The Southern Regional Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs tries to help families, and the professionals who support them, through providing current resources, news articles, interesting items and more. We post “What’s New” on our home page each week. We regularly post this content and more on our Facebook page. We send out a weekly Resource Round-up on Fridays (send an email with Weekly Resource Round-up in the Subject Line to cyshcn@waisman.wisc.edu to join).We bring together the “What’s New” resources by topic and place them on the Resources page. We hope you can find some help, encouragement, or just information on this page. New content is added regularly.
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Equity and Diversity
- 5 Ways Trauma And Poverty Affect Childhood Development from Forbes.com
- For Black Kids, Autism Caught Late in the Game from US News and World Report (via Michael John Carley)
- Equity Resources from Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health
- Teach, Learn, & Connect (TLC) for Kids Resource library includes popular, on-demand training and shareable fact sheets to help low income individuals and families – especially those with children and youth with special healthcare needs in the home – secure telecommunications services. From ABC for Health.
- For Mothers of Black Children with Disabilities, Living with Twice the Fear from Forbes
- Talking with Young Kids about Racism, Police Brutality, and Protests FVJuneeBlast2020 from Family Voices (.pdf)
- COVID-19 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resources
Summer 2020 Resources
- Virtual Summer Camps from Summer Camp Hub
- To Parents, From a Family in ‘COVID-19 Mode’ for 10 Years from The Mighty
- 2020 Juventuras Clubes Virtuales/Juventuras Virtual Clubs from Centro Hispano of Dane County
- Family Engagement Newsletter from WI FACETS–focus on Speech and Language Development and some cool resources for summer!
- Resource List to Stay Saner at Home this Summer from Family Voices of Wisconsin
- 100 Things to do this summer from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (you may need to answer some questions to access the full article)
- 6 fun ideas for summer fun now that camp has been cancelled from CNN
- Wisconsin Virtual Field Trips from National Resources Foundation of Wisconsin
- Reimagining Summer: Planning for the New Normal Summer 2020 Family Voices Newsletter
- Madison Summer Options
- Summer Inside Out from Madison School and Community Recreation (MSCR)
- Printable Maker Resources from Madison Public Libraries
- We Read Summer Program from Madison Public Libraries
- Madison Children’s Museum at home
COVID-19
- Using Parental Controls for TV and Digital Video: Toddlers through Teens from Digital Literacy, Inclusion and Safety Council (DLISC)
- Compassions in Action COVID-19: Stress Awareness and Gratitude from Rogers Behavioral Health
- How to Help Families and Staff Build Resilience During the COVID-19 Outbreak from the Center on the Developing Child Harvard University
- How Art Can Help You Cope with the Pandemic from Cleveland Clinic
- Connect therapy/school from your phone to your TV–https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-connect-your-android-phone-to-your-tv and https://www.allconnect.com/blog/how-to-connect-your-iphone-to-your-tv
- CDC’s Operating schools during COVID-19: CDC’s Considerations was updated on October 29, 2020
- “Psychological PPE”: Promote Health Care Workforce Mental Health and Well-Being from Institute for Healthcare Improvement
- Education Department Addresses Special Ed Concerns Related To COVID-19 from Disability Scoop
- Engaging in Your Child’s Education at Home from Hands & Voices
- Help for parents, families, and educators as they navigate the new school year during COVID-19 from Rogers Behavioral Health
- Ideas for Activities at Home During COVID-19 Pandemic from National Center on Deaf-Blindness
- Coronavirus Pandemic Challenges Those With Developmental Disabilities from Disability Scoop
- Ed Department Reminds Schools Of IDEA Obligations During Pandemic from Disability Scoop
- Resources from Family Voices Resource eBlast October 2020
- Caring for Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic UPDATED Guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics
- COVID-19: Caring For Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs (also in Spanish) from healthychildren.org
- When Things Aren’t Perfect: Caring for Yourself & Your Children (also in Spanish) from healthychildren.org
- Busting Mask Myths One Question at a Time from UW Health
- Education Forward: Reopening Wisconsin Schools from Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- COVID-19 Special Education Information (PowerPoint slides) from Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- Arts Education School Operating Considerations from Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- Back to School: How can schools safely social distance; particularly for students with special services and full-time aides? from Child Neurology Foundation
