California MAP* to Inclusion and Belonging… *Making Access Possible May 2020 Newsletter
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Part 2: Resources for Early Care and Education, Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education Professionals Working During the Pandemic
This newsletter is the second in a series of resources gathered by the MAP to Inclusion and Belonging Project to support early care and education providers to meet the changing needs of the field during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Part 1: Taking Care of the Children: Seven Sets of Resources aria-hidden="true" provided resources and tools to help children and families in understanding the pandemic, social distancing and adjusting to staying at home. It’s been about six weeks since the beginning of this “stay at home” life that has impacted the entire world. By now most of us are in a routine, but every day we are faced with new challenges as we try to adjust to new ways of providing services in safe environments.
In gathering this second set of resources to support early care and education providers, early intervention and early childhood special education providers during the pandemic the California MAP Team aria-hidden="true" was inspired by the tireless work of our funder, the California Department of Education—Early Learning and Care Division, as well as all of the collaborators and organizations that support children, families and essential workers. The urgency, dedication and desire to help are apparent in the wealth of resources that have been created and shared. The focus of this set of resources is to highlight resources from the Department of Education to serve children of essential workers and new resources supporting early intervention and early childhood special education related to tele–intervention and distance learning.
In this issue topics include:
1. California Department of Education Early Learning and Care Division (ELCD): Coronavirus (COVID-19) Key Resources
The California Department of Education Early Learning and Care Division (ELCD) COVID-19 aria-hidden="true" has been working night and day to develop guidance and support to early care and education providers in providing child care to essential workers and distance learning. Here are links to key resources particularly pertaining to early care and education and special education.
To help ELCD contractors keep track of all the ELCD guidance for early learning and care programs, the ELCD has created a list of resources on the COVID-19 Guidance and Resources aria-hidden="true" page. Please check that website regularly for the latest guidance.
In addition, please make sure you are signed up for their listserv and continue to monitor all communications that you receive from the CDE-ELCD for up-to-date guidance and answers to your questions. Go to this link to subscribe aria-hidden="true".
CDE-ECLD Management Bulletins aria-hidden="true"
The Early Learning and Care Division (ELCD) periodically issues Management Bulletins to provide legal and regulatory information to child development contractors and other interested parties. This is a complete listing beginning with calendar year 2000, with links to those that are still in effect or that provide historical information.
CDE Coronavirus (COVID-19) Webinars (April 17, 2020) aria-hidden="true"
A comprehensive listing of all CDE webinars related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Includes Distance Learning Series, COVID-19 Policy Related Changes, ELCD Guidance on COVID-19, Guidance on COVID-19 School Closures and more.
California Department of Education- Special Education Guidance for COVID-19 aria-hidden="true"
Guidance includes a CDE Q and A for providing special education services.
California Department of Education- Resources that Support Distance Learning-Part of the COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 Schools published on March 17, 2020 aria-hidden="true"
LEAs are encouraged to leverage their existing distance learning technology platforms, but if these or similar resources are not in use already, the list of available resources on this web page will provide educators with options for creating a foundation for communication, sharing, and digital learning. Resources include Pre-K Learning, Games and Activities and English Language Development Learning, Games, and Activities and Multilingual Resources.
California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing aria-hidden="true"
Provider Information Notice Summary PIN #20-06-CCP provides joint guidance and practices regarding social and physical distancing for providers to prevent exposure to COVID-19 while providing care for children. (April 7, 2020)
2. Information for Emergency Child Care for Essential Workers for Child Care Providers Staying Open
Child care providers that are serving essential workers have unique challenges. They may be serving children of all ages and may need special safety equipment, food and supplies and guidance in implementing new hygiene practices, rigorous cleaning and other health and safety practices related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This set of resources including information, training modules and webinars will help address those needs. Local Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and County First5 agencies may have access to additional resources. Contact information and links to those organizations can be found on the MAP County Specific Resources page aria-hidden="true".
California Childcare Health Program aria-hidden="true"
The California Childcare Health Program, University of California San Francisco School of Nursing consists of a multidisciplinary team to support you in achieving healthy and safe practices in child care settings. “We believe in not only preventing the injuries and the spread of infectious diseases, but in creating the best possible environments in which children can learn and grow.”
This website provides a wealth of resources you may download free or order for a small charge. Their materials are designed to be distributed and used in a variety of settings by both professionals and families. The home page offers information and resources specific to supporting child care providers during the pandemic and other natural disasters. Website available in English and Spanish.
Responding to COVID-19 in Early Care and Education resources include CCHP Guidance materials, prevention materials, policy and regulation and links to other COVID-19 resources. Here is a sample:
- Guidance for California Child Care Providers Caring for Children of Essential Workers during COVID-19 aria-hidden="true"
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guidance for Child Care Programs that Remain Open aria-hidden="true"
CECO Module Available: Health and Safety: Resources and Guidance for Caring for Children aria-hidden="true"
The Health and Safety module "Health and Safety: Resources and Guidance for Caring for Children" is now available on the California Early Childhood Online (CECO) website.
