Multiple Systems Navigator

Masks and Smiles: Kindergarten Transition Summit!!

Everyone in NY is Invited!!  Bring your local Kindergarten Transition team!

We are writing to invite existing Kindergarten Transition Teams to join us VIRTUALLY on October 28^th at 8:30 am or 12:30 pm for our Masks and Smiles: Kindergarten Transition Summit!   New teams that are just forming or districts wondering what/ how to join a team are welcome to attend, too!

For additional information about the event, click here.

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, SHC unveils a new resource page entirely in Spanish, with fact sheets, flyers, and videos to support children and youth experiencing homelessness, birth through higher education.

October 2020

Best practices and How to Report Accessibility Barriers

The NYS League of Women Voters and Disability Rights New York have partnered to host a virtual webinar via Zoom to explore how you can vote safely in the upcoming General Election.

In this webinar, voters can learn all the ways you can vote, tips and tricks to make it an easy experience, and what you can do if you face barriers to the polls before, during, or after you cast your ballot.

Webinar information:

Thursday, October 8 @ 6:30 PM | https://zoom.us/j/93979457378

Tuesday, October 13 @ 1 PM | https://zoom.us/j/97621225258

Friday, October 23 @ 10 AM | https://zoom.us/j/96409985919

The webinars are supported by funds from the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.

October 2020

SPECIAL ALERT: CENSUS is still OPEN!

Virtual Conference and more...

NYS Office for the Aging has announced the release of the COVID-19 Check-Up Tool 

The CV19 Check-Up Tool is a  free, anonymous, personalized online tool that will evaluate your risk with COVID-19, based on your life situation and behaviors! 

It takes just 5 minutes for you to answer some questions to find out:

• How likely am I to get COVID-19 or spread it to others?
• If I get COVID-19, how severe would it likely be?
• What steps can I take to reduce my risks of getting COVID-19?
• Where can I find help to ensure my needs are met during the pandemic?

PCANY AFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO BUILDING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING ON ISSUES OF CHILD ABUSE

PCANY affirms our commitment to building public understanding on issues of child abuse.

The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) (42 U.S.C.A. §5106g), as amended by the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010, defines child abuse and neglect as, at minimum: 

• "Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which result in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation" or
• "An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm."

This definition of child abuse and neglect refers specifically to parents and other caregivers. A "child" under this definition generally means a person who is younger than age 18 or who is not an emancipated minor.

Educators who are responsibly teaching approved curriculum are not engaging in child abuse. We stand with teachers and against the implication or suggestion that by educating children they are somehow abusing them. That is a misrepresentation of child abuse and this critical issue.

An average 65,000 children are actually abused or neglected in our State every year and there is much work being done to prevent and mitigate that abuse.

Our work often focuses on addressing childhood trauma, including the injustices that have happened over generations. We consider systemic racism to be an adverse childhood experience (ACE) that colors and possibly clouds a child's life into adulthood. Last week, PCANY signed on to PowHer's vision statement regarding gender and racial equity. We strongly believe that we have an obligation to protect all children and families from racially-based bias, prejudice, and institutionalized discrimination. We will continue to support policies and practices—in schools and elsewhere—that lift up the voices of the marginalized and respond appropriately to their concerns. 

We urge people to understand what true child abuse/neglect looks like and to reach out to families who might be struggling.

New Digital Materials Added to ProActive Caring Resources

A key resource of the ProActive Caring Digital Resource Center (PCDRC) is the manual for the ProActive Caring Caregiver Support Program*, a program teaching mindfulness to support family members of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. While the self-paced manual, created by Dr. Mindy Scirri and Theresa Drum, may be used alone and is designed for home use, two new digital resources are now available to expand its functionality.
 
The first is a series of eight videos corresponding to the modules in the manual for the ProActive Caring Caregiver Support Program. The videos were recorded by Dr. Scirri, with creative music compilations by her daughter, Alana J. Scirri, and video editing/production assistance by her son, Nico V. Scirri. The videos may be used either in conjunction with the digital manual or as a teach-alone platform supplemented by the manual. Either way, they will be useful to family members interested in learning strategies for reducing stress in their lives.  They could also be used for virtual in-service training.

