Even during these days of social distancing, there are still things we can do and resources we can use to keep our minds and spirits positive. Explore previews of these resources below.
To stay informed about COVID-19 in Delaware, visit de.gov/coronavirus, or call 2-1-1. Individuals with hearing impairment can call 7-1-1. For those with specific health-related questions, email us at DPHCall@delaware.gov. Contact your primary health care provider if you have concerns about symptoms, particularly those with fever and coughing or shortness of breath.
In these difficult times, victims of domestic violence and child abuse need to know there is a place for them to find safe refuge. If you or someone you love are experiencing domestic violence or child abuse, help is available.
24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: (302) 762-6110
Child Abuse Hotline: (800) 292-9582
Violencia doméstica: (302) 745-9874
This COVID-19 kit from the Division of Public Health contains key information and facts you can share with others in your community about the vaccines. Learn about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines as well as how the vaccines were developed. Find out who is eligible for vaccination, plus when, where, and how to get vaccinated. This information can also help individuals overcome vaccine hesitancy, get second doses, and follow post-vaccination safety guidelines. Kit materials include downloadable posters, emails, talking points, Q&As, website messaging, social media content, graphics, and more. All are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
English | Spanish | Haitian Creole | Arabic | Vietnamese | Chinese | Visually Impaired
Walking, biking, and hiking are great exercise, and they’re great for mental health too. DNREC offers tips to enjoy the outdoors safely during the COVID-19 period.
Find them here: https://news.delaware.gov/2020/03/24/get-outside-but-protect-yourself/
This is a training course offering skills and mental health resources. Check out the MHFA website — in particular, their messaging about COVID-19.
Know the facts about COVID-19 (coronavirus) and help stop the spread of rumors. Learn more here.
Food Bank of Delaware is hosting three drive-thru mobile pantries for struggling families in Kent, Sussex, and New Castle counties. Find more information here: https://www.fbd.org/covid-19-updates/.
For information and help finding local available resources, including food access, utility assistance and health information, please dial 2-1-1.
Right now, the mental health and well-being of Delawareans in need of counseling or medication management is more important than ever. View this downloadable flyer that explains how to set up an appointment with a mental health provider either by phone or via internet. It includes a checklist of simple online technology tools you’ll need to connect and engage with your provider.
Maintaining our mental health during the COVID-19 emergency is just as important as maintaining our social distance. Delaware Psychological Services is now providing teletherapy for the whole family. To schedule an appointment, call 302-703-6332 or email info@dps-wellness.com. For more information and access to their services, visit https://www.delawarepsychologicalservices.com/.
Finding healthy foods during the COVID-19 emergency doesn’t have to be a challenge. Delaware offers assistance to families in need through school meal sites, SNAP and WIC programs, and local food pantries. Download this flyer to learn more about them and how to apply.
One thing we can all do at home during the COVID-19 situation is read. Whether it’s cozying up alone with a good book or reading aloud to your children, reading is a great way to keep our minds occupied and learning. Now, you can access a wealth of online resources with any device, from the comfort of your home, for free. Download e-books, read e-magazines, and find more here: https://lib.de.us.
Being home for weeks on end during the coronavirus fuels incidents of abuse against women,children, and others in the house. Telehealth technology permits communication between you and your clients, but you can’t see abusers listening in or hiding out of sight in the room. That’s why you should download this Telehealth Safety PDF. It offers best practices, planning tips, suggestions to keep clients safe while talking, hotlines you can call if you feel they’re at serious risk, and more. View the PDF.
A comprehensive selection of materials in a single download, with the theme “Know the facts about COVID-19.” A poster, FAQ fact sheet, flyer, rack card, and window cling, as well as dozens of videos where teens, providers, and parents address questions about everything from side effects to fertility—along with rumors, ways to feel safer, reasons to get vaccinated, and more. Social media posts and texts are also included. Available in English, with most tactics also available in Spanish.
English | Spanish
A helpful fact sheet from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers tips and guidance on how to anticipate/address reactions to disease outbreaks, plus how to support concerned children and respond appropriately. Read the fact sheet here. Check out other information here: https://www.samhsa.gov/.
The Community Education Building (CEB) is providing meals to our students — and any child 18 or under — from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the building lobby. Children may come on their own or be accompanied by an adult.
To find other approved child nutrition sites, visit https://www.doe.k12.de.us/page/4149.
