Support for Providers and
Families During a Pandemic
We are committed to helping providers and families during this difficult time. Below is a comprehensive list of resources compiled to support primary care providers and families.
Resources for Providers
Self Care for the Health Care Workers Health Leads USA
At this time of intense pressure, uncertainty and change, self-care is more important than ever. Here are some things you and your staff can easily implement.
- Magellan Health Insights provides 6 tips for reducing healthcare workers anxiety and creating a positive work environment.
- Reflection logs allow staff and supervisors to manage employee burnout and stress by using brief voice recordings of weekly patient interactions.
- Creating Your Self Care Plan is a tool that helps find ways to highlight positive aspects of your work and mitigate negative components that can lead to burnout.
Alleviating coronavirus anxiety by The Reach Institute
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Response and Resources
Managing Healthcare Workers’ Stress National Center for PTSD-VA
COVID Healthcare Workers’ Managing Stress National Center PTSD – Support and guidelines for Healthcare workers
Addressing Emotional Needs While You’re Sick for clinicians treating patients suspected to have or confirmed to have COVID-19
“Addressing patients emotional needs during COVID-19 workup and diagnosis: Guidance for Clinicians” – This patient handout is a companion document to the provider guidance
Resources for Anxiety
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus by Child Mind Institute – Clinical and supportive resources for parents include:
- Facebook Live video chats with expert clinicians (10am and 4.30pm)
- Comprehensive resources for parents on coronavirus topics
- How to Talk to Kids about COVID for Parents YouTube
- Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
- Supporting Kids Through the COVID-19 Crisis
- Anxious Stomach Aches and Headaches
- How to Help Children Manage Fears
- Tips for Calming Anxious Kids
- How to Avoid Passing Anxiety on to Your Kids
- How Anxiety Leads to Disruptive Behavior
- What to Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious
- Panic Attacks and How to Treat Them
Resources for Autism
- How to Handle School Closure for Your Child with Autism by Autism Speaks:
- Coronavirus Social Story – Visual Guide for Children on the Autism Spectrum – EasterSeals
- What does the autism community need to know about COVID-19?
- School closures and disruption of school-based services
- COVID-19 Video Teaching Story from University of Miami – NSU
- Coping with disrupted routines
- Continuing clinical care during social distancing and school/program closures
- Flu Teaching Story
- How to Talk About COVID-19 With People Who Have Autism – NPR
- Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times – UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute Autism Team
- Spartan Caregiver Support– Behavioral concerns, such as tantrums and meltdowns, communication difficulties, daily schedules and routines, following rules, sleep concerns, getting along with others, video or phone chats.
Movement, Exercise and Relaxation at Home
Recommended websites to help children and teens use physical activity to feel better:
- GoNoodle: Movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts –https://www.gonoodle.com/
- KidsHealth Easy Exercises for Teens – https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/easy-exercises.html
- 30-Minute Hip Hop Fit Workout: https://www.youtube.com/HipHopWorkout
- 24 Free Livestream Workouts and At-home app Trials
Resources for Fun Activities
Here are some free resources to entertain and engage with your young ones.
- Georgie and the Giant Germ– a coloring story book
- Scholastic Lessons
- Mystery Science
- Storyline
- Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems
- Cincinnati Zoo
- Cosmic Kids Yoga
- Gemini– free children’s concerts
- Stay at Home Care Package: indoor games and activities
- NCTSN Simple Activities for Children and Adolescents
- Joey the Kangaroo and Her Coping with COVID Plan: A very special coloring book for kids
Resources for Adolescents
- How to Help Teens Shelter in Place – Greater Good Berkeley
- Connect Safely – Resources for Youth in Crisis
- LGBTQ+ Suicide Support – The Trevor Project Support Center
- Support Blogs from NationalEatingDisorders.org
- Study Tips at Home
- Meditation for College Students
- Mental Health Care Package: Counseling and Psychological Services Coping with COVID 19
Resources for Parents
- Parents – https://zerotothrive.org/covid-19/covid-19-parents/
- Kids – https://zerotothrive.org/covid-19/covid-19-kids/
Parent Self Care
- Parents – Being “Good Enough” Right Now is OK
- Parents’ guide to coping with COVID-19 Crisis– Zero to Thrive
- How to Protect Your Mental Health During the Coronavirus Outbreak – NAMI
- Stress Management Resources– Zero to Thrive
Talking with your Child or Teen about COVID-19
- Helping Young Kids through the COVID-19 Crisis
- Why Telling a Child “Don’t Worry, Everything is Fine” will likely backfire
- How to talk to your Anxious Child or Teen about Coronavirus
- org/8-ways-to-help-teens-cope-social-distancing-blues
- A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus – NPR (3:45)
- COVID Book
- How to talk to your kids about COVID-19 with related PBS cartoon video episodes (young ones)
- Brain Pop – Coronavirus Video and other activities (older elementary)
- Time to come in Bear: A Children’s Story about Social Distancing
- The Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19 National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Healthy Children- American Academy of Pediatrics– Helpful tips talking to kids of all ages about disaster. Where to start, tips regarding exposure to social/media. Signs and symptoms child may not be coping well.