The second resource added to the PCDRC is a copy of the manual for the ProActive Caring Caregiver Support Program in Spanish. The manual was translated by Fiona Rattray, Parent Training and Information Center Specialist from Putnam Independent Living Services. Rattray has served as a facilitator for in-person ProActive Caring caregiver support programs, and also as a member of one of the Program’s Regional Advisory Councils.

ProActive Caring was created as a partnership between the Center on Aging and Disability Policy at Mount Saint Mary College, community service providers, and family caregivers, to support you as you care for a person with special needs. The project is funded by the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.

September 2020

Dear ECAC Community,

We are excited to share our latest National Initiative: The 2020 Census!
Please read and share with your networks in order to get out the count for young children!  Please note that the current Census deadline is September 30th, 2020.

For this feature we had the honor of interviewing:

Cate Bohn, New York Kids Count Director at the Council on Children and Families
Colette Labrador, Census Project Director, City University of New York, and
Faith Lamb Parker and Lisa Bernstein, authors of WE COUNT! as members of the Simply Put team, a social impact nonprofit organization that creates books, media and programming with, and for traditionally neglected or marginalized communities

If you are interested in featuring your initiative or have recommendations for future spotlights,

please email our Project Coordinator Alice Blecker [alice.blecker@cuny.edu]

Sincerely,

Sherry Cleary & Patty Persell,
ECAC Co-Chairs

Just Released

The NYS Youth Justice Institute is pleased to announce the release of the Are the Kids Alright? COVID-19 & Youth Issue Brief and the COVID-19 & Youth microsite. These digital resources memorialize the invaluable information shared in the June 2020 forum and create a platform to continue the work.
 
The Are the Kids Alright? Issue Brief captures, in written form, the essence of the forum’s powerful discussions, a compilation of the research and practice questions raised throughout the event, and information on the YJI’s next steps in this area. 

The COVID-19 & Youth microsite houses the issue brief, recordings of all the forum sessions, the event’s visual notes, panelist bios, and a news dashboard featuring media coverage of the pandemic and youth justice issues. If you have limited time and would like an overview of the forum’s takeaways, you can watch a brief video also hosted on the microsite.

What's Next?

In late 2020, the YJI plans to host a follow-up convening to again identify and support the most urgent needs of the national conversation. The YJI is also organizing three working collaboratives to delve deeper into key themes that emerged during the forum, including the following: 

• the role of healing in eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in child-serving systems, 
• supporting education as a protective factor for vulnerable youth in alternative settings, 
• and evaluating and sustaining pandemic-initiated court-based innovations. 

More information on these working collaboratives can be found in the Issue Brief. For information about other YJI efforts and events, please visit albany.edu/yji.

Our mission: Use innovative approaches to address the economic and workforce-related impacts of the opioid epidemic, and provide training and support activities to dislocated workers (including displaced homemakers), new entrants to the workforce, and incumbent workers, including individuals in these populations who are or who have been impacted by the opioid crisis.

Our Vision is to: Counter the negative employment impacts of the opioid crisis and encourage training opportunities, including skilled professions that can address the underlying causes of the crisis.

Eligible Participants:

• Must be a Dislocated Worker (DW)
• Must be an Unemployed or significantly underemployed individual
• Must reside in Herkimer county, Madison County, Oneida County or Otsego County
• Must be interested in employment and training

Support Services and/or Training:

• Certificate Training Programs (Employer recognized or Industry-recognized credentials)
• Help Getting Your High School Equivalency (formerly GED)
• Pre-apprenticeships and Apprenticeships
• On-The-Job Training Opportunities
• Certified Peer Advocate Training (CRPA), Recovery Coach Training
• Entry-level Health Care (PCA, HHA, CNA, Medical Assistant)
• Career Counseling, Career Planning
• Transportation (Bus passes)

And other free services, such as tests fees, training-related application fees, recertifications, and tools 

        Meet Project Director Veronica Miller

Veronica is responsible for implementing program services in the Mohawk Valley. She works with individuals that have been affected by the Opioid epidemic to assist with training, employment, and support.

“This program is instrumental in our community, and allows eligible dislocated workers an opportunity to explore training programs and career pathways, as they move towards recovery and rebuild their lives,” Veronica says.

