COVID-19 Resources for families and early childhood professionals
Our Healthy Kids Bright Futures team has put together this list of resources to help families with young children and early education professionals during the COVID-19 crisis. Updated July 2, 2020
Child Care
Providing increased food pantry assistance to any household, regardless of income, family size, or geography.
Bridge of Hope Community Church
New Life Family Church
Women Infant Child Program
Internet Service
Employment Information
Family Support - Parent Self Care
Home Activities For ChildrenChild Care Aware Family Activities Text CCAKCS to 59925
Social-Emotional Activities
Conscious Discipline
Literacy
Early Care and Education Center Staff Department for Children and Families Hero Relief Program
Supply grants assist with pandemic related expenses.
PAYMENT PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP):
Under the program, eligible business owners can receive forgivable loans to cover eight weeks of payroll and other expenses. Independent contractors and self-employed individuals are eligible for PPP funding as well.
Additional Hero Relief Program Supports-Friday, June 26On Friday, Governor Laura Kelly, DCF Secretary Laura Howard, and Child Care Aware of Kansas announced additional benefits within the Hero Relief Program to continue to support child care providers impacted by the pandemic. Providers will now be eligible for Revenue Replacement and Health Care and Emergency Worker Support bonuses. The funding for these opportunities is provided by the Kansas Department for Children and Families through the federal CARES Act and is administered by Child Care Aware of Kansas. The information below is all found in an FAQ document linked here.
What is the Healthcare/Emergency Worker Support Bonus?
Employment
Child Care
- Program Status COVID-19 CCAMO Child Care Status Map
- Child Care Aware of Kansas
- info@ks.childcareaware.org
- (855)750-3343
- Child Care Aware of Missouri
- referralcenter@mo.childcareaware.org
- (866) 892-3228
- YMCA Care for Essential Employees and First Responders (Age 5-12, Kindergarten-6th grade)
- Kansas Department of Health and Senior Services: Guidance for Supporting Families in Accessing Healthy and Safe Child Care
- City of Kansas City -Plan to Reopen
- United Government of Wyandotte County
- Jackson County Health Department
- Kansas Department of Health and Environments
- Kansas Department of Health and Environments: FAQs
- Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
- Center for Disease Control
- American Academy of Pediatrics, 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Child Care Aware of America COVID-19 Updates
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- Kansas Department for Children and Families Medicaid, food assistance and childcare subsidies
- Kansas Department of Labor Unemployment
- Missouri Department of Social Service Medicaid, food assistance and childcare subsidies
- Missouri Department of Labor Unemployment
- United Way of Wyandotte County BPU Hardship Assistance Program Clients can either email documents to bpuassistance@unitedway-wyco.org or fax to 913-371-2718. In-person case management will only be utilized if absolutely necessary and must be scheduled well in advance. Clients are required to provide: 1) proof of hardship 2) copy of state ID 3) copy of a current BPU bill. The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities will not disconnect utility service for non-payment as customers and communities are facing potential hardship from coronavirus. This temporary moratorium includes residential and business customers. Additional information: www.BPU.com
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Utilities
- Northland Human Services
- DCF Hero Relief Program
- USDA COVID-19 Nationwide Waiver- Allows parents to pick up meals without student( child) being present. Click here for more information.
- Fresh Harvest Multi-Meal Boxes-starting Thursday, April 30, 2020. Pick up at 3 locations: Ruskin, Smith-Hale, or Ervin 10:00-2:00 p.m. (rain or shine) visit HMC1Food.org to place your order. Please order two days in advance. If you have trouble signing up, please email: pio@hickmanmills.org
- The Community Food Network will host a free mobile food distribution in Wyandotte County, Kansas at the site of the former Indian Springs Mall ( 4601 State Ave, Kansas City, KS 66102) on Thursday, April 30, beginning at 10:00 am.
- Shawnee Mission School District School Meals
- Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Curbside Meal Pickup
- Kansas City Public Schools (KCMO) Curbside Meal Pickup and Delivery
- Hickman Mills School Lunch
- North Kansas City School Lunch
- Children’s Mercy Hospital-Grab-n-Go-Sack Lunches Find more details and locations on this flyer.
Providing increased food pantry assistance to any household, regardless of income, family size, or geography.
- 722 Reynolds, Kansas City, KS: 8:30 – 11 a.m.
- 3031 Holmes, Kansas City, MO: 8:30 – 11 a.m.