- Ensuring Children’s Access to Care Using Telehealth in Medicaid During COVID-19 from Manatt on Health: Medicaid Edition
- NEW Videos on Wearing a Cloth Face Mask, Washing your Hands and Staying Home When you are Sick in SPANISH and ENGLISH from the National Association of School Nurses
- Returning to School During and After Crisis Practice Guides from Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
- August 2020 OSEP Update Responding to COVID-19: Back to School, Policy Letters from Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) (8.27.20)
- Parents: Supporting Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic Online Modules from Vanderbilt University
- September Family Engagement Newsletter from WI FACETS featuring information on Assistive Technology and Virtual Learning along with ABLE accounts and trusts
- Coronavirus Video Series has short 2-7 minute video on how public health benefits are impacted by COVID-19 from HealthWatch Wisconsin
- COVID-19 Help (including a Resource Guide for Families) from Wisconsin Well Badger Resource Center
- Strategies for Protecting K-12 School Staff from COVID-19 (updated 8.20.20) From the CDC
- Back to School Planning: Checklists to Guide Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers Includes: Preparing for At-Home Learning and and Preparing for In-Person Classes from the CDC
- What The Coronavirus Means For IEPs This Year from DisabilityScoop
- Special education students are not just falling behind in the pandemic — they’re losing key skills, parents say. From the Washington Post
- Supports for Students with Neurodiverse, and Social and Emotional Needs During Covid-19 Resource list (8/20/20) from WI DPI
- DiSH Special Session on COVID-19 and Schools recording along with a Q and A document (8/20/20)
- How to Thrive — Not Just Survive — in the Age of the Coronavirus: Focus On 5 Core Principles from Thrive Global
- Guidelines for the Prevention, Investigation, and Control of COVID-19 Outbreaks in K-12 Schools in Wisconsin (8/19/20) from WI Department of Health Services
- COVID-19 Decision Tool for Individuals and Families (8/19/20) from WI Department of Health Services
- Education Forward: Operating Schools During a Pandemic (8/19/20) from Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- South Madison Community COVID Testing Site at the Park Street Public Health WIC clinic is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You need to make an appointment.
- Sauk Co. Health Dept. warns about COVID-19 exposure at Reedsburg district-wide registration event from NBC15
- At-home Learning Resources for the COVID-19 Outbreak from FamilyEducation
- School’s Out: A Parents’ Guide for Meeting the Challenge During the COVID-19 Pandemic from NYU Langone Health
- Preparing to Learn from Home from Victoria State Government (Australia)
- ‘This is hell’: Parents and kids hate online learning, but they could face more of it from USA Today
- “When Should My Child Go Back to School?” is the topic discussed by a school nurse and a child neurologist in an educational series sponsored by the Child Neurology Foundation and the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Teaching Children with Special Needs at Home Recorded Webinar Series The staff of the Autism Society SE WI and guests from Gemiini Systems, a Special Ed eLearning company, have provided a series of free webinars as we partner to make it through these challenging times. Past webinars are available on their playlist on YouTube. Topics: Sheltering in Place to Stay Safe, Building Language Through Play, Keeping Busy, OK. . . Are We Really Doing This?, Working on Life Skills, Quick Behavior Tips and more
- A COVID-19 Preparedness Tool for Families and Caregivers developed by the Stanford Health Literacy Lab
- Coronavirus: Caring for Kids with Special Health Needs article and recording from KidsHealth at the Nemours Foundation
- Ensuring Support Services for Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs Amid COVID-19 – A Zoom conversation from PolicyLab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, featuring parents, educators, and physicians.
- Coping with Crayons: Kid-Friendly COVID-19 Information– To help children understand the disruption in their lives, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University created a coloring book to provide COVID-19 information that children of all ages can easily digest and understand. An article from the Children’s Hospital Association notes that the activity book, available online and in print, also can help parents gauge their children’s feelings about the pandemic.