Phone: 315-798-5537 

Email: vmiller@working-solutions.org

The New York State Education Department, Office of Special Education is sharing the following resource provided by the Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR). CIPR, funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, is the central “Hub” of information and products created for the nationwide network of Parent Centers serving families of children with disabilities. This resource is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute NYSED endorsement of any websites or other sources.  Please be aware that the websites listed may change. The information provided is true and complete to the best of our knowledge.

The CPIR has developed a Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets in PDF format in response to requests from state and local educational agencies and parents about how to hold and participate in virtual IEP meetings. The package (also available in Word) includes:

• Technology Tips for Participants (1 page);
• Hosting Virtual IEP Meetings: Tips for Success (before, during, and after meeting suggestions);
• Common Questions and Answers About Hosting Virtual IEP Meetings (1 page);
• Participating in Virtual IEP Meetings: Tips for IEP Team Members (before, during, and after meeting suggestions; and
• Common Questions and Answers About Participating in Virtual IEP Meetings.

Also posted on the CPIR website is a Sample Virtual Meeting Agenda (in English) (Also available in Spanish) and the Infographic: Participating in Virtual Meetings (in English) (Infographic in Spanish).

Judges of color speak to equal treatment, respect, and dignity in the courts, urging courts to be mindful of the impact of systemic racism in order to make a positive difference, daily.    

Children's System of Care Action Planning

System of Care is defined as a coordinated network of community-based services and supports for children and youth who are experiencing challenges, and their families. A framework that organizes the System of Care through a foundation of values/principles, infrastructure of all critical stakeholders, and services and supports development and implementation.

We can help!

Request a Facilitated SOC Workshop

Angela Keller
Project Director, NYS SOC Pilot
NYS Office of Mental Health
Angela.Keller@omh.ny.gov
(518) 473-6903

 New Website Supports Job Seekers with Disabilities!

YourDreamYourTeam.com

This website is a product resulting from the New York State Disability Employment Initiative (DEI). DEI is a Systems Capacity Building Project. In New York State, DEI is focused on developing, improving, and supporting inclusive career pathways for 14 to 24 year-olds with disabilities by increasing their participation in existing Career Pathways programs.

Key partners supporting DEI include: Local Workforce Development Boards: Hempstead Works, CDO Workforce, Tompkins County Workforce, New York State Department of Labor, Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR), New York State Office of Children and Family Services, New York State Council on Children and Families, New York State Commission for the Blind, New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, New York State Office of Mental Health, New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, and New York State Business Leadership Network.

The website is designed for multiple audiences, including youth with disabilities pursuing employment, as well as the people and organizations that support them.

We would also like to acknowledge the following people and organizations who helped provide insight, guidance, and content for Your Dream, Your Team.

"What we need to do is learn to respect and embrace our differences until our differences don’t make a difference in how we are treated."  - Yolanda King

Understanding Microaggressions

One important aspect of being an ally is to be self-aware, and intentional with our language.  Microaggressions are comments that are indirect or subtle but reflect our implicit biases or prejudices. Offensive comments can make individuals feel invisible, and dismiss their personal experiences - such as identifying as a member of the  LGBTQ+ community or any other historically disadvantaged group. They can leave a long-lasting negative impact on a person’s self-esteem, can harm relationships, and may lead to individuals feeling unsafe or targeted within their environment, such as a community or school. PBS Learning Media has created lessons for the classroom.

Promoting Culture in the Classroom

To truly engage students and be perceived by them as an ally, educators must reach out in ways that are culturally and linguistically responsive, and examine the assumptions and stereotypes we bring into the classroom that may hinder connectedness. This article titled, Culture in the Classroom, provides resources for educators to self-reflect and identify hidden biases. It also provides insight about how to take a close look at the curriculum and incorporate lessons that include diverse reading selections representing authors from various cultural backgrounds.

Educators who approach teaching from a multicultural lens can help children develop social awareness, including empathy, and make them feel included in the school community. For immigrant and refugee students, it can provide the emotional scaffolding necessary to cross the linguistic and cultural divide between the country of origin and country of residency.  Embracing cultural diversity in the classroom supports the mental health and wellness of students and fosters a caring school community.

