COVID-19 Resources
Welcome! Here you can find resources that Network has been curating regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work hard to provide you with the most recent postings from OCFS and other state agencies, as well as resources such as: at home activities, virtual platform resources, virtual learning, and more. This page will be updated frequently, so please check back often. You can also find helpful resources sent out in our weekly e-Newsletter and daily posts on our Facebook page. Click here to sign up for our weekly eNewsletters or to view past eNewsletters, and here to view our Facebook page.
The Network is thinking forward to the needs of the afterschool providers, children, families, and communities once programs resume. We are planning support and vision for the field to continue the Network’s mission driven work towards increasing access to high-quality programs and services beyond the traditional classroom.
For those interested in at-no-cost professional development opportunities, click here to view the Network’s available virtual trainings in your area.
Recently uploaded resources
AFTERSCHOOL AND SCHOOL REOPENING
Your afterschool, summer, and expanded learning programs are an essential part of recovery and will be more important than ever during the unpredictable school year ahead. New York’s reopening guidance for schools provided a necessary roadmap to help schools adapt in response to the grave impact of COVID-19 on New York’s students and families. As schools go hybrid or to completely online learning, parents and guardians will need to know that they have options to adapt – they will need safe, supervised care for their school-age children. School-age child care (SACC) must be supported to adapt and coordinate with the school system so that they can provide continued support for children, youth, and families.
Collaboration between out-of-school time and in-school time is more important than ever.
CLICK HERE to see resources on afterschool and school reopening.
COVID-19 Resources
Activities
STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)
- Remote Programming Created by Science Centers and Museums (ASTC)
- STEM Resources (National Girls Collaborative Project)
- Digital family STEM resources (Texas Girls Collaborative Project)
- NSF-funded STEM Resources for at home learning
- YouCubed Inspire ALL Students with Open, Creative Mindset Mathematics
- Free online courses, education and webinars related to STEM topics (IBM)
Literacy
- Astronauts Read from Space
- Coronavirus: A Book for Children
- Pete the Cat Storytime Follow @PetetheCatOffical on instagram for fun stories and illustrations!
Art/Music
- Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams
- Playtime Playlist – Virtual Children’s Concerts/Music List
- Roc Paint Downloadable Coloring Book
Physical Activities
- The Body Coach
- Go Noodle (movement and mindfulness exercise for a small space)
- Sign up for free GoNoodle at home emails (Spanish available)
Meditation and mental health
- Body Scan for kids
- Thrive Inside from Smiling Mind (blog posts on many topics)
- Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence – building and sustaining positive emotional climates during COVID-19
- Guide to Well-Being During Coronavirus (Greater Good)
Games
- Downloadable games and brain teasers (Thinkfun)
- Play Today (The Genius of Play)
- Dance Games (Common Sense Media)
Remote Learning
- Khan academy – Resources on a wide variety of academic topics available in 21 different languages
Misc
- Best TED talks for students (We Are Teachers)
Advocacy Efforts
(4/27) Assembly Sign-on letter to Governor- Request for guidance on contractual flexibility
(4/23) Network’s recommendations to support children and youth
(4/2) Letter to OCFS- Request for guidance on contractual flexibility
(4/14) Summary: Impact of COVID-19 on afterschool (ESAP and AASP) grantees survey
(3/31) Statement: Budget Funding for Afterschool Programs Essential to Coronavirus Response
(3/26) Afterschool memo to Governor- Request for guidance on contractual flexibility
Connecting Virtually
- Together Apart podcast is part guide, part reminder of the resiliency of the human spirit to still creatively meaningfully gather, even while we have to be apart. Each episode explores one person’s dilemma as they try to navigate hosting an event that’s been upended by Corona. This show will help us all reimagine our virtual gatherings to honor all the life that keeps happening to us in isolation: birthdays and births, graduations, and endless, endless Zoom calls.
- Connection in a Time of Social Distancing (MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership)
- Building Developmental Relationships During the COVID-19 Crisis (Search Institute’s checklist)
Forms and Guidance
Visit here to see updates on regulations affecting school-age child care providers.
- (o9/04) Travel Restriction Guidance for Child Care Programs
- (09/02) Policy Statement: When does remote learning require a child care license or registration?
