• Guidelines on how to talk to children about COVID-19
  • From the National Association of School Psychologists
• Advice on how to talk to your children about COVID-19
  •  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s general principles for talking to children 
• WA State Department of Children, Youth & Families
  • Caring for Your Family During COVID-19 
• WA State Department of Health Guidance (PDF)
  • Pregnancy, Birth, and Caring for Your Baby with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19

Basic Needs

WIC: Supplemental Nutrition Program  Income eligible pregnant/breastfeeding.postpartum women, infants and children up to age 5 years old, can apply for food benefits via phone. During this difficult time, more families are becoming income eligible and may find this a useful resource for supplemental food, breastfeeding support and health referrals. All services provided by phone, by appointment. Call 360-385-9400 for an appointment. 

Breastfeeding Resources

• Department of Health recommendation on COVID-19 and breastfeeding (PDF)

Childcare Resources

• Updated COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations: Implications for child care

CTF Alliance (Children’s Trust Fund Alliance)

• For 30 years, the Alliance has been a national leader in strengthening families and working across the social ecology to prevent child abuse and neglect. Our collective goal is for children to be safe, healthy and raised in nurturing families and communities.
  • https://ctfalliance.org/

Jumping Mouse

Resources for Children and Families Regarding COVID-19 https://jumpingmouse.org/resources-for-children-and-families-due-to-covid-19/

Vaccinations

• Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Vaccinated! (PDF)

Vaping

As COVID-19 spikes among young adults, research shows vaping is associated with catching COVID. Recent state data show adults ages 20 to 39 represent a higher percentage of coronavirus cases than any other age group in the state. This comes as vaping among teens and young adults in our state has also skyrocketed, with nearly 30 percent of high school seniors saying they use vapor products. A new study shows young people who reported ever having used e-cigarettes were five times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than non-users.

Teens and young adults who want to quit vaping or smoking can get access to several resources in Washington state. In January, the state Department of Health (DOH) began offering This is Quitting, from Truth Initiative. This first of its kind, free teen-friendly texting program for quitting vaping, was created with input from teens and young adults who attempted or succeeded in quitting e-cigarettes. This is Quitting is tailored by age group to give supportive text messages and information about quitting vaping. To enroll, teens and young adults can text VAPEFREEWA to 88709. Read the full news release here.

Zero to Three

• Tips for Families: Coronavirus

Learning at Home

• Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics: Kids’ Zone
• Department of Energy: Games and Activities; Virtual Field Trips to National Energy Labs
• Environmental Protection Agency: Games, Quizzes, and Videos about the Environment
• The Library of Congress: Presentations and Activities to Help Students Learn about History
• NASA: Interactive Lessons about Space, Earth, Solar System and Universe; Lessons from Astronauts about Living in Space; STEM Activities for Students of All Ages
• The Kennedy Center: Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems; Tour the Kennedy Center with The Pigeon
• The Smithsonian: Free Smithsonian STEM Games and Simulations; Meet the Animals of the National Zoo; 3D Exhibits and Virtual Tours; Smithsonian Magazine Ten Museums You Can Virtually Visit; The Museum of Natural History Virtual Tour; Digital Smithsonian American Art Museum; Distance Learning Resources
• NOAA: Use Real-Time Ocean Data to Explore the Environment
• USGS: Learn from Home About Physical science, Geography and Maps

K-12

• Department of Health’s Decision Tree framework regarding resuming learning in public and private K-12 schools, and Gov. Inslee’s announcement of the plan. (Aug. 5, 2020)    
• Summer and fall guidance for schools (see the “Schools and Childcare” section of DOH’s resource page)    
• Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction COVID-19 guidance & resources for K-12 public schools    
• Guidance for graduation ceremonies during the COVID-19 Pandemic    
• The Washington State Governor's Office of the Education Ombuds resources to help parents make a plan for teaching at home.