This module is intended to provide an overview of basic health and safety considerations and standards for providing emergency care for children of essential workers. It includes guidance on how to stop the spread of germs in a group setting during COVID-19. This module can be accessed at on their website. aria-hidden="true"
Eight comprehensive Health and Safety modules are also available. Each module is 60-80 minutes in duration. Modules include the following topics:
- Safe Spaces in Child Care
- Transporting Children in Child Care
- Handling Hazardous Material in Child Care
- Infectious Diseases in Child Care
- Safe Sleep Practices and Sleep Related Infant Deaths
- Managing and Responding to Food Allergies
- Shaken Baby/Abusive Head Trauma
- Emergency Preparedness in Child Care
Child Care Aware Webinar: Child Care During COVID-19: Guidance & Implementation from Experts, Recorded April 13, 2020, aria-hidden="true"
Learn about the new guidance from the CDC aria-hidden="true" that provides details for providers and programs that choose to remain open, focusing on social distancing strategies, cleaning and disinfection efforts, modifying drop-off and pick-up procedures, caring for infants and toddlers, healthy hand hygiene behavior, food preparation and meal service, vulnerable and high-risk groups and how best to maintain adequate rations of staff to children to ensure safety. It also provides numerous links to resources that provide even greater detail, including information regarding children’s risks concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Office of Child Care Webinar: Discussion with CDC Regarding Guidance for Child Care Providers that Remain Open, April 14, 2020, 46 minutes aria-hidden="true"
Staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention answered questions related to guidance for child care programs operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Office of Child Care staff responded to policy and programmatic specific questions.
Zero To Three: COVID-19: Infants and Toddlers in Emergency Child Care: In Considerations for Infants and Toddlers in Emergency Child Care for Essential Workers aria-hidden="true"
If a state makes the decision to implement emergency child care for essential workers, it is critical that they consider the unique needs of infants and toddlers. ZERO TO THREE provides recommendations for policymakers and advocates as they work to design systems to deliver care and respond to the needs of infants and toddlers of essential workers.
3. Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education
New resources are available from the Division of Early Childhood and ECTA Center to support teleintervention and distance learning. DEC is hosting a webinar and resources about online education from Robin McWilliams, a highly respected and engaging EI/ECSE professional. ECTA offers new videos produced by Larry Edelson on teleintervention. They help in understanding and implementing online learning and teleintervention during this crisis.
Council for Exceptional Children: Teaching Young Children with Disabilities Online: Webinars and Resources aria-hidden="true"
As professionals transition to providing services and education online, the importance of engaging young children with exceptionalities and their families is especially important. In partnership with the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) aria-hidden="true", we'll be bringing you webinars and Quick Takes to help you move your interventions online. In the first webinar, Robin McWilliam, Ph.D. and Cami Stevenson discuss how we can find out who’s in the family’s ecology, what the child and family needs are, develop participation-based child goals and family goals, construct a routines-by-goals matrix, and provide support-based visits—all done remotely. Watch the video and access the resources aria-hidden="true".
Division of Early Childhood (DEC) Resources to Support EI/ECSE During the COVID-19 Outbreak aria-hidden="true"
Blog posts, curated resources and individual resources from experts in early intervention and early childhood special education offer insight and evidence-based resources into how to approach online early intervention and other topics addressing services and supports for children with disabilities and their families. Below are sample blog posts.
- Early Intervention in Natural Environments: TeleIntervention and the Routine Based Model, Robin McWilliams, March 23, 2020 aria-hidden="true"
- 10 Strategies for Engaging Parents (not Children?) during Tele-Intervention, Early Intervention Strategies for Success aria-hidden="true"
ECTA Center-Service Provider Use of Technology aria-hidden="true"
As states are trying out new ways to work with families using technology this web page is growing as webinars, videos and helpful tips are added. Included among them are resources on teleintervention produced in collaboration with Larry Edelman. Therapists and early interventionists will find these videos especially helpful as they move from in-person to tele-intervention through technology during the pandemic.
A Home Visit with Zander's Family aria-hidden="true"
This video illustrates an early intervention home visit delivered by Ohio physical therapist Paula Clark via video conferencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The video features insightful observations offered by Zander's mother Margaret and Paula.
Using the SS-OO-PP-RR: Guiding Home Visiting during the COVID-19 Pandemic aria-hidden="true"
In this video, Juliann Woods, Jenny Seuntjens, and Larry Edelman discuss the use of the SS-OO-PP-RR framework aria-hidden="true" for guiding home visits, whether in-person or delivered through video conferencing. They also discuss general considerations when delivering home visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporting Families During the Pandemic: Four Therapists Share Their Wisdom aria-hidden="true"
In this video, four early intervention practitioners from the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Ohio) share their experiences and advice about using video conferencing to deliver home visits.
4. Just for Inspiration!
Who Cares About Kelsey? Then & Now: An Online Reunion & Screening Event!
Looking for engagement and entertainment? Join a panel of film stars at noon ET on Thursday, May 7, 2020, for this FREE, public webinar: Who Cares About Kelsey? Then & Now: An Online Reunion & Screening Event! See Dan Habib's film Who Cares About Kelsey? via a Zoom screening with live chat.
Who Cares About Kelsey? focuses on Kelsey Carroll, who lived with homelessness, abuse, and ADHD. She was a likely high school dropout – until she encountered an education revolution that’s about empowering, not overpowering, teens with emotional and behavioral disabilities.
Dan Habib’s video documents how with the right kinds of support and a belief in inclusion, children with seemingly unsurmountable challenges can succeed. Meeting Kelsey years after the video was produced is an added bonus.
Direct questions or comments about this newsletter to map@wested.org