Parents Working from Home
- The Kids are Home. You Need to Work. What do you do?
- 7 Strategies for Working from Home During COVID-19 – Psychology Today
- How to Work from Home with Kids Around – Poynter
- Resources for Parents to Prepare for Working at Home During Coronavirus
Resources for General Mental Health
National Alliance on Mental Illness Updates-on-the-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Updated-Guide
Information and Resources, online support groups, local and statewide supports for Young Adults, Adults, Perinatal Women pregnant and postpartum online confidential support groups
Resources for Women
National Alliance on Mental Illness Updates-on-the-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Updated-Guide
Information and Resources, online support groups, local and statewide supports for Young Adults, Adults, Perinatal Women pregnant and postpartum online confidential support groups
- Resource-Library
- NAMI Help Line Warm Line Directory
- Virtual Support Groups by Topic central.com
- Perinatal Support Groups: COVID-19 Childbirth preparation, Postpartum Preparation Class, Postpartum Mood Support, Women’s Depression Support
Resources for Self-Care
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Information about Coronavirus by the CDC – Pregnancy, precautions and breastfeeding information related to Coronavirus
Pregnant and worried about the new coronavirus Harvard Health – FAQ: related to pregnancy, breastfeeding
Postpartum Support International
- Pregnancy & Postpartum Mental Health Overview
- Depression During Pregnancy & Postpartum
- Anxiety During Pregnancy & Postpartum
- Pregnancy or Postpartum Obsessive Symptoms
- Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Bipolar Mood Disorders
- Postpartum Psychosis
- Social Support Online Training
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Useful Links
5 Poses for Prenatal Yoga YouTube
20 Minute Prenatal Yoga Routine YouTube
Guided Meditation for Pregnancy YouTube
Mindfulness During Pregnancy mindthebump.org.au/
Cognitive Behavior Therapy App for Depression moodgym
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Depression and Anxiety mycompass
Locate Your Local Health Department
Michigan.gov/coronavirus – Regular updates and latest news for communities in Michigan
The crisis helpline for emotional distress related to pandemic is available 24/7, 365 days a year by calling 1-800-985-5990, texting TalkWithUs to 66746, or visiting disasterdistress.samhsa.gov
- Tips for supporting student wellness during COVID-19
- Parent checklist for back to school
- Supporting people with autism during uncertain times
- Ideas to managing screen time and use of technology
- Outdoor play ideas
- Thrive with your Family
Alternative Learning
- The best lessons from your child’s e-learning experience
- Troubleshooting Distance Learning
- The ADHD Guide to Learning at Home
- Remote Learning Guide for Students with ADHD, and Students in General
- Back to School Planning: Checklists to Guide Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers
- School Closings and Distance Learning
- Tips for parents and caregivers for school closures, routines, and return to school
- School Closings and Learning at Home
- Activities to Keep Kids Busy at Home
- Learning at Home Resources – Elementary School
- Teaching with Technology to Help Your Child Learn
- Free Learning Resources from Lakeshore Learning Materials
- List of Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions due to School Closings
- GoPeer.org – A resource that allows families to connect with qualified college undergraduates who are available to tutor K-12 students. They integrate technology with a near-peer education model to provide jobs to college students, logistical help to parents, and academic mentorship to students.
Routines and Schedules