Forming a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Club

Student-run GSA clubs in middle schools and high schools unite LGBTQ+ and allied youth to support issues impacting them in their schools and communities. They raise awareness and promote social change. Even if your school does not have the capacity for a formal club, other clubs, such as Student Council or Key Club, may find the resources at the GSA Network helpful to developing projects that support LGBTQ+ youth such as hosting socials or raising awareness about how to support peers navigate the coming out process. Visit the GSA Network to learn more.

Special Education Allyship in Action

In this article from Teach for America, Special Education teachers share how they practice allyship in the classroom providing students with the skills to find their voice and self-advocate. They also promote goal setting, and career exploration, to empower students to fulfill their hopes and dreams.

To promote allyship in schools, consider Best Buddies Friendship Programs.

Being an Ally to Muslim American Families

EmbraceRace.org created guides that offer practical guidance to families on difficult topics such as racism, inequity, and safety.

One particular resource, created by Mommying While Muslim podcast creators, Zaiba Hasan and Uzma Jafri, focuses on practical strategies to address concerns such as school bullying.

Family Acceptance Project

The Family Acceptance Project is the first comprehensive study of LGBTQ youth and their families and the first evidence-informed family support model to help diverse families learn to support their LGBTQ children. The project represents a diverse group of families, and explores the role of family acceptance and rejection, and discusses how the level of connectedness can impact overall mental health and wellness. When youth feel supported on their journey, they harvest more positive views of the future, higher self-esteem, and a sense of inclusion.

The School Mental Health Resource and Training Center is a project of the Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. with funding from the New York State Legislature and Executive.

Perhaps now more than ever, our students are facing new mental health challenges. As schools throughout the country are feeling the pressures of planning for the return to school and providing virtual support, it is also a crucial time to assess how well your school district is meeting students’ mental health needs. We’re here to help!

The NYS Office of Mental Health, Division of Integrated Community Services for Children and Families, invites school districts and schools across the State to participate in an assessment that will measure the comprehensiveness of your district or school mental health system and identify priority areas for improvement. We will lead you through the process and provide data entry support.

What is SHAPE? The School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation System is a public-access, web-based platform that offers schools, districts, and states a workspace and targeted resources to support school mental health quality improvement. SHAPE was developed by the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH), in partnership with the field, to increase the quality and sustainability of comprehensive school mental health systems.

Quality Domains:

Teaming
Needs Assessment & Resources Mapping
Mental Health Screening
Mental Health Promotion (Tier 1)
Early Intervention and Treatment (Tiers 2 & 3)
Funding and Sustainability
Impact

What’s in it for YOU? Upon completing the assessment, the school or district receives a personalized report of each domain and its components. Mastery, Progressing, and Emerging scores are calculated to quickly highlight areas of potential planning and action. The NCSMH has a large resource library available to assist in making improvements in all the domains.

Why NOW? School personnel, students, and families have been faced with an unprecedented event in 2020. Districts are planning how to reopen schools. SHAPE provides one more tool to assess a school or district’s needs.

How do we get started? The NYS Office of Mental Health has staff resources this summer to assist schools/districts with the completion and data entry of SHAPE. The information gained from conducting these assessments will provide a better understanding of what school districts need to achieve a comprehensive school mental health system, and how the Office of Mental Health might be of assistance.

Contact: Angela Keller at angela.keller@omh.ny.gov or (518) 473-6903 for more information.

Magellan Healthcare is pleased to announce the opening of a crisis text line for all first responders and healthcare workers who are serving on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic. The crisis text line will support our crisis telephone hotline, launched in April. Critical workers can now reach us both by phone and text message to get help.

Magellan Healthcare will provide free, confidential mental health services and access to other resources such as community-based support to help those responding directly to the pandemic. These resources are provided free of charge to support critical workers as they try to manage feelings of fear, sadness, anger and hopelessness associated with the situations they may be experiencing during the coronavirus pandemic.

How critical workers can access the crisis text line

Text SUPPORT to 78137 from anywhere in the United States to connect to a certified, licensed mental health clinician via our secure mPulse Mobile platform. The crisis text line is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern. Texts received outside of these hours will be forwarded to the crisis telephone hotline. If critical workers wish to call the crisis telephone line directly, the toll-free number is 1-800-327-7451 (TTY 711).