- (09/02) Dear Provider letter on remote learning
- (7/13) updated (08/26) DOH interim Guidance for in-person instruction at pre-K to Grade 12 schools
- (6/08) Reopening New York: Child Care and Day Camp Program Guidelines
- (6/08) Emergency Regulations for Child Care & Day Camp Programs
- (6/08) DOH Interim Guidance for Child Care & Day Camp Programs
- (5/31) Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure
- (5/05) Dear Child Care Provider Letter
- (5/01) DOH COVID-19 Testing Information
- (4/26) DOH Updated Guidance for COVID-19
- (4/26) Clarification of the Terms Serious Incident, Serious Injury, Serious Condition, Communicable Disease and When to Obtain Emergency Medical Care
- (4/17) Interim Guidance on Executive Orders 202.17 and 202.18 Requiring Face Coverings in Public During the COVID-19 Outbreak
- (4/14) Interim Guidance on Required Face Coverings
- (4/10) CDC Guidance on Cloth Masks
- (4/09) Guidance for Providers on the Background Check Waiver Process
- (4/08) OCFS Guidance on Cloth Masks
- (4/02) Waiver Request for CPR/First Aid Certification
- (3/28) DOH Returning to Work
- (3/27) Guidance for Child Care Providers
- (3/23) COVID-19 FAQ for Child Care Providers
- (3/23) Emergency Employment Attestation for Adults
- (3/23) Request for Waiver
- (3/21) Dear Provider Letter
- (3/19) How to Navigate Meal and Snack Programs
- (3/19) Guidance for Parents Seeking Child Care
- (3/19) Posting for Staff and Visitors
Fundraising
- Data Analytics Software & Targeting Tools
- Events and Fundraising Resources
- Livestream Funding 101
- Raise and Engage Toolkit
- Tips for Communicating With Donors During Uncertain Times
- Candid: List of Coronavirus Relief Funding Opportunities
- New York Council of Nonprofits – COVID-19 Funding Resources and Opportunities
- Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative – Coronavirus Relief Efforts
- New York Foundation – Emergency Grant Opportunities
Resource Lists (Multiple Topics)
- COVID-19 Resources (PEAR Institute: Partnership in Education and Resilience) Topics include Academic Motivation, Socio-Emotional Needs, Crisis to Opportunity, Stay-at-home Science, Finding Balance Guide, Teen Tips (English, Spanish and Chinese), Flexibility in Crisis, Youth Strategies, Resources for Balance, Webinars
- Kenosha Public Library Resources for families at home
- COVID-19 Resources (Aspire Alliance) Topics include Health and Well-Being During COVID-19, Teaching Inclusively During COVID-19, Transitioning to Online Teaching During COVID-19 and Supporting Educators During COVID-19
- COVID-19 Resources for Camps (ACA) Topics include Camp Operations Guide Summer 2020, Health and Wellness, Camp Business Resources, Online Learning and Events, Virtual Program Resources, Staffing and Human Resources, and Marketing and Communications.
- Center for Youth Development Newsletters Topics include COVID-19 resources for youth and families, COVID-19 resources for youth workers, Youth development brown bag webinars, Self-guided online courses, Youth Development Insight blog and a podcast series features Center for Youth Development staff discussing research and best practices in youth development.