- 1100 NE Vivion, Kansas City, MO: 10 a.m. – noon & 1 – 3 p.m.
- Sack lunches are being handed out to those in need. We are working to ensure that no one goes hungry. Our food pantries have transitioned from client choice to food boxes.
- The Salvation Army is providing cleaning supplies to people in need, as well as emergency food and financial assistance to families and individuals.
- Find your local office here.
- Resources Available: Food pantry and sack lunches.
- Location: 736 Shawnee Ave, Kansas City, KS
- Location: 14 S 7th Street, Kansas City, KS
- Resources Available: Food pantry. Call 913-371-8218 and set an appointment.
Bridge of Hope Community Church
- 1925 N 11th Street Kansas City, KS
- 913-499-6741
- Sack Lunches- Mon-Sat 11:30-Noon
- Showers – 9 am-Noon
New Life Family Church
- 4835 Shawnee Drive Kansas City, KS
- 913-262-8048
- 6640 State Avenue Kansas City, KS: Saturday – every week 9 a.m. – noon
- 913-291-9031
Women Infant Child Program
- Wyandotte County 913-573-5000
- Jackson County 800-392-8209
Internet Service
- Spectrum has announced that it will provide free internet for 2 months for K-12 and college students affected. Call 1-844-579-3743 to enroll.
- In response to the public health crisis, AT&T is temporarily:
- Offering two months of free service to new customers who order access by April 30, 2020. $5/mo or $10/mo thereafter, depending on your speed.
- Expanding eligibility based on income2 and to households participating in the National School Lunch Program/Head Start and waiving all home internet data overage fees.
Employment Information
Family Support - Parent Self Care
- Help parents navigate the new normal https://thriveglobal.com/stories/parent-self-care/
- National Parent Helpline 1-855- 4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736)
- The Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Multilingual and confidential.
- Kansas 1-800-CHILDREN
- Child Mind Institute
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-TALK (8255)
- Three Common Parenting Traps and Tips to Avoid Them
- Children’s Mercy Hospital: Helping Your Child Wear a Mask
- How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus, PBS Kids
- Coronavirus and Parenting: What You Need to Know Now, NPR
- Psychology Today: Parenting During COVID-19
- Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus, Child Mind Institute
- Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Sesame Street in Communities
- Sesame Streets: Health Emergencies
- Sesame Street: Caring for Other
- Going to the grocery store during coronavirus outbreak? Here are tips for shopping safely
- COVID-19: Five Helpful Responses for Families
- Zero to Three: Tips for Families
- Zero to Three: Answering Your Young Child’s Questions about Coronavirus
- Wearing a Mask-A Social Narrative
- Cloth Face Coverings for Children During COVID-19
Home Activities For ChildrenChild Care Aware Family Activities Text CCAKCS to 59925
Social-Emotional Activities
Conscious Discipline
Literacy
- Imagination Library: Dolly Parton reads every Thursday on Facebook-April 2-June 4 at 6 pm
- Online Book:Happy Right Now
- Online Book: Breathe With Me
- 50 Things to Do with Beach Balls
- Ages and Stages Activities
- Active Play
- Lets Move
- Active for Life
- What Mom’s Love: 87 Energy-Busting Indoor Games and Activities
- 101 Screen-Free Activities
- Get Moving Today Activity Calendar
- Be Active Kids: Tips for Active Families
- "Daniel Gets a Cold / Mom Tiger is Sick" (FULL EPISODE)
- "Rest is Best" Strategy Song (VIDEO)
- Germs Germs Go Away With Handwashing (VIDEO)
- A Germ-Fighting Superhero (VIDEO)
- In My Bathroom Game
- Play at Home with Daniel Tiger App
- Daniel Tiger for Parents App
- Doctor Daniel Game
- Elmo and Rosita: The Right Way to Sneeze! (VIDEO)
- Abby and Elmo's Potty Plan! Game
- Step-by-step Handwashing with Elmo, Sesame Street/PBS Kids
- The Man With the Yellow Hat Explains How Germs Work (VIDEO)
- ABC Scrub With Me! Activity
Early Care and Education Center Staff Department for Children and Families Hero Relief Program
- Provides child care subsidies to eligible health care workers, first responders & other essential workers.
Supply grants assist with pandemic related expenses.
- May be used to purchase supplies such as gloves, disinfectants, soap, and other necessary items.