To learn more about how Magellan Healthcare is responding and offers support during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit MagellanHealthcare.com/COVID-19.

New Synthetic Opioid, Mixed With Cocaine, Detected in Overdose Cases
Health officials in Illinois and Indiana say a new synthetic opioid appears to be linked to some overdose cases, USA Today reports. Read More

Sources of Illegal Drugs Change During Pandemic, Leading to New Overdose Risks
The coronavirus pandemic is impacting the supply chain of illegal drugs, leading to new overdose risks, experts tell NPR.
Read More

Number of Opioid Deaths Maybe Much Higher Than Previously Believed
The number of deaths due to opioid overdoses may be much higher than previously thought, according to a new study. Read More

COVID-19 Pandemic Makes Mental Health Treatment Harder to Obtain
The COVID-19 pandemic is making it more difficult for people to obtain mental health treatment, the Associated Press reports. Read More

During this time of uncertainty, we're still here to support families.

The Developmental Disabilities Planning Council wants to help you stay informed during the coronavirus crisis. Below we have compiled a list of resources, tools, and information. You will find information for individuals, parents and families, providers, and opportunities for you to help by filling out informational surveys. Stay safe and healthy during this ongoing pandemic.

FOR INDIVIDUALS:
Administration for Community Living: What do Older Adults and People with Disabilities Need to Know? GuideAutism Society Corona Virus Response and Resources
California DD Council Self-Advocate COVID-19 Video Series
COVID-19 Visual Communication Card
Financial Resources for People with Developmental Disabilities During the COVID-19 Crisis
Plain Language Information on COVID-19 (In 11 Languages)
The Rose F. Kennedy Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (RFK CERC)/The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Resource Guide
Special Olympics Virtual Exercise Program and Resources

FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES:
NYSRC Webinar: Mindfulness For Families Of Children With ASD: Focusing on The Present Moment In Stressful Times 
CDC Household Guide
COVID-19 and at Home Resources for Children
Guardianship in the Time of COVID-19 
Protecting Your Mental Health During the Coronavirus Outbreak Podcast

FOR PROVIDERS:
COVID-19 Webinars for Providers
Guidance for Behavior Health Facilities
How to Lead Through the COVID-19 Crisis in a Resilience-Oriented Trauma-Informed Way
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)
OPWDD Resource Guide

Family Discussion for Parents/Caregivers of Children and Youth (ages 0 – 21) with Physical, Medical, Emotional and Learning Needs

Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) and The Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities at University of Rochester Medical Center is recruiting families to participate in discussions about how to best support families in New York State (NYS) who have a child or youth with physical, medical, emotional or learning needs. In addition, we are working with local health departments (LHDs) to compile a regional resource directory and training materials that LHDs can use to support children and youth and their families in the future.
 
WIHD and The Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Rochester Medical Center are engaged in this project through a grant from the NYS Department of Health.
 
We will be holding virtual small group discussions and individual interviews with eligible participants from May 2020 through June 2021.

Who is eligible?

• Any person who lives in NYS; and is
• A parent/guardian with caregiving responsibility of a child or youth (0-21) with physical, medical, emotional or learning needs; or
• An individual (18-21) with physical, medical, emotional or learning needs.

Discussion Group Details:

• 90-minute virtual group discussion; $75 compensation
• 60-minute individual phone interview; $50 compensation

 
Interpreters available and sessions in Spanish available

For more information:

In the Hudson Valley and Upstate Region of NYS
Call or Email:
Susan at 914-719-7774 or sburlazzi@wihd.org
Jeannie at 914-719-7761 or jrisucci@wihd.org
 
In the Western Region of NYS
Visit: https://bit.ly/3dyV7Ih
Email: Melissa at Melissa_Parrish@urmc.rochester.edu

Your Friends Are Here for You...

You Are Never Alone!

Please remember, YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.  There are many friends and resources out there for you... take advantage and reach out if you feel lonely or isolated.  Just stay connected!

During this time of high anxiety with the uncertainty of the pandemic, we know it is especially hard for those in recovery.  However, Friends of Recovery - New York is here to remind you that YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!  

FOR-NY has been and will continue to send these updated lists of immediate general and more regional resources for you to have readily available should you need assistance.

