COVID-19 Resources
Resources for Essential Services
Maternity Care Coalition
The Maternity Care Coalition offers health/parenting education and emotional support as well as connection to healthcare, public health benefits, and social service programs. They also offer supplies such as cribs, strollers, diapers, and baby necessities at this time. Learn more here.
Internet Essentials from Comcast
Comcast is taking steps to make it easier for low-income families to connect and access home Internet. New Internet Essentials customers will receive two free months of Internet service if they apply by April 30, 2020. Learn more here.
Share Food Program
During COVID-19, The Share Food Program is working hard with it partners to make sure Philadelphians have continued access to food. For more information, click here.
Employees Impacted by COVID-19
If you are employed in Pennsylvania and are unable to work because of COVID-19, you may be eligible for Unemployment or Workers’ Compensation benefits. Learn more here.
Safeguard Against Disability Discrimination During COVID-19
The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights has offered guidance around safeguards against disability discrimination during COVID-19. Learn more here.
Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW)
Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) is suspending non-payment terminations and waiving new late payment charges until further notice. Learn more here.
CHOP COVID-19 Updates and FAQs
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has created a COVID-19 update and FAQ webpage here. For specific health-related concerns not addressed here or by the CDC, you can contact the Greater Philadelphia Coronavirus Helpline at 1-800-722-7112.
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication
This website provides information about communication supports for children and adults with complex communication needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more here.
Food Sites for Students and Families
Select Philadelphia Recreation Centers and schools are functioning as meal sites. Only meals will be provided during that time. There will be no structured activities. Learn more here.
Resource Guides
COVID-19 Vaccine Social Stories
These social stories provide a visual explanation of what to expect when getting the vaccine for COVID-19 and what you may experience after getting the vaccine. Learn more here.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
These resources are designed to help answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. There is information on Emergency Use Authorization and social stories on getting the vaccine and what to expect after getting it. Learn more here.
COVID-19 Vaccination Scams
Scammers are using the COVID-19 vaccine rollout to create ways to steal money and personal information. This resource provides information about potential scams related to the COVID-19 vaccine and how you can protect yourself against them. Learn more here.
AID in PA
AID in PA is a resource channel for individuals on the spectrum, with intellectual disabilities, and their caregivers/families. The ASERT Collaborative and Health Care Quality Units (HCQU) are collaborating to create resources, videos and other helpful content which will be available daily. Learn more here.
COVID-19 Health and Safety Guide
ASERT has put together some resources for individuals on the spectrum and their caregivers/families, relating to the current Coronavirus outbreak. Learn more here.
UNC COVID-19 Toolkit
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute Autism Team has created a COVID-19 toolkit to help support individuals on the spectrum through these uncertain times. The toolkit highlights 7 support strategies and gives lots of examples and resources to help caregivers implement these strategies. Learn more here.
COVID-19 Health Inequities in Cities Dashboard
The Urban Health Collaborative has partnered with the Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC) to release the “COVID-19 Health Inequities in Cities Dashboard”. This dashboard is a powerful data tool that enables visualizations of COVID-19 related outcomes and inequities in COVID-19 related outcomes over time and across BCHC cities.
Support for Families
You Are Not Alone: Resources for Families During COVID-19
As we move into a modified green phase, life continues to shift and change. Finances are tight for many and stress of the unknown is real. The information below highlights resources for family safety, financial and emotional well-being, and early childhood education. Learn more here.
Office of Developmental Programs
Get updates from the Office of Developmental Programs regarding COVID-19 and access to individual, family and provider resources here.
The PA Family Network Zoom Meeting Series
Join families and individuals with disabilities to discuss the current impact of the Coronavirus. This is an opportunity to share questions and concerns, as well as get the latest updates from the PA Family Network. Learn more about the series here.
PA Statewide Support and Referral Helpline
The Statewide Support & Referral Helpline is staffed by skilled and compassionate staff that are available 24/7 to respond to those struggling with anxiety and other challenging emotions due to the COVID-19 emergency. Learn more here.
Transition Tuesdays with The PEAL Centers
Join the PEAL Center on the 4th Tuesday of every month at noon throughout the 2020-2021 school year to hear about the in-depth process of secondary transition planning. Families of secondary transition-age youth are encouraged to attend. Learn more here.
Virtual Programing Opportunities
The Free Library of Philadelphia
The Free Library has an amazing online collection. You can listen to music, podcasts, read books, and more
Families CCAN Online Cooking Sessions
Families CCAN is hosting online cooking sessions via zoom. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays at 4:30pm. Learn more here.
Special Olympics PA
Special Olympics PA is hosting a daily virtual workout program that athletes, partners and coachers can do together! Learn more here.
Out of School Time Resources
Out-of-School Time (OST) is the time that a child or youth spends outside of the traditional school day. In Philadelphia, OST programs are provided for young people in grades pre-K through 12. This webpage lists the resources available. Learn more here.
Education Resources
Digital Learning Resources
The School District of Philadelphia has set up a number of online resources for students and their guardians to use during this time. Learn more here.
Supporting English Learnings and Multilingual Families
This resource provides an overview of the supports offered from multilingual staff during digital learning. Learn more here.
Resources from the Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT)
This resource outlines resources offered by the Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT) and how to access them. Learn more here.
Resources from the Office of Children and Families (OCF)
This resource outlines resources offered by the Office of Children and Families (OCF), fall programming opportunities and how to access them. Learn more here.
Combatting Social Isolation in Children During COVID-19
This blog post from Tamra Williams, Ph.D. the Deputy Chief Clinical Officer of Children’s Services at Community Behavioral Health outlines strategies for supporting children during COVID-19. Learn more here.
Philadelphia Access Centers
Access Centers provide Philadelphia’s most vulnerable students with a safe place for digital learning when caregivers work outside the home and have no childcare supports. Learn more here.
Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC)
The Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) is a single point-of-contact for families, early learning providers and communities. The ELRC for Region 18 provides a single point-of-contact for families, early learning service providers and communities to gain information and access services that support high quality child care and early learning programs. Contact them here or call their hotline at 1-888-461-KIDS (5437). Learn more here.
Special Education During COVID-19
This resource, developed by ASERT, provides information about Special Education laws and how they apply to school shutdowns and home schooling as a result of COVID-19. Learn more here.
The PEAL Center
The PEAL Center helps families and individuals with disabilities and special health care needs using a variety of strategies. PEAL offers services in six areas: outreach, individual assistance, resources, trainings, leadership development, and partnerships. Learn more here.
Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN)
This section was developed to provide Resources and Supports for Educators, Families, and Students during the COVID-19 situation. These supports are provided at no cost via the Bureau of Special Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education. Learn more here.
Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) – Family Resources for Students with Complex Learning Needs
This webpage offers resources for families and general educators who may be supporting a student with complex needs during virtual learning. Learn more here.
The Office of Specialized Services – Parent/Guardian Support and Resources Page
This webpage offers resources and support for families supporting a student with during virtual learning. Learn more here.
Supporting Response Efforts
If you’re interested in volunteering to support COVID-19 response efforts, you can find opportunities here.