Resources for Schools and Families Impacted by COVID-19

As communities continue to feel the impact of school closures from COVID-19 and many parents and families adjust to a new reality of life, we at Kaiser Permanente want to make sure that school communities — including administrators, teachers, school staff, parents, and students — feel supported.

We’re curating this resource page as an online space that you can trust for the latest information and ideas to support learning, health, and overall well-being during these challenging times. We recognize that school communities are having to adapt to tremendous changes in a short period of time and that more support will be needed as students and teachers eventually return to in-person school life.

Kaiser Permanente is poised to provide up-to-date information and resources about the physical and mental health needs of school stakeholders as you manage the implications of COVID-19. Consider this a space that you can return to again and again for new resources to support you through all these transitions.

Playbook for School Reopening As schools and districts across the nation prepare for the new school year in the coming weeks, they are likely to face even greater strain as they seek to meet the academic and health needs of students, staff, and teachers with already limited resources. To assist schools in proactively addressing the health needs of the school community, a number of nationally recognized and trusted school health organizations have come together to develop a playbook for when learning starts again — “Planning for the Next Normal at School: Keeping students, staff, and families safe and healthy.” The playbook provides a framework to understand, assess, and implement strategies for COVID-19 prevention, social drivers of health, physical activity and physical education, staff and teacher well-being, and mental health and well-being.
Kaiser Permanente resources
	How to protect yourself and get care | health resources and updates on coronavirus (Kaiser Permanente) Self-care | tools, tips, and activities supporting mental health and wellness (Kaiser Permanente) Webinar series on the mental health impacts of COVID-19 | get information on how to navigate this global crisis with your workforce (Kaiser Permanente) Together we can fight the spread of COVID-19 | simple steps you can take to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and healthy (Kaiser Permanente) Getting active at home | quick tips for increasing your activity in all three areas of fitness: flexibility, aerobic fitness, and muscle fitness (Kaiser Permanente) Food for health | easy recipies and ideas for eating healthy at home (Kaiser Permanente)
Supporting students
	Healthy activities to do at home | physical activity, nutrition and mindfulness activities (Action for Healthy Kids) Game On Activity Library | ways to incorporate healthy activities, brain breaks, nutrition education, and opportunities for social-emotional learning into online learning for kids (Action for Healthy Kids) Kid's daily exercise routine | a 21-minute long animated video that incorporates a daily exercise routine for kids in grades K - 5 (Alliance for a Healthier Generation) CATCH health at home | Keeping kids healthy and active while at home (CATCH) Play at Home | recess videos and a free printed playbook for kids and families with games you can play anywhere (Playworks) Just for kids | a comic exploring the new coronavirus (NPR) 20 seconds or more | harnessing the power of music to encourage hand washing and other safety protocols (Hip Hop Public Health) YR Media network | a resource for young journalists and artists with current news, podcasts, stories specifically for and by young people (YR Media)
Supporting parents and families
	Back to School Guides | grab-and-go resources educators can use to co-create a caring, supportive in-person and/or virtual school environment (Healthier Generation) Virtual wellness center | a place for students and families to find tools and strategies for managing emotions and feelings (Grange Middle Schools) Parent and child emotional survival toolkit | interactive resources for parents and kids including online programs, videos, games and apps (Big EQ) COVID-19 Parent Resources Kit | support for parents, caregivers, and other adults to recognize the social, emotional, and mental health challenges young people are experiencing and help ensure their well-being (CDC) Talking with children about coronavirus | messages for parents, school staff, and others working with children (CDC) Manage stress for health | ways to promote resilience during the pandemic, including the CA Surgeon General's Playbook: Stress Relief during COVID-19 (Cal.gov) Creative ways to keep kids busy | ideas for caregivers to keep kids occupied while at home (Wirecutter) How school closures can strengthen your family | ways to cope if your child’s school closes (Greater Good Science Center) Calm down corner | tips to help children learn how to self-regulate their emotions (Action for Healthy Kids) Understanding COVID | an online, illustrated book for younger kids in multiple language (MindHeart) COVID-19 resources | teaching tools and resources for families and individuals with autism (National Autism Society) Self-care tips for parents and caregivers | 5 psychology-backed tips for practicing self-care from a health psychologist (Healthier Generation)
Supporting educators
	COVID-19! How Can I Protect Myself and Others? | curriculum for understand the science of the virus that causes COVID-19 and other viruses like it (Smithsonian) Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom | resource for educators to help them address the interplay of race and trauma and its effects on students in the classroom (National Child Traumatic Stress Network) Reducing stress and finding balance | a four-part video series, part of the RISE Foundational Professional Development offering (Healthier Generation) Virtual learning resources | collection of resources to help educators develop and deliver remote lessons to homebound students (Discovery Education) Distance learning videos | social-emotional activities that students and educators can do together in the distance learning classroom (Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre) Mindfulness meditation | free mindfulness classes for kids delivered to your inbox (Mindful Schools) How teachers can navigate difficult emotions during school closure | tools for staying calm and centered amid the coronavirus crisis (Greater Good Science Center) Loving kindness meditation | a two-minute guided meditation to combat stress with mindfulness and compassion (Healthier Generation)
Supporting schools/districts
	Guidance for schools and child care programs | a school-closure decision tree and other important tips (CDC) Interim guidance for administrators of US K-12 schools and child care programs | planning and preparation for the coronavirus (CDC) Department of Education coronavirus response | COVID-19 information and resources for schools and school personnel (Dept. of Ed.) Leveraging chronic absence during the coronavirus pandemic | multi-phase framework for addressing chronic absence during the pandemic (Attendence Works) COVID-19 funding support to students | article discussing what congressional covid funding means for K-12 schools (FutureEd) Tracking state legislation on the coronavirus | article discussing state legislation that provides support for the education sector in light of the virus (FutureEd)

We’re grateful to our national school health partners who are curating offerings like this on their websites. You’ll find links to their coronavirus support pages listed below.

• Action for Healthy Kids
• ChildTrends
• Discovery Education
• Healthy Schools Campaign
• Healthier Generation
• National Center for School Mental Health