Publications | Resources
Families here in Minnesota, as well as around the country and world, are navigating through ongoing uncertainty, stress and trauma as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following resources are designed to help families and professionals support both their own mental health as well as the mental health of the children in their care as this public health crisis unfolds.
Quick Links
+ Free Webinar – Finding Wellbeing in the New Normal: Supporting Educators & Caregivers
+ Free Webinar – The Impact of the Pandemic on Students’ Mental Health
+ Free Webinar – Supporting Students Going Back to School During the Pandemic
+ Free Webinar – Building Resilience with Children & Families During the Pandemic
+ Free Puppet Show on Managing Catastrophizing Thoughts
+ List of Organizations Providing COVID-19 Resources
+ Resources from Minnesota’s Children’s Cabinet
Free Webinar
Finding Wellbeing in the New Normal: Supporting Educators & Caregivers
This free workshop will provide educators and caregivers with strategies to sustain themselves and support the students they work with amid the continued stress and trauma related to COVID-19 and ongoing racial injustice. Being regularly exposed to circumstances that impact our community can affect our ability to continue on the road to success in working with young people. Due to the demands and difficulties we are currently facing, it is not uncommon to question our ability to support ourselves and our students. During this workshop, participants will explore the link between ongoing racial injustice, adjusting to COVID-19 and addressing mental wellness challenges in our schools, homes, workplaces and communities.
Learning Objectives
+ Participants will learn how to modify their strategies with students to incorporate an understanding of adaptive response(s) to environmental circumstances and stress.
+ Participants will explore effective communication and relationship management skills to communicate with, inform, empower and engage young people.
+ Participants will examine their own background and how to make personal and professional adjustments toward adaptability.
+ Participants will explore strategies for sustainability plans to improve their self-care around issues of secondary trauma, re-entry stress and parallel trauma.
+ Participants will understand the importance of incorporating sustainability techniques to maintain a high level of engagement and maintain productivity.
Presented by Brandon Jones, MA
Length: 1 hour | Audience: Educators & Caregivers
Free Webinar
The Impact of the Pandemic on Students’ Mental Health
A panel of professionals discusses students impacted by the pandemic returning to in-person learning in the weeks and months ahead. It’s important for educators and parents to reflect on the impact of the pandemic, George Floyd’s murder and ongoing racism on children and youth, to recognize the behaviors or symptoms teachers may see in the classroom, and to learn strategies to help children cope and learn. Self-care tips for teachers and caregivers will also be shared.
Panelists
Jesús Calvillo, MS, LPCC – Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES), Anne Gearity, PhD, LICSW – U of MN Medical School, Jessica Gourneau, PhD – American Indian Family Center & Brandon Jones, MA – NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center
Free Webinar
Packing Your Backpack with Coping Tools: Supporting Students & Building Family Resilience During the Pandemic
Our world has been turned upside down by the global pandemic. Schools have been forced to quickly shift to adapt, parents/caregivers are playing multiple unexpected roles, and no one feels prepared. This training will cover the importance of family resilience and coping skills to support student success and wellbeing. Additionally, participants will learn strategies adults can use to promote their own wellness and be responsive to children, both in and out of school.
Lauren Marlotte, PsyD, Assistant Director of Training for the Division of Population Behavioral Health and Nathanson Family Resilience Center – UCLA
Length: 1 1/2 hours | Audience: Families and Professionals
Check out additional back-to-school resources.
Free Webinar
COVID Is Still Here: Working on Collaborative Resilience with Children & Families
This webinar is for parents, caregivers and professionals who are concerned with the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on families and children. The effects are accumulating, as our collective resources are being spent and new challenges—school, cold weather, social confusions, etc.—confound us. Collaborative resilience is an effort to think about how families and children must work together, and an exploration of ways to support this.
Anne Gearity, PhD
Length: 1 1/2 hours | Audience: Families and Professionals
View the webinar
Chicken Little: Free Online Puppet Show
Chicken Little goes to Therapist Wherapist to learn how to manage her catastrophizing thoughts in this free online puppet show from Fidgety Fairy Tales – The Mental Health Musicals, a program of the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health.
