24 Mar ReadyKids Preparing for Coronavirus in Charlottesville
ReadyKids made the difficult decision to suspend all program activities effective Monday, March 16th. As always, our first priority is on the health and well-being of our participants and staff. In our day-to-day work, our staff meets with many members of our community. The risk of us unknowingly spreading the virus to others while doing this work is high.
This has not been an easy decision to make as we know that participants rely on our support. But, in light of the guidance from the CDC and the recommendation for social distancing, it would be irresponsible of us to continue providing programming at this time. As of right now, per Governor Northam’s order, the ReadyKids building will remain closed until June 10. We are reevaluating programming on a week-by-week basis and making any needed changes or updates based on the most recent information.
For participants in ReadyKids programs
Our building will be locked, but to continue meeting the needs of our participants, ReadyKids staff will maintain contact with participants through virtual means (phone, email, video chat) until we can resume face-to-face services. We will be staffing our phones and the Teen Counseling Program 24/7 Hotline. Stay tuned to our Facebook page and Instagram for special virtual programming and activities. Also, check out our online ReadyKids Read-A-Thon of ReadyKids staff reading children’s books out loud.
We also recognize there will be many children and families who lose a primary source of support without the daily presence of our local public school systems. In light of this, we have gathered resources families can reach out to for basic needs when schools are closed. We are following the community’s responses to COVID-19 very closely and we will continue to update our website as the situation develops.
How to Discuss Coronavirus with your Kids
News of coronavirus COVID-19 is everywhere in Charlottesville, from the front page of all of the papers to the playground at school. Children need caretakers to speak with them in honest, age-appropriate ways to reassure them that they are safe. Here are some great resources on how to speak to children about the Coronavirus.
- Child Mind Institute Talking About Coronavirus with Kids
- PBS How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus
- NPR A Comic for Kids about the Coronavirus (most appropriate for kids age 5+)
Stay up to date with local response
- Charlottesville Tommorrow Ongoing COVID-19 Coverage
- Charlottesville City Schools COVID-19 Website
- Albemarle County Public Schools COVID-19 Website
- Orange County Public Schools COVID-19 Website
- Louisa County Public Schools COVID-19 Response Center
- Fluvanna County Public Schools
- Greene County Public Schools
- Nelson County Public Schools Updates
Stress Management Tips
- Help Happens Here – local Charlottesville tips for managing coronavirus stress
- CDC Coronavirus Stress Management Tips – Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and Charlottesville stronger.
- How to Protect Your Mental Health During a Quarantine – UVA Psychologist offers tips to battle the possible dip in mood from isolation.
- How You And Your Kids Can Destress During Coronavirus – PBS Kids. Research shows that just being in the presence of a compassionate, safe adult can help kids calm down. As families, we can be “that person” for each other.
- Young Children at Home During COVID-19 Outbreak: The Importance of Self-Care – Self-care is not selfish or indulgent—it’s how we keep ourselves well to ensure we are physically, emotionally, and mentally capable of being there for our young children.
- Emotional Coaching Phrases for When Kids are Stressed – When our kids are upset, it can sometimes trigger us to be upset too and instead of responding to our kids, we react. Our words to our kids when they are upset can either break them down or build them up. These phrases will build your child’s emotional intelligence — these are soul-building phrases.
- Resources for Supporting Your Children’s Emotional Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic – children are more vulnerable to the emotional impact of traumatic events that disrupt their daily lives. This resource offers information on supporting and protecting children’s emotional well-being as this public health crisis unfolds.
- Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook – a free cognitive, behavioral approach to reducing anxiety with concrete suggestions of practical ways to reduce feelings of overwhelm
Parenting Support
- Making the Most of COVID-19 School Closures
- Giant List of Ideas for Being Home with Kids
- Scholastic Learn at Home – 20 days of free lessons for grade PreK through 6
- 180+ Online Learning Resources – Compiled by a gifted education teacher and a school psychologist
- Brains On! Podcast – a kid-focused science podcast about understanding coronavirus and how germs spread
- Alliance for Childhood – you are not a slacker if you are sending your kids outside to play independently for hours. It is right in line with what the countries with the best academic scores in the world do daily for their students. Check out this website for the social science supporting unstructured outdoor play for children.
- Free Internet for Educational Purposes during Coronavirus Pandemic – New low-income families who connect to Comcast’s “Internet Essentials” will get 60 days of Internet service for free. Eligible families include those on public assistance programs like the National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others. You cannot have an outstanding debt to Comcast in the last year.
- Thrive Women’s Healthcare – diapers, wipes, formula, and necessities for moms and babies up to 24 months at all 4 facilities (Downtown Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Culpepper, Orange)
- Donor Diapers – call 434-214-0345 for free diapering materials in Charlottesville
Food Support
- Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
- Loaves and Fishes Charlottesville
- Emergency Food Network
- Charlottesville City Schools Meal Delivery During Closure
- Albemarle County Schools Meal Delivery During Closure
- PB&J Fund
- Feeding Greene
Healthcare Resources
- Charlottesville Free Clinic
- Both state and local health departments are standing by to help you assess what you should do if you suspect you have coronavirus.
- Telephone hotline operated by the Virginia Department of Health: 877-ASK-VDH3.
- Telephone hotline number for the Thomas Jefferson Area local health department: 434-972-6261.
Help Making Ends Meet for Shift Workers
- Cville Last Minute Shifts
- PVCC Job Board
- Local “Buy Nothing” Groups
- Mutual Aid Infrastructure Charlottesville
- Cville Timebank
- Unemployment Claims for People Laid Off Due to Coronavirus
- Support Cville – The Charlottesville community wants to help. Explore your options for getting money and supplies. Funds for those experiencing hardship, restaurant workers and UVA students.
- Congregate Cville – mini-grants for people in the Charlottesville area of up to $200 for people in need of financial assistance because of COVID-19
- Commonhelp – Virginia Department of Social Services assistance with paying energy bills, childcare services and food
- Dominion Energy Share – Bill payment assistance for heating/cooling within Dominion Virginia Power’s service territory. Applications must be made in person at the Salvation Army, 207 Ridge Street, Charlottesville.
- Earned Income Tax Credit – if you haven’t filed your taxes yet, there is a chance you’re due for a larger refund, depending on your income level last year.
For sober parents
- Online recovery meetings
- Sober Recovery – online recovery resources
- We Connect Recovery – free virtual recovery meetings 5 times per day
We will update this webpage as we gain more information.