We Are in This Together

The field of Recovery Peer Support Services needs you now more than ever.  If you are inspired to use your lived experience with Addiction Recovery to become a peer professional and need financial assistance to complete your training, FOR-NY and OASAS have funding available for you!!!!

Please take a look at the information below and contact Shannon if you have further questions on the application process: sschielke@for-ny.org

These awards will go to individuals who take their training with a Best Practice Trainer.

VIRTUAL CRPA training with Best Practice trainers TBA on Upcoming Trainings page of our website.

Note:

• These are limited funds but all are encouraged to apply.
• Selection will be widespread to ensure all regions of New York have a fair distribution.
• Eligibility will be determined, but not limited to, lived experience, appropriateness / assessment
  of training readiness and financial need.
• Individuals who are veterans and bilingual are encouraged to apply.

During this difficult time, we are all facing challenges that seem daunting and that we may feel unprepared for. But there are people that rely on us--in some cases, both our children and our parents are looking to us for assurance, support, and guidance during these uncertain times. In addition, we need to take care of ourselves, so that we can be there for them. But no one ever told us how to do that! How do we know the right answers? 

At Prevent Child Abuse, we are not claiming to have all of the answers, but we are happy to use our collective resources to provide you with the NYS Resource Guide for Caregivers: Caring for Your Family During the COVID-19 Crisis. 

This Resource Guide is intended to help navigate life with children through the pandemic and the days that follow. It is rooted in the Five Protective Factors. The Five Protective Factors serve to mitigate the negative impacts of trauma. This Guide is organized by each of the Factors and gives you tips and concrete resources (links) to information you can use when YOU have questions. 

We hope that you will use this guide to help you get through this difficult and unprecedented challenge and that we will all be better for it on the other side.

Wishing your loved ones safety and wellness.

Timothy Hathaway, Executive Director

During this COVID-19 public health crisis, we wanted to share with you an informational form created by Michelle Ballan, Ph.D., Professor, School of Social Welfare & Family, Population and Preventive Medicine Stony Brook University to collect and summarize vital information about an individual that can be provided to the care team in the hospital.

This form was developed in conjunction with Emergency Room (ER) and hospital physicians, individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), and parent advocates. It is designed to be an informational support tool for individuals with I/DD who may need to go to the ER or be hospitalized due to symptoms of COVID-19. Please keep the following important information in mind:

• Although this form is optional, Care Design NY encourages Members and Families to complete this information proactively in case it is ever needed. Please let your Care Manager know if you would like them to assist you or complete this form on your behalf. 
   
• Care Design NY Care Managers will assist with completing this form for anyone they support living in the community (non-residential) who does not have a family member or natural support to complete this on their behalf. 
   
• In the event someone needs to go to the ER/Hospital, this form will help to alert ER/Hospital physicians and medical staff to the best ways to communicate with the person according to their needs and wishes.    
   
• All Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs) are utilizing this universal form to best support individuals with I/DD across New York State at this challenging time. Please refer any questions to your Care Manager or you can send an email to memberfeedback@caredesignny.org.

ProActive Caring Program

As we are all navigating these present times - there are tools, resources, and supports that can be helpful. We have sent this message out to the individuals, families, community-based agencies, and social media sites that are involved in our statewide ProActive Caring Program funded by the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (NYS DDPC). The ProActive Caring Program provides Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) strategies and training to individuals, families, and staff.

In times of stress - internal or external - staying in the moment with a focus on one breath at a time - can be calming and reassuring. We ask that you take a glimpse at the information we have shared with you (https://www.msmc.edu/proactive) about the “ProActive Caring Program” and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), with the intent on: “staying in the moment." https://www.proactivecaring.org/mindful-minutes

Stress is a learned response and it can be unlearned. By using simple but powerful techniques of breathing and imagery, all things are manageable. We know it works - and so will you!

Be Safe....Be Calm....Be Kind....Be Stress-free

Also, here is the link to a Zoom-Cast that we created this week. The title is: “Pro-Active Caring - School Exchange”. This format will be created on a weekly basis on Wednesday at 10 am - the future video formats will run for 15 minutes and then open for questions, thoughts, and exchanges.

The intent is to immediately be available for Parents, Families, and Staff - to provide resources, presence, and support.