For parents and caregivers looking for ways to talk about mental health with their children, Chicken Little is a 15-minute story that is fun for all ages.
List of Organizations Providing Mental Health Resources Related to COVID-19
Redleaf Center for Family Healing
Serving pregnant and postpartum families in Hennepin County
Mother-Baby Hope Line: Free mental health phone support for pregnant and postpartum parents and families with children 0-5 years old, as well as the mental health and medical providers that serve them. Our staff will listen and guide you to the right support — either at the Mother-Baby Program or in your community.
This is not a crisis line. Call 612-873-4673. The HopeLine is available Monday to Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm.
Statewide Children’s Mental Health Crisis Response
Serving children, youth and families
Access your county children’s mental health crisis line through the State Department of Human Services
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – MN
Serving individuals and families
The helpline will continue to operate, but please know that people will need to leave a message and it may take longer to return your call. The helpline is accessible at 651-645-2948, ext. 117 or namihelps@namimn.org.
Serving individuals and families
The Minnesota Warm Line is available for peer-to-peer support, Monday-Saturday, 5-10 pm: 651-288-0400 or 1-877-404-3109
Mental Health Helpline provides information about mental health programs and services.
Phone: 1-800-862-1799
Email: helpline@mentalhealthmn.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Serving children and families
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Explore more information for youth.
Serving families, early childhood providers (e.g. home visitors, child care workers, etc.) and children’s mental health providers
Parenting experts offer tips for families, including age-appropriate responses to common questions, activities for young children experiencing social distancing and more.
+ Tips for Families: Coronavirus Guide to Self-Care and Activities for Children
+ Addressing Abuse and Neglect during COVID-19
+ Navigating Pediatric Primary Care
+ Coronavirus Resources for Early Childhood Professionals
Minnesota Communities Caring for Children
Serving families
Join in a daily, 30-minute, family-friendly practice of resilience, Monday-Friday at 12:30 p.m. on Zoom.
+ By computer or smart phone: https://zoom.us/j/145915007
+ By phone: +1 312 626 6799; (meeting ID is 145 915 007)
+ By one tap mobile: +13126266799; 145915007#
Serving children, parents and children’s mental health providers
Playworks Minnesota leverages the power of play to transform children’s social and emotional health through play based learning and activities.
+ Play at Home webpage – A library of videos and other resources featuring games and activities families can play at home.
+ Play at Home Playbook in English and Spanish – Games and activities families can do in their own home, with little to no equipment necessary. (Mandarin, Vietnamese, Hmong and Somali playbooks are coming soon.)
+ Live Virtual Recess: A Playworks Coach leading a morning warm-up, a midday game, and an afternoon cool down on Facebook Live Monday- Friday at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm CT
Minnesota Department of Health
Serving individuals, children and families
Supporting Mental Well-being during COVID-19 with a list of ideas and resources for well-being for individuals, children and families.
Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health
Serving youth, families, early childhood providers (e.g. home visitors, child care workers, etc.) and children’s mental health professionals
Providing education and resources to families and youth throughout Minnesota and beyond.
+ Youth MOVE MN youth-led advocacy groups
+ Online magazine and podcast featuring youth artwork
+ Online training opportunities for professionals, including early childhood providers
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Serving early childhood providers (e.g. home visitors, child care workers, etc.) and children’s mental health professionals
Children’s Mental Health Training and Consultation
Center for Inclusive Child Care
Serving early childhood providers (e.g. home visitors, child care workers, etc.) and children’s mental health professionals
Providing free relationship-based professional development, support, training and resources for child care programs throughout Minnesota. For more information, call 651-641-8339.
Supporting Children During Uncertain Times: Responding to the Coronavirus.
Serving early childhood providers (e.g. home visitors, child care workers, etc.) and children’s mental health professionals
Online support for early childhood providers regarding trauma informed support to children and families during COVID-19. Learn more.