers, families, and youth.
• Learning Heroes created a short video for families on how to make learning fun for youth while at home.
• Great Schools has launched its Home Learning Guide to help families engage their youth and provide at-home learning experiences.
• Common Sense Media is providing FREE online educational events and activities for children at home during the pandemic.
• Mr Printables has a variety of downloadable craft activities for kids and students ages K-5 to do at home.
• IXL has a variety of activities for youth and families to to during the public health crisis that will foster learning in students PreK-12. Learning guides are FREE and cover a wide range of core subjects.
• Wings is providing activities on Social Emotional Learning to do with youth while at home. Share these resources on relationship skills, social awareness, and more with your children.
• TechGirlz has now moved into the virtual space by providing free, engaging virtual workshops and instructional webinars in the upcoming weeks for communities at home. To sign up for their weekly event newsletter, click here. To access their even page, click here. To download free curriculum for over 60 workshop topics, click here.

• Girls Who Code Talks “College During COVID-19”is a free virtual video series to support students and girls navigating changes to their college and career plans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The series is open to everyone and will feature experts in career counseling, college admissions, wellness, and more. Click here to access the recorded webinar and register for the upcoming virtual events.

  eSchool News Article: eSchool News has written an article for educators, families, and afterschool providers highlighting ten learning channels for children and youth to bolster learning while at-home. Topics include mathematics, earth science, and more. To review the article, click here.

How to Talk to Your Child(ren) About COVID-19

• The Child Mind Institute has created a list of tips when talking to children about COVID-19.
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has produced language to use when responding to your child’s questions on COVID-19.
• Kids Health has developed strategies for explaining the pandemic to youth.
• The Center for Childhood Resilience is sharing two video interviews as resources for families in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first video highlights Lurie Children’s Hospital Pyschologist Dr. Colleen Cicchetti as she emphasizes the best ways to talk about COVID-19 with children. The second video shows Dr. Tali Raviv speaking about the impact of the pandemic on youth’s mental health.
• Mindheart has released a book to support and reassure children of challenges relating to COVID-19 around the world. The book is in multiple languages and is FREE!

• NAMI Chicago has developed a series of guides with resources for talking about mental health issues with students, grades 3 and above, and with adults. These resources highlight strategies and tips for speaking about mental health illnesses and the free support services that young people can access. To review these guides, click here.

• The Annie E. Casey Foundation has developed a policy report that examines how households with children are faring during the pandemic. The report’s findings are primarily based on surveys conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The document also highlights federal and state responses to support families and children during the pandemic and strategies for meeting the needs of children and families now and following the pandemic. To read the report, click here.

• The Illinois Childhood Trauma Coalition has written a guide that aims to provide professionals from diverse sectors with a baseline of information to create orientations, trainings, and other professional development focused sessions related to childhood trauma. To learn more about this coalition and to access the guide, click here.

• National Geographic Article: National Geographic has released an article for families and program providers to utilize in discussing COVID-19 and the loss of loved ones and friends with children. The article hosts trauma-informed strategies for supporting youth through the grief period and for those that are navigating difficult situations.

Protecting Immigrant Families: Resources on Public Charge, Public Benefits, and Immigrants’ Rights to Healthcare

Protecting Immigrant Families has compiled a variety of translated resources for immigrant community members. These resources relate to healthcare rights and public benefits. For translated documents, click here. For English speakers:

• KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! Top 5 Facts About Public Charge
• What Should I Know When Enrolling My Children in Public Benefits?
• Public Charge: Does This Apply to Me?
• Immigrants Rights to Health Care: Treatment and Coverage