CEB’s Food Pantry & Family Resource Center will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Please call 302-660-4753 for more information or to schedule an appointment to pick up a Food Pantry Box (including groceries and home supplies). Learn more at https://www.cebde.org/covid-19-updates.html.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) site, HealthyChildren.org, offers parents advice and guidance to help children understand who is most at risk for COVID-19, how to practice proper hygiene, and how to cope with the outbreak while sheltering in place at home — even how to care for a family member with mild symptoms. Visit https://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx.
This website provides many suggestions to help parents keep their children engaged and learning while home from school during the COVID-19 outbreak. Here, you’ll find WHYY shows and programming for kids, playtime activities by age group, articles on parenting, family night ideas, and much more. Just go to https://www.pbs.org/parents/.
Are you an essential worker unable to work from home but still in need of child care during Delaware’s COVID-19 emergency? Here’s a great link to child care centers and homes where your child will be safely looked after by trusted providers — many within 10 miles of your home. Learn more here:
https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/child-care/.
Prevent Child Abuse Delaware, an advocacy group for children’s healthy development, offers lots of ways to keep kids and cared-for loved ones engaged and connected while at home during the COVID-19 emergency. From games and activities to stress management techniques and how to recognize small victories each day, there’s much to guide you here — even phone numbers and hotlines to call for help. Simply download this PDF. Additional resources are found at http://pcadelaware.org/.
COVID-19 may be keeping families home, but we’re offering tips and resources to help children of all ages stay engaged and continue to develop. Everything from daily activities, songs, dances, and games to books and stories to remote-education learning modules and videos to fun animal adventures to understanding the COVID-19 crisis and more. Download the links here.
During these uncertain times, infants, children, and teens need more support from parents and caregivers than ever. The information found here will help you with everything from creating safe play spaces and helping kids maintain or build relationships at a distance to encouraging them to express themselves. There’s also guidance on caring for children with special needs.
Learn more here:
Whether you and your newborn are in the hospital or already back home, practicing COVID-19 safety measures can lower your risk of transmitting the virus to your baby. From tips on what to do during isolation and caring for your child to safe hygienic practices and more, this informative fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides important guidance and advice. Read more.
For frequently asked questions and answers about coronavirus and pregnancy from the CDC, visit https://files.constantcontact.com/40ed01d1501/398d0831-93fe-4e12-9743-70fea908352c.pdf.
Additional information from the CDC on pregnancy and breastfeeding can be found here.
Additional information from the CDC on pregnant woman and children can be found here.
This informative fact sheet, available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, provides an overview of all research-based evidence regarding the efficacy and proven safety of COVID-19 vaccines administered to women who are or may become pregnant. The data comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The fact sheet includes things to consider before vaccination, statistics on more than 77,000 pregnant women who were monitored after being vaccinated, suggested protocols to follow, and more.
View or download the PDF:
English | Spanish | Haitian Creole
Stress and anxiety are a concern for mothers-to-be and new mothers during the COVID-19 outbreak. From worries about breast milk to the risk of transmission to fetuses, newborns, and young children and more, the following resources can provide some answers and guidance to help alleviate your concerns.
https://newsmomsneed.marchofdimes.org/hot-topics/coronavirus-how-to-cope-with-stress-and-anxiety/
Moms-to-be can learn a lot here about staying well emotionally and physically during the COVID-19 epidemic. From concerns about breastfeeding and how to stay in touch with others — including health care providers — to sharing your feelings to tips for postpartum planning. There’s a whole team of moms working to help you become a new mom safely, at https://newmomhealth.com.
This helpful website offers expert advice from medical professionals regarding pregnancy during the coronavirus emergency, including frequently asked questions, tips for dealing with a chronic condition, guidance for high-risk pregnancies, and the latest articles and news. It’s great information for and from professionals, as well as for future mothers. Learn more at https://www.smfm.org/women-families.
This website hosts the very latest information about COVID-19 as it relates to advice on breastfeeding, traveling, wearing masks, birthing at home, having COVID-19 symptoms during pregnancy, and other concerns. Find out more at https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/pregnancy/coronavirus-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding and at https://www.babycenter.com/0_coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-faq-medical-experts-answer-yo_40007006.bc.
Designed by medical professionals for medical professionals, this website about women, infants, and children addresses many concerns during pregnancy, from help in debunking COVID-19 myths circulating online to breastfeeding advice to the WIC public health nutrition program, plus news and blog posts. Learn more at https://www.nwica.org/covid-19-resources.
CityMatCH brings together city and county health departments’ maternal and child health (MCH) programs, action groups, and urban community leaders to share the latest COVID-19 information and resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and more. Visit https://www.citymatch.org/covid-19-resources.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an unprecedented health concern for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Here is the very latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Delaware Division of Public Health, assembled in one downloadable flyer. It offers precautions women can take to avoid or prevent infection, as well as information on what to do if they have been exposed or diagnosed, what is still unknown about the virus, whether it affects breast milk, and more. Download and view the flyer here.