- Supply- grant amount is based on the size category of the child care license and is intended to cover 3-month's worth of supplies.
- Eligible child care providers MUST be currently open and licensed by KDHE.
- May be used for operating expenses such as food, supplies, labor, and rent/mortgage payments.
- Stipend is monthly for up to 6-months, and the amount is based on the size category of the child care license.
- Eligible child care providers MUST be licensed by KDHE.
- Grant Guideline Document
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Online Link to Apply for Child Care Provider Supports
- Click HERE to email any questions you have about the Hero Relief Program
- For more information and for instructions on how to apply, visit KSHeroRelief.com or https://ks.childcareaware.org/heroreliefprogram.
- Child Care Aware of America- Closure Flowchart
- Child Care Aware of America COVID-19 Updates
- Kansas Department and Environment FAQs for childcare facilities
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Supplemental Guide)
- Guidance for Schools and Child Care Centers
- Child Care Centers Remaining Open
- Missouri Sections for Child Care Regulations
- Child Care Aware of America-Grab, Adapt, and Go: COVID-19 Resources for Child Care Programs
- Preparedness and Planning Child Care Programs-program operation in time of COVID-19
- KDHE Guidance for Child Care Facilities
- Missouri Department of Health and Human Services: Reopening FAQS
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Reopening Guidance
PAYMENT PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP):
Under the program, eligible business owners can receive forgivable loans to cover eight weeks of payroll and other expenses. Independent contractors and self-employed individuals are eligible for PPP funding as well.
- The SBA will resume taking applications on April 27th at 9:30 am.
- Funds are limited, so you are encouraged to apply as early as possible!
- Click HERE for Information on Who Can Apply
- Click HERE for general PPP Information
Additional Hero Relief Program Supports-Friday, June 26On Friday, Governor Laura Kelly, DCF Secretary Laura Howard, and Child Care Aware of Kansas announced additional benefits within the Hero Relief Program to continue to support child care providers impacted by the pandemic. Providers will now be eligible for Revenue Replacement and Health Care and Emergency Worker Support bonuses. The funding for these opportunities is provided by the Kansas Department for Children and Families through the federal CARES Act and is administered by Child Care Aware of Kansas. The information below is all found in an FAQ document linked here.
What is the Healthcare/Emergency Worker Support Bonus?
- This one-time bonus is to provide recognition to the child care provider and elevate the importance of ensuring that child care options are available to the health care and emergency workforce in Kansas. Due to the increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 by caring for children of workers (parents/legal guardians) on the frontlines, a bonus acknowledges the additional protective measures needed to ensure a child care provider can meet the demand of a healthy and safe environment. Healthcare workers are defined for this program as hospital and nursing home employees. Emergency workers are defined for this program as fire, law enforcement, and correctional staff. Due to the potential for an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 in caring for children of workers (parents/legal guardians) on the frontlines, a bonus will relieve expenses of additional protective measures put in place to ensure child care providers can meet the demand of new guidelines defining a healthy and safe environment for all children in their care. Some examples of the protective measures include higher costs for additional staffing, the cost of operating for additional hours, or increased use of personal protective equipment, to include cleaning equipment and supplies. (Expenses incurred from April 1, 2020, through October 31, 2020)
- All DCF-enrolled providers will be eligible to receive this payment if they experience a measured decrease in subsidy payments, including school-age programs and Head Start programs. Child care providers who are open or who have closed temporarily are eligible. Relative providers, enrolled as DCF providers, who have remained open are eligible.
Employment
- Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Programs-Kansas Labor
- Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Program -Missouri Labor
- June 11, 1:00-2:30 pm. Zero to Three: State of the Babies 2020 (Virtual) Listen to how the pandemic has exposed and exacerbated the well-being of young children and their families. Hear from families across the county about their experiences during this uncertain time.
- Conscious Discipline: Connecting with Your Children Using I Love You Ritual
- (Recording) COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic: Considerations for Early Childhood Professionals
- Free Activities from Child Care Aware of Kansas. Text CCAKS to 59925
- Conscious Discipline: Masks & Gloves Social Story
- Wearing a Mask-A Social Narrative
- Conscious Discipline: Virtual Resources for Educators
- Conscious Discipline: Responding to Difficult Questions
- Congress needs to hear from you. Take action now to tell your Members of Congress to substantially increase financial support for child care in their COVID-19 response. For additional information click here