Covid-19 Resources

Sometimes we underestimate how deeply children internalize what they are hearing when events, such as a virus that spreads world-wide, occur.  Below are resources that can help you have a discussion with your child about any fears and worries they may have about COVID - 19 and how they are processing what they are hearing on the news.

A Parent Resource from the National Association of School Psychologists

Coronavirus from the American Academy of Pediatrics

How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus from PBS Kids

Helping Your Child to Manage Anxiety

National Child Traumatic Stress Network
PARENT/CAREGIVER GUIDE TO HELPING FAMILIES COPE WITH THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019

American Psychological Association
Five Ways to View Coverage of the Coronavirus

Healthline
Talking to kids about the coronovirus

PBS Kids
Arthur's resources for talking to children about upsetting events

Scholastic News
Talking to your kids about scary news

Center for Disease Controls (CDC)

Allegheny County Health Department

Pennsylvania Department of Health

World Health Organization (WHO)

CDC Stop the Spread of Germs

CDC Symptoms of COVID-19

Mt. Lebanon Municipality Preparations

stclair.org

• CDC Managing Stress and Anxiety during COVID-19 Pandemic https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

• NASP Talking to children about COVID-19 (multilingual resources available) https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource

• NCTSN Caregiver COVID-19 Preparedness fact sheet https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/outbreak_factsheet_1.pdf

• SAMSHA Taking care of behavioral health during an infectious disease outbreak https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Taking-Care-of-Your-Behavioral-Health-During-an-Infectious-Disease-Outbreak/sma14-4894

• Resolve Crisis Services 1-888-7-YOU-CAN; 1-888-796-8226

• National Suicide Prevention Line 1-800-273-8255 / Text CONNECT 741741

• PA Dept. Drug & Alcohol 1-800-662-HELP(4357) 

Food

• Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) in Pennsylvania:
  Q and A about this new benefit to help families whose children are missing school meals

• Food Distribution Map This map displays locations of free resource distribution sites in the region. Allegheny County

• Mt. Lebanon School District provides Free Meals Daily  at the High School Entrance C20 11:00-1:00. All children in Mt. Lebanon are welcome whether or not they attend MTLSD schools.

• SHIM  412-854-9120 Corrie Yanko, Service Coordinator cyanko@shimcares.org  412-854-9210 x107 

• Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank - 412-460-3663  Locators

• Salvation Army 1060 McNeilly Road/412-207-2127

• Catholic Charities

Financial/Utilities

• PA Unemployment 888-313-7284

• United Way 2-1-1  211 OR 888-553-5778

• Free Internet 1-855-846-8376

• MTLSD Tech resources Internet At Home

• Utility Assistance for those Affected by the Corona Virus
• PUC Urges Financially Stressed Consumers to Work with Utilities to
  Explore Options
• PUC Prohibits Utility Terminations, Consistent with Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency

•  Duquesne Light 412-393-7100

• Columbia Gas  1-888-460-4332

• People’s Gas  1-800-400-9276

• Comcast  1-855-846-8376

• Verizon     Verizon COVID FAQ

• PA American Water  1-800-565-7292

Housing

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Rent Relief in Allegheny County: For more information or to apply, visit https://COVIDRentRelief.AlleghenyCounty.us. Questions can also be directed via email to AHICaresRRP@actionhousing.org or via phone to 412.248.0021. 

Applications for CARES Financial Assistance for Renters and Homeowners
People who lost income due to the pandemic-related economic slowdown may be eligible for rent or mortgage assistance to help them stay in their homes.

Applications for CARES financial assistance for renters and homeowners will be available June 29; application submissions can begin July 6

Renters and homeowners who were financially impacted by the economic slowdown related to the coronavirus pandemic will be able to access applications for rent and mortgage relief starting June 29. At that time, applications will be easily accessible from a red banner on the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s website at www.PHFA.org. PHFA is administering both programs.
 

Center for Schools and Communities 
Important resource for low-income families in Pennsylvania who have had a recent loss of income.  Human Services Launches Emergency Assistance Program to Help Low-Income Families Amidst COVID-19

• Families who qualify will be eligible for a one-time payment to assist them in meeting basic needs and help them secure more stable financial footing in the future.
• The program will be open to families with a child under the age of 18 or a woman who is currently pregnant.
• In order to qualify, families must have at least one person in the household who was employed as of March 11, 2020 and experienced an hour or wage reduction of at least 50 percent for two weeks or more or lost employment entirely due to the public health crisis.
• The emergency assistance application is available online at www.compass.state.pa.us. Families should be prepared to submit all necessary documentation with their application to expedite processing and avoid having to apply again. Applications will be accepted beginning Monday, May 11 through June 12 or until all funds are expended.
• Protections for All Pennsylvania Renters
• Coronavirus: Federal Protections for Renters
• Coronavirus: Protections for Homeowners
• Housing Alliance of PA COVID Information   Pittsburgh location  412-281-1137   Rights and Benefits for Renters and Homeowners
• Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh 412-227-4164 
• Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh 412-227-4802

 

Mindful Moments - A daily streaming program that provides updates for the MTLSD school community and Mindfulness activities provided by Superintendent Timothy Steinhauer. 

Mindful Resources -Resources that Dr. Steinhauer has featured during his daily Mindful Moments.

Health Literacy Project -This site  translate accessible COVID-19 information into different languages to help all patients know when, and how, to seek care. The materials are created in collaboration with Harvard Health Publishing.

Scholastic Learning at Home

Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems

PBS Kids at Home

Kindness Challenges for Home!

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/how-to-get-kids-ready-to-video-chat-for-online-classes

 

• ChildLine (child abuse/neglect) 1-800-932-0313 or 412-473-2000
• Older Adult Abuse    412-350-6905 or 1-800-344-4319
• Domestic Violence 1-800-799-SAFE(7233)  TEXT- LOVEIS 22-522

• Neighborhood Aid Serving the Mt. Lebanon and Dormont communities. 412-253-4104 
• United Way of Southwestern PA
  1-888-553-5778 or 2-1-1; TEXT your zip code to 898-211; http://pa211sw.org/ food, rent, utilities and other basic needs
• Allegheny Link 866-730-2368 rental services and referrals for other services
• Community Human Services 412-246-1640; Referral365@chscorp.org
• Pittsburgh Presbyterian Lazarus Fund 412-697-7390
• Immigrant Services and Connections (ISAC) 412-742-4200  Michelle King, Service Coordinator 412-892-4673 x345  mking@shimcares.org
• Port Authority (pass reimbursement) 412-442-2000
• PA Support and Referral Helpline 855-284-2494

 

• Animal Friends Chow Wagon  412-847-7023
• Humane Animal Rescue
• Ellie’s Pet Pantry 412-345-7300 x290