Children's Choice, Inc.

COVID-19 continues to impact the way we live our lives. Amid these changes, older youth and young adults are going through significant personal and academic transitions as well. It’s important for learners of all ages to have the support and opportunities they deserve. With this in mind, the City and partners have created new ways of delivering programs and opportunities to older youth. https://www.phila.gov/2020-10-16-fall-activities-and-oppo/

Get your kids reading this school year with Philly Reading Coaches! Fun, free, individualized, online-reading sessions start on November 2! Open to students in grades 13. Children will receive one-on-one reading support and guidance from a trained volunteer, all in a secure online setting. Participants receive 25 books each to build their home library, and have access to the online Literacy Pro platform with more than 2,300 titles. Space is limited, register today! ... Click here to LEARN more. http://ost.phila.gov/philly-reading-coaches/ Click here to REGISTER. https://secure.everyaction.com/u2iSGG1ZkUWeoOuqRicnxw2

Sesame Workshop’s longstanding commitment to modeling inclusivity and addressing complex social issues continues this week with The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special. Designed as a co-viewing experience for children and families, the special will address racism and help children learn ways to recognize and stand up to it. It will stream on HBO Max and PBS KIDS starting tomorrow, Thursday, October 15, and debut on PBS stations the same day. The special will re-air through...out October and November on PBS stations and the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel (check local listings). The Power of We features Elmo and Abby Cadabby, who are joined by 6-year-old Muppet Gabrielle and her cousin, 8-year-old Tamir, as they learn how to become upstanders to unfair treatment based on skin or fur color. Current and former Sesame Street cast members Alan, Charlie, Chris, and Gordon will also take part in the special alongside celebrity and musical guests Yara Shahidi, Christopher Jackson, and Andra Day. We hope you will Sesame Street for The Power of We, which is designed for families of all shapes, sizes, and colors. To continue meaningful conversations about racism with children in your life, check out our family viewing guide at SesameStreet.org/PowerofWe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1n4WYn5nFA

Free webinar hosted by Devereux in association with Healthy Minds Philly. Thursday, 10/15/2020 6PM - PARENT RESILIENCE (See attached for registration details) The webinar will include A 30-minute presentation on fostering adult resilience and will be followed by a 45-minute Q&A session, along with the opportunity to practice a little self-care, by taking a mental health screening with a clinician through a private breakout room. Mental health screenings are free, anonymous, brief, and will provide you with referral information for resources in your area. Get your check-up from the neck-up at www.healthymindsphilly.org, and give yourself and your loved ones the gift of self-care.

Attn: Resource Parents. The Quality Parenting Initiative knows how important it is to connect and network with others who are participating in the work of providing quality parenting to children in their communities. This is why we’ve created a closed Facebook group called The QPI Network just for QPI site participants who want to deepen their QPI understanding, expand their practice and network. We have set up this special page for you! This forum provides QPI members th...e opportunity for shared learning through information exchange, open discussion, and QPI-based resources. Members participating in this closed group will receive information about QPI events that will not be featured on our public Facebook page, The Quality Parenting Initiative. Children's Choice has been asked to share this email with families and colleagues in our QPI site who might be interested, or click invite on the Facebook group to invite others after you join! You may also search for the private group "The QPI Network" on Facebook. We'll have just a few short questions when you ask to join!

Free Training https://conference.happilyfamily.com/

The Educational Law Center has maintained a COVID Resources page (https://www.elc-pa.org/covid-19/) with a multitude of resources. These resources include a legal support line, links to FAQs, and media articles from across the Commonwealth. The site also include school closure resources for youth in foster care, youth with disabilities, and youth experiencing homelessness. Additionally, The Legal Center for Foster Care and Education has developed resources related to education and COVID (http://fostercareandeducation.org/AreasofFocus/Covid-19.aspx). These resources include tip sheets on how child welfare agencies, school districts, and courts can help support children during the pandemic. ***************************************************************************************

While most school buildings are closed this fall, many children need safe, supervised places to learn while their caregivers go to work. For families who can’t afford the full cost of childcare, the following options are available: Subsidized childcare Free, quality, pre-K City Access Centers Find the resources here.... https://www.phila.gov/2020-09-17-find-affordable-full-day-/ Find affordable, full-day childcare while schools are closed | Office of Children and Families Need childcare? Free and affordable options are available for families with young children and school-age children. Learn more: www.phila.gov

Peter M. (Peter Mutabazi Foster Dad), a single dad in Charlotte, NC, was born in Uganda and ran away from an abusive home at age 10. A parent figure took him in... and guided him through school. Peter eventually immigrated to the US and became a citizen, and now, he’s a parent himself to his adopted son Anthony. Peter says their time together in quarantine has been a blessing. And with the new school year beginning, they’re not just remote learning, they’re learning about each other too. "I’ve never been a teacher in my life, you know? So I'm feeling that pressure of, 'Oh, I have to do it as well as the teachers do, because I don't want to look like a failure.'" Even with the challenges of going back to school, Peter and Anthony understand their need for one another, and that together, they can tackle whatever comes their way. He’s seeing a Dad who's admitting he doesn't know it all, but I’m also depending on him to show me how best I can help him. And I think that has brought trust, as we relate to each other. With so many changes to this school year, it’s a new school experience for all of us. We want to show different perspectives on how people are dealing with those changes. Every family has a back to school story. What’s yours?

Today, we remember those we have lost to suicide, support all who are affected by suicide as an attempt or loss survivor, and remind anyone who may be experienc...ing suicidal ideation or are experiencing crisis or hopelessness that help is available. You are never alone. World Suicide Prevention Day serves as a reminder that, too often, shame and stigma prevent someone from talking openly about this topic. You may feel that doing so will scare or stress your loved ones, and that people will judge you for the feelings and challenges you experience. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal ideation, help is always available: Text PA to 741741 National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) TrevorLifeline (LGBTQ): 866-488-7386 Trans Helpline: 877-565-8860