- CDC Toolkit for Young Adults (15-21) includes printable fact sheets
- Voluntary National Guidelines for Providing and Receiving Respite Safely During the COVID-19 Pandemic from ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center
- Madison Neighborhood COVID-19 Testing
- The Impact of Lost Therapy Services During COVID-19 and What Parents Can Do in the Interim (Video) from Child Neurology Foundation
- Cloth Face Coverings in School: What Families Need to Know from WI DHS
- Staying Resilient Through the Challenges of Autism During COVID-19 from The Mighty
- COVID-19 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resources
- To Parents, From a Family in ‘COVID-19 Mode’ for 10 Years from The Mighty
- Guidance on re-opening during COVID-19 pandemic in ways that protect people with disabilities and older adults from the Wisconsin Survival Coalition
- COVID-19 Special Issue from Exceptional Parent
- How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Kids with Special Healthcare Needs. On a podcast from RadioMD, which features experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, a pediatrician who focuses on CSHCN discusses ideas for how families can cope with the pandemic, especially when the supports provided by schools are unavailable. Listen to the podcast
- Managing Home Healthcare and Access to Medical Supplies During COVID-19. A video from the Child Neurology Foundation features the father of a young adult who requires 24-hour care interviewing a home health provider about how care is changing. See the video
- COVID-19 Information for Children’s Health Advocates from National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (updated 5.24.20)
- Spanish Language friends/coworkers? Send them to Consejo Latino Para la Salud for videos, testing information and more about COVID-19 from the Latino Health Council
- Being Prepared: What Families Can Do Now Family Voices of Wisconsin Spring Newsletter
- Resources on COVID-19 to Use and Share from The ARC Wisconsin
- Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times from AFIRM (Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules)
- ABC for Health (Health insurance/benefits) information during COVID-19
- COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities–put together by self-advocates in Vermont
- COVID-19 Response and Resources from Autism Society
30th Anniversary of the ADA
- Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the ADA with this Collection of Resources from The Pacer’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment
Resources for Families with Younger Children
- Ready4K is an evidence-based family engagement curriculum delivered via text messages. Each week, you’ll receive short text messages with fun facts and easy tips on how to promote your child’s development by building on existing family routines. Sign up today at Ready4K! from the WI Department of Children and Families
- Considerations for Young Children and Those With Special Needs as COVID-19 Continues from JAMA Pediatrics
- Wisconsin Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) and WI DPI Guidance for Child Care
COVID-19 Letter to District Administrators
New DHS Guidance, DCF Resources, and Digital Equity (8/19/20) Includes: DHS Guidance on COVID-19 Outbreaks in School, DCF guidance documents to help child care providers and local educational agencies as families, schools, and child care providers navigate the reopening of school this fall, (this information can also be found on the DCF website: https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/childcare/families) and Support for digital equity
4K Outreach-COVID-19: Guidance and Considerations (8/17/20) Includes: This document provides information for school districts offering 4K Outreach during 2020-2021 school year. It provides guiding questions and examples of outreach efforts that are acceptable during this time of COVID-19. These are offered to support districts in developing outreach activities that best meet the unique needs of their individual districts and communities.