-
Education Resource Lists from ASTC Partners Includes resources from NASA, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation
- Free online activities and events for kids (Common Sense Media)
Supporting Families
- Learning at Home: 5 Steps to Plan Your Day (PBS)
- Supporting Families
- Shelter in Place Resources for Educators
- Find Help (Find food assistance, help paying bills, and other free or reduced cost programs, including new programs for the COVID-19 pandemic, based on search using zipcode)
- Helping Hands (connecting volunteers who can deliver supplies with people over 60 and immunocompromised)
- Resources for people who are homeless
- Domestic Shelters, resource related to domestic abuse
- RPI Guide to Living and Working Well While Social Distancing
- Working From Home 101: Development Without Limits
- Playworks Play at Home Resources The games in this our Play at Home Playbook (downloadable PDF) can be played anywhere so that children can play in any space safely and in accordance with all CDC guidelines to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. This includes resources in Arabic, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese
- Parenting During COVID-19
- Parenting Teens During COVID-19
- Multiple COVID-19 Resources (University of Minnesota) Topics include Families at Home, Finances, Food Support, For Communities and Stress Relief
- Affordable internet
- Resources for Parents and Caregivers (PBS Kids)
Self Care for Providers
- Beth Kanter: 52 Ways to Take a Mini Break and Regenerate for Nonprofits
- Introduction to Meditation
- Isha Kriya: Free Guided Meditation
- Mental and Behavioral Health System Fixes during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
- Staying Sane in a Year of Uncertainty: article by Dr. Gil Noam
- Seven Day Self-Care Challenge from Prime Time Palm Beach County
- Simha Kriya: Free Guided Yoga
- Start a Virtual Support Group guide
- Six Daily Questions to Ask Yourself in Quarantine
Using virtual meeting apps and video production
PBS Stations Updated Educational Broadcasting
This is great information to share with families who have no access or limited access to the internet or internet-connected devices.
- PBS WNED (Buffalo) At Home Learning
- PBS WMHT (Troy) Home Classroom
- PBS WCNY (Syracuse) At Home Learning
- PBS WPBS (Watertown) At Home Learning
- PBS WSKG (Binghamton) Learn at Home
- PBS Mountain Lake (Plattsburgh) Learning at Home
- PBS WXXI (Rochester) Learn at Home
Other Resources
- 9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen
- CDC Guidance for Child Care Programs that Remain Open
- Caring for Your Family During the COVID-19 Crisis
- Childcare Resource Network Social Emotional Learning
- Financial Support for Programs
- Ideas for Non-Academic Family Connection and Engagement
- NYS Resource Guide for Caregivers
- Summary of what the CARES ACT provides
- Story for Programs to Introduce Masks and Gloves in Care
- Talking to Children About COVID-19
Did you miss the DOH Guidelines for Camps: How to Be Successful During your 2020 Camp Season training?
To view the edited recording and learn more about the new guidance, CLICK HERE.
Special Thanks to Workforce Development Institute (WDI) for sponsoring this event.
Growing & Keeping Good Jobs in New York State
wdiny.org/childcare facebook
Reopening Guides
Information for State-Funded Grantees
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers –As of August 25, 2020. 21st CCLC is fully funded and is accepting Fall 2020 Program Modification Requests. Flexibility regarding when out of school time can occur are being approved on a case by case basis as long as the programming supplements and does not supplant day school programming. Visit here to see recent updates on 21st CCLC programs in New York.
- Extended School Day/School Violence Prevention – As of September 22, 2020. ESD/SVP grantees that need to make program modifications due to school districts virtual and hybrid schooling responses to COVID 19 should have received a temporary modification form for the 2020-2021 program year similar to the one released last spring for use during the 2019-20 program year. At this time, there is no information available regarding the RFP for the fourth round of funding. SED has not received guidance from DOB regarding what the FY 20-21 funding levels will be by program, and therefore, SED has not been able to release initial payments. The Division of Budget (DOB) has also stated that certain state programs, including ESD/SVP grants, have been approved for the release of 80% of claims that have been submitted for fiscal year (FY) 2019-20. Also, most of ESD/SVP grantees have received notification from the program office that submitted budgets for FY 2020-21 have been programmatically approved by ESD/SVP staff. Please note that although these budgets have been given approval by the program office, the release of funds is a process external to the office and they are unable to forecast when that process will take place.
- Empire State After-School Program – As of August 2020, contractors should have received a quarterly workplan/activities report form from OCFS, which allows for the comparison of approved activities and those currently planned. It is possible that program modifications may be approved through this form, however this is subject to change.
- Advantage After School Program – Guidance has been sent to grantees allowing program modifications as of May 12th. Please reach out to your OCFS Contact if you are a current grantee and have not received guidance.
*The Network for Youth Success has submitted sign on letters to the Governor’s Office and the Office of Children and Family Services requesting immediate issuance of guidance allowing these grantees to utilize contract funds to continue paying staff throughout this crisis. The Network is in frequent contact with these agencies to continue advocacy and will provide updates on this issue as they become available.