Please feel free to share this link throughout your networks. Also, please feel free to contact us at 845-569-3164.

Be safe. Thanks.

https://zoom.us/rec/share/wvc2EInp3TNLZYnP-VDQWJ4HO63dX6a8gSNPqfBZyEuH7QCYsmFEnkC7R__OwBWs

Best wishes,

Larry Force, Jeffery Kahana, and Elaine Sproat

The Center on Aging and Disability Policy

SAMHSA has a number of resources to assist you in getting help, access treatment, and connect to a crisis counselor.

They include:

FindTreatment.gov
Millions of Americans have a substance use disorder. Find a treatment facility near you.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Free and confidential support for people in distress, 24/7.

Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
Find treatment facilities confidentially and anonymously, 24/7.

National Helpline

1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Treatment referral and information, 24/7.

For those who prefer texting/social media (Facebook Messenger) to seek help. This resource is supported mostly by private companies such as Netflix and YouTube.

Crisis Text Line is free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text 741741
from anywhere in the US to text with a trained Crisis Counselor. Crisis Text Line trains volunteers to support people in crisis. https://www.crisistextline.org/about-us/faq/

Visit www.samhsa.gov / 1-877-726-4727

As we all continue to navigate our way through this pandemic and abide by the Governor's guidelines of social-distancing for the safety of ourselves, our families and others, FOR-NY continues in working to bring you updated COVID-19 information and how it may affect the Recovery Community statewide.

We have added a special page to our website that can be accessed through this link or when you visit our website at FOR-NY.org, you will find it in a tab on the top right titled "COVID-19 Information."  Here you will find online recovery resources, the latest updates from OASAS, the NYS Governor, as well as CDC guidelines.

We will be updating this information regularly so be sure to visit often and use this as a resource tool as needed.

We are in this together!

NY State Updates on Coronavirus and Operation of Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs

Hunger Solutions New York is following the development of emergency plans for the continued operation of federal nutrition programs as New York communities work to slow the spread of COVID-19.

School Meals

NYS Education Department Guidance: "Operating Child Nutrition Programs when Schools are Closed due to COVID-19" encourages schools to prepare now to be able to continue to provide “critical support services” like school meals in the event of a school closure.  Highlights include: 

• School districts and sponsors in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) may provide reimbursable meals to low-income children during school closures related to COVID-19.
• To provide meals to children in areas affected by school closures, schools must complete a one page application and submit to CNCOVID@nysed.gov for review and approval, prior to commencing meal operations.
• Upon Child Nutrition’s approval of their application, schools may provide up to two meals per day per child through the SFSP or the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) of the National School Lunch Program.  
• Meals may be provided and consumed at schools or other locations in the community or provided for consumption at home. 
• This memo also includes a Q&A to clarify guidance for operating child nutrition programs when schools are closed due to COVID-19.

We encourage any school with questions to please contact your Child Nutrition Program Representative directly, or email CNCOVID@nysed.gov if you have additional questions or concerns.

SNAP

On March 12th, OTDA issued a notice on COVID-19 to social service districts.  
Highlights include:

• No waivers and no special provisions have been approved or offered to the states in the operation of SNAP, and the program continues to operate normally. Local social service districts should continue to plan to ensure safe and continuous access to SNAP.
• Local districts are reminded of the requirement to grant good cause when a participant's failure to meet program requirements is due to factors beyond the participant’s control. The COVID-19 pandemic may result in the inability of individuals to attend agency appointments, including work activity assignments, due to factors such as lack of transportation, lack of child-care, or worksite closures.

Districts are reminded that telephone interviews at both application and recertification are permissible for all SNAP households and are encouraged to utilize or implement this process. For SNAP cases due for recertification, districts also have the option to extend the certification period up to the maximum allowable certification period of 12 or 24 months, or up to 48 months for NYSNIP cases.

These additional websites are providing updated information as it becomes available.

• NYS Education Department Coronavirus Information for Schools
• Food Research and Action Center - Preparing for the Impacts of the Coronavirus on Health, Well-being, and Food Security
• USDA FNS Program Guidance on Pandemic Response including the USDA SNAP Pandemic Planning Guidelines

As a statewide organization dedicated to alleviating hunger, our mission is more important than ever. We will continue to keep you updated on developments.