EARLY LEARNING INFORMATION-COVID-19 (8/24/20) Includes: Link to the running updates for Early Learning information for DPI. The above information is included in this document. - COVID-19 Child Care Resources from WI Department of Children and Families
- COVID Resources for Families from Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health
- Updates and Resources for Wisconsin Child Care Providers, Children and Families from Wisconsin Early Childhood Association
- Resources from Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health
- Office of Early Learning from WI Department of Public Instruction
- Child Care Resources from WI Department of Children and Families
- Child Care Resources for Families and Providers from WI Department of Children and Families
- Tips for Families from Zero to Three
- Supporting younger children from the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
- 6 Online Therapy Tips for Preschoolers With Disabilities During COVID-19 from The Mighty
- Tips for Supporting Infants and Young Children’s Transition as we Re-Open from Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health
Nuggets from the News
- ‘Infodemic’ complicates Wisconsin’s public health fight against coronavirus from Channel3000.com
- 11 New Strategies for Juggling WFH and Kids (Because We’re Going to Be Here Awhile) from themuse
- For Kids with Special Needs, Online Schooling Divides the Have and Have-Nots from Kaiser Health News
- Parents reflect on back to school plans, health experts offer tips from NBC15
- Richard Engel: Kids with special needs are not OK right now. Neither are parents. From Today
- COVID questions: Economic recovery, wedding attendance from UW-Madison News
- Wisconsin’s tribes have weathered COVID-19 better than tribes in other states. How did they do it? from the Madison.com
- Caring for an Adult with Disabilities in Retirement from PBS Newshour (with a Wisconsin family)
- Which Kids Get Sickest from COVID-19? The medically complex from NBC News
- The challenge of distance learning for parents of children with special needs from PBS Newshour
- In-home nurses caring for youth with special needs during COVID-19 from KSTP.com
- Mom Equips Ambulances with Sensory Kits from Disability Scoop
Mental Health Resources
- 6 tips for good mental health this holiday season from Rogers Behavioral Health
- Tips for Teachers and School Staff from Students with Mental Health and Behavioral Challenges from Pacer Center
- Tips for staying RESILIENT during COVID-19 from Resilient Wisconsin.
- Resources on OCD from Rogers Behavioral Health
- Post-Traumatic Growth Might Be the Silver Lining of Trauma — Here’s How to Harness It from elemental
- Five tips for fostering resiliency in children from our friends in Canada via NetNewsLedge
- Behavior Management resources from Child Neurology Foundation
- Understanding Empathy YouTube video by Simon Sinek
- Promoting Healthy Futures: Wisconsin Medical Home partners with CPCP for early identification of mental health concerns from Medical Home Minute
- Reducing the risk of teen addiction New Podcast series from Rogers Behavioral Health
- How is COVID-19 Affecting the Mental Health of Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Their Families? from NCBI
- NEW BLOGS on mental health and recovery from Rogers Behavioral Health (Struggling with Mental Health, Suicide, Detox, Treatment and more)
- Experiencing Grief during COVID-19 from Child Neurology Foundation
- Anxiety in Schools Podcast Series from Rogers Behavioral Health
- Supporting students with school anxiety during COVID-19 Blog Post by Rogers Behavioral Health
- Q&A: Mental health expert talks emotional well-being, building resiliency for the 2020-21 school year from Community Impact Newsletter
- As schools reopen, addressing COVID-19-related trauma and mental health issues will take more than mental health services from Child Trends
- August Newsletter featuring the Feelings Thermometer, Exploring Racial Equity and more from the WI Office of Children’s Mental Health
- Those with contamination OCD face extra challenges during Pandemic from Rogers Behavioral Health
- Finding hope and healing for children suffering from trauma from Rogers Behavioral Health
- Resilient Wisconsin: Trauma-Informed News and Notes, July 2020 includes information on cyberbullying
- COVID-19 Guide to Supports for People Living with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Concerns from Resilient Wisconsin
- Mental Wellness Newsletter from WI Office of Children’s Mental Health (4.13.20)
- Blogs and Webinars from Rogers Behavioral Health
- UW Department of Psychiatry has put together some awesome mental health resources
- Staying Resilient During COVID-19 Compassion Resilience Toolkit from Wise and Rogers InHealth
- Well-Being Toolkit and Resources from Center for Healthy Minds (UW Madison)
- Handout on Anxiety and Autism–helpful tips from Martha Walter who presented at the CoP ASD/DD in March. (I think some of us might be experiencing some anxiety recently). Presentations from the CoP ASD/DD Anxiety and Autism gathering are available
- Mental Wellness Newsletter including an Anxiety Grounding Technique from WI Office of Children’s Mental Health (5.27.20)
- The Science of Happiness for KIDS! Optimism, resilience, growth mindsets, courage, confidence, and well-being are skills that kids can learn at any age
- Resilient Wisconsin: Trauma-informed News and Notes, June 2020 from Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Resources for Teens/Preparing for Transition to Adulthood
- New Housing Concepts Emerge For Adults With Developmental Disabilities from Disability Scoop
- Health Transition Planning and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) from Pacer’s National Center on Transition and Employment
- Transition to Adult Health Care Provider from Pacer’s National Center on Transition and Employment
- Health and Wellness Apps for Transition-Age Youth from PACER’s Simon Technology Center lists links to free and low-cost health and wellness apps for transition-age youth. It includes apps to help manage prescriptions, take medications on time, track health conditions, promote fitness and nutrition, learn to relax, take charge of anxiety, build healthy habits, and more.
