COVID 19 Resources for EPIS Supported Projects

General Information for PCCD Grantees and Applicants:

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has been sending regular communication to grantees via email.  Be sure to check your inbox and read this important information.  In addition PCCD has set up a web page to house current grantee information: https://www.pccd.pa.gov/Funding/Pages/Subrecepients.aspx

Information for CTC Coalitions and OMPP Projects:

• Click here for Ideas on maintaining community engagement from a recent National CTC Call.
• Click here for a list of ideas for marketing and family recruitment.

Information for Specific Evidence-based Programs

• ART: Resources for virtual group facilitation: https://uscart.org/covid-19-virtual-group-facilitation-guidelines/

• BBBS: https://www.bbbs.org/coronavirus/

  • Resources from BBBS Capital Region: http://capbigs.org/covid19/

• CBITS: https://cbitsprogram.org/school-crises

• FFT

  FFT has produced and disseminated detailed guidance to all FFT Providers during time of social distancing.  FFT is providing web-based training.  For more information about FFT please visit:  https://www.fftllc.com/

• IY Newsletter Messages and Blog regarding COVID-19:

  •  IY web page featuring resources for group leaders working remotely.

  • IY Blog features posts for how to work with parents and children using zoom: https://incredibleyearsblog.wordpress.com/

  • IY parent resource page with helpful documents that group leaders can share with parents: http://www.incredibleyears.com/parents-teachers/articles-for-parents/

  • COVID 19 Refrigerator Notes- Keeping Calm and Providing Supportive Parenting During the Coronavirus

• LST COVID-19 update and resources: https://www.lifeskillstraining.com/covid-19-update/

• MST has produced and disseminated detailed guidance for service provision during social distancing measures and is now working on updates to their five-day training process so that it can be done remotely.  For more information about MST go to:  https://www.mstservices.com/

• PATHS COVID-19 Message and blog page link for resources and lessons: https://pathsprogram.com/

• Positive Action: An update on the developer's plans for helping providers: https://www.positiveaction.net/covid-19-and-positive-action

Positive Action is offering their Positive Action Family Kit at no cost through their website. This resource can be shared with families in your community to foster social emotional learning at home. Social emotional learning is important all the time – but perhaps critically so during this time of high anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. Positive Action’s Family Kit provides an opportunity for families to gather, converse, and engage in the learning process together while building greater connection and community at home.

To access the Positive Action Family Kit, visit https://www.positiveaction.net/ and click on teach, family kit. Then create an account to access the material. If you need further assistance accessing the Positive Action Family Kit please email Ashley at ashley@positiveaction.net.

• SFP 10-14: The program developers at Iowa State University are collecting and sharing resources and guidance on this web page: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/sfp10-14/covid-19

• TF-CBT has provided several webinars for therapists who are looking to shift to telehealth delivery and produced this guidance document. A link to a recording of these webinars canbe found here: https://tfcbt.org/telehealth-resources/

• Triple P COVID-19 Message with parent and provider resources: https://www.triplep.net/glo-en/home/

  • Triple P Virtual Delivery Guidelines

  • Top Parenting Tips

  • Flexible Delivery Options with Triple P in response to COVID-19
    Meeting Recording:
    https://zoom.us/rec/share/udBnA7-p731JZ8-S81qCS4w_ErrcX6a82yBP8_MNnk5K4i8pBC9xwVUbwzRmwxkx

General Information for Human Service Providers

Although in-person 1:1 meetings, group sessions, and classroom instruction are suspended for the time being, there are many online tools you can use to still stay connected to the families and communities you work with. Keep in mind that you can connect with families simply to find out about their current situation.  What has changed for them? Are they in crisis mode (job or childcare issues or someone sick)?  Be prepared to provide information about where families can get help!

Telehealth Activities

• OMHSAS announced a shift in allowing telehealth activities to be billable to Medicaid. See this announcement: OMHSAS Telehealth Bulletin

• HIPPA regulations around telehealth have been relaxed to allow for provision of services via common communication applications without risk of violations:https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html

Juvenile Justice Updates

• Juvenile Justice COVID 19 Update from Juvenile Court Judges Commission: JCJC March 2020 Newsletter
• April 1st Pennsylvania Judicial Emergency Order

The Importance of Self-Care

In addition to these resources and ideas, our team would like to remind you of the importance of self-care. Take care and listen to your emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual needs to best meet your professional responsibilities. 

• Mindfulness: Our colleagues at the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center have shared a host of COVID 19 related resources including these excellent mindfulness resource:
  • Creating a Home Retreat: Finding Freedom Wherever You Are: https://jackkornfield.com/creating-a-home-retreat-finding-freedom-wherever-you-are-free-half-day-retreat-included/
  • Mindfulness Resources (UC San Diego School of Medicine): https://medschool.ucsd.edu/som/fmph/research/mindfulness/mindfulness-resources/Pages/default.aspx
• Ten Self Care Tips for Stressful Times: Here is a great self-care list shared by our colleagues at PCCD
• Professional Development: Consider taking some time for professional development. EPIS will continue to provide a number of virutal trianings and learning commuity meetings.  For the most up to date list see our training initiatives page: http://www.episcenter.psu.edu/ETI_Home

Contact EPIS with additional questions: Stay in touch with your EPIS support team via email or phone.  We are here to provide problem solving support throughout these challenging times. See our EPIS Staff Page for current list of staff and contact information.