Whether you’re a new expectant mom or an experienced one, the Birth Center of Newark, Delaware, offers virtual classes to promote a positive birth experience. Taught by registered nurses, these online courses are ideal for women at the 28- to 34-week stage. They will help you learn about or refresh your knowledge of childbirth — before, during, and after labor. Plus, you’ll learn the breastfeeding basics as well as how to improve your body for your growing baby and prepare siblings for the arrival of your newborn. There are even links to support groups and the center’s Instagram and Facebook pages. Download the course guide as a PDF here.
Pregnant women have enough to be concerned about. Dealing with coronavirus raises even more questions. This downloadable presentation answers quite a few — from how to prevent becoming infected and what to do if diagnosed to the safety of breast milk to managing stress or anxiety to the disease’s potential effects on newborns to helpful resources and more. Download this informative PowerPoint presentation here.
Pregnant women are at increased risk for severe illness or death from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Their infants could also be born prematurely. This flyer from the CDC offers helpful recommendations and simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your baby from COVID-19. Read more.
Though it is not yet known whether breast milk transmits the virus to a nursing baby or not, this important information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers good guidance. It includes precautions to take prior to nursing, the use of breast pumps, and how to breastfeed if you are separated from your newborn. Read more.
With schools closed, stay-at-home dads as well as father figures can benefit greatly from being more involved in and supportive of their child’s life. They’ll find plenty of guidance and inspiration here — from understanding their strengths and applying their business principles at home during the quarantine to raising special-needs children to discovering a library of information on the fundamentals of fathering. Learn more at http://fathers.com/about-ncf.
Due to the risks of COVID-19, students and children throughout Delaware are at home. So it’s important to keep them active and engaged to reduce boredom and continue their development. To find activities you can do with your child, please visit https://dethrives.com/blog/at-home-activities-for-children-during-covid-19.
This informative Facebook talk is presented by the national chapter and local Delaware chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses. Featuring guest speaker Dr. Meghan Walls of Nemours and facilitated by Annie Slease of NAMI Delaware, the discussion offers four effective strategies to help kids and parents deal with the mental stress of the COVID-19 crisis. Watch it here.
https://www.facebook.com/namidelaware/videos/644894959408820/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
One thing we can all do at home during the COVID-19 situation is read. Whether it’s cozying up alone with a good book or reading aloud with your children, reading is a great way to keep our minds occupied and learning. Now, you can access a wealth of online resources with any device, from the comfort of your home, for free. Download e-books, read e-magazines, and find more here: https://lib.de.us.
COVID-19 is still with us, but there are specific things you can do to protect your baby’s health and welfare. This fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers guidelines on limiting your baby’s visitors, understanding symptoms of COVID-19 in an infant, the importance of well-baby checkups, and even safe-sleep suggestions. Read more.
If you’re an educational, medical, government or other professional who actively promotes and supports the health of mothers and children, you’ll find a wealth of resources here — from evidence tools and toolkits to peer-reviewed journal articles and a massive library collection that is searchable by topic and terms. This site also features a link to Georgetown University’s National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health. Learn more at https://www.mchlibrary.org/guides.php.
Find the most recent and informative tweets from this nonprofit organization regarding supplemental and nutrition programs for women, infants, and children; practicing good hygiene during the COVID-19 emergency; information for programs like SNAP and local food pantries; and more. Visit https://twitter.com/NatWICAssoc.
The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) has been developing resources, as well as working with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) federal agency and organizational partners to gather available information/resources and will be posting them to www.amchp.org/covid-19. The site will be updated regularly as new resources become available.
A new resource outlines ways to promote children’s resilience in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and to protect them from the potential negative effects that traumatic events can have on their development and well-being.
Here, we’ve assembled the combined knowledge of national, regional, and local organizations that are leaders in childhood development, virtual parenting, and child care, as well as mental, physical, and emotional health and more. You’ll find educational apps, media libraries, tutorials, lesson plans, online webinars, toolkits, and other helpful information. View a PDF of over 50 resources.
With more families at home during the pandemic, the likelihood of domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect increases. Children under 4 are most vulnerable. This resource for child-serving professionals offers important guidance on staying engaged with families online and on the phone, observing their interactions, asking the right questions, following appropriate protocols, and more.
Learn more here:
View, download and share valuable CDC fact sheets with helpful information for patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding or caring for an infant during COVID-19.
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