- A New Way of Thinking is designed to help students build self-confidence. Check out the online, module format from the Wisconsin Transition Improvement Grant
- NEW Family Toolkit: Pediatric-to-Adult Health Care Transition from Got Transition
- Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and Transitioning to Adulthood from National Institute for Children’s Health Quality
- Finding His Voice from JAMA network (Excellent article on advocacy and transition)
- REVISED August 2020: A Transition Guide to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth with Disabilities from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
- Family Voices has resources for every stage of your child’s life. This includes your teen’s move from children’s services to adult long-term support programs like IRIS. Our new fact sheet, Working with an IRIS Consultant, is a guide on what to expect from your IRIS Consultant (IC) and how to partner with your IC to decide the best way to use your IRIS budget to get goods and services you need. You can find our new IRIS fact sheet at familyvoiceswi.org/resource-library/working-with-an-iris-consultant
- Inspiring Possibilities Newsletter including articles on Virtual IEP Meetings, Distance Learning and Challenging Behaviors and Keeping Students Motivated from Home from PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment
- Addressing the Mental Health of “Quaranteens“ from Family Voices
- 6 Tips for Teens from WI Office of Children’s Mental Health (4.29.20 newsletter)
- Supporting Teenagers and Young Adults from Child Mind Institute
- National Parent Center on Transition and Employment
Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs/Maternal and Child Health
- National Care Coordination Standards for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs from National Academy for State Health Policy
- Science X Design: Three Principles to Improve Outcomes for Children from the Center on the Developing Child Harvard University
- EP Magazine’s November issue is about Financial Planning for Special Needs Families
- Complex Child November issue includes articles on caregiving, school, parenting and a lot more!
- New! Family Voices Telehealth Checklist & Worksheet–Prepare and reflect to get the most out of your visit from Family Voices
- Medicaid Telehealth Policies States Can Make Permanent to Ensure Access for Children/Families by Manatt on Health: Medicaid Edition
- November WI Family Engagement Newsletter
- Parenting On Your Own Path blog from Dr. Emily Kings
- Virtual Calming Room — Every district should have one! This one is from Oconto Falls Public School District
- A Mother In Wonderland: Securing Services For My Blind Child from Health Affairs–an excellent first person explaining how she navigated complex education policy to secure services and supports for her blind child.
- 2020 Symposia on Early Access to Autism Treatment recordings from the Wisconsin State Legislature
- October Family Engagement Newsletter from WI FACETS
- Family Voices of Wisconsin Fall Newsletter
- September Update from Well Badger Resource Center
- All in for Kids The September issue provides important Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) Waiver Program updates, including: Information about the new online provider directory; An opportunity to give input on the CLTS Waiver Program; and The new Feelings Thermometer. Available in Hmong, Spanish and English.
- Parents and Professionals in Wisconsin talk about Virtual Schooling and Home Schooling (recording) with the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin
- AUGUST 2020:THE ANNUAL HEALTHCARE ISSUE from Exceptional Parenting
- Down Syndrome Clinic to You (DSC2U) brings the best of health and wellness information about Down syndrome to caregivers and primary care physicians around the globe
- For Those Born With Rare Diseases, Early Diagnosis Can Save Lives from National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ)
- Making Fathers Visible in Maternal and Child Health from National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ)
- Innovative Strategies for Promoting Developmental Health in Rural Alaska from National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ)
- Considering a Complementary Health Approach? information from the National Institutes of Health
- Families of Children with Special Needs are Suing in Several States. Here’s Why. from NPR
- We’re Missing Kids with ASD: Strategies to Improve Screenings from Medscape