NewFound News
Follow along with NewFound Families as we work to support families. In this news column we seek to provide current information about the admininistration of the child welfare system. Become part of our community and join us on Facebook.
NewFound Families Virginia is here to support you during this difficult time.
The Coronavirus is stressful for all of us and we are looking for ways to alleviate the burden.
We want to be sure we do everything possible to support our families, and as a result we are looking at virtual options that allow you to engage with training, support groups, etc. Specifically, we are looking at helping to connect foster families with their peer support groups and professionals without having to leave the home.
Attention Foster Parents: Please take our survey on COVID-19!
Please contact us if you are interested and let us know how we can help.
Scroll down or click on a link to jump to the specific resources below:
- Latest Coronavirus News & Alerts
- COVID-19 Information
- Educational Resources
- Food Resources
- Child Care for Essential Personnel
- Medical/Testing
- Parenting
- Social
NewFound Families is partnering with Virginia's Kids Belong to help deliver Foster Care Survival Kits. Click the image below to learn more!
Resources
We will keep this list updated as much as possible, so please check back often in this rapidly-evolving situation.
- Virginia Foster Care Policy Recommendations: https://vakids.org/our-news/blog/covid-19-virginia-foster-care-policy-recommendations
- Direct links to your school district: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/directories/schools/school_info_by_regions.shtml
Latest Coronavirus News & Alerts
- Governor Northam Orders Statewide Closure of Certain Non-Essential Businesses, K-12 Schools – Governor's News Release, March 23, 2020
- VDOE Preparing Application for Statewide Testing Waiver (Word) – VDOE News Release, March 20, 2020
- State Superintendent Explores Assessment and Accreditation Flexibility for Virginia Schools; Requests US Department of Education to Consider Statewide Testing Waivers (Word) – VDOE News Release, March 17, 2020
- Governor Northam Orders All Virginia K-12 Schools Closed for Minimum of Two Weeks – Governor's News Release, March 13, 2020
COVID-19 Information
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC) page on Coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
- CDC updates: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fcases-in-us.html
- Cleaning to combat Covid-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/cleaning-disinfection.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fcommunity%2Fhome%2Fcleaning-disinfection.html
- CDC Info on Travel: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
Educational Resources
- http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/
- https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html?fbclid=IwAR0DgEVZJNb2KsdRa5JAxnSz8lsr0HRi4Ra4UP6h-qKwxaxXtYfja9ofuO4
- https://www.k12.com/virtual-school-offerings/online-tutoring.html
- https://www.khanacademy.org/resources/parents-mentors-1/helping-your-child/a/start-tutoring-with-khan-academy
- https://www.origoeducation.com/athome/
- http://www.pwcs.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=340225&pageId=41506907&fbclid=IwAR0Xb-AN-SvsUl2WSBYZyMfbFJq2eTI9nCHzHNo26gAvA-JYS1HHkFkXbo8
- School Meal Finder if child had free lunches: https://schoolmealfinder.hoonuit.com
- List of Approved Meal Service Sites as of March 23, 2020
- Social Emotional Learning: https://casel.org/covid-resources/
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https://formedfamiliesforward.org/covid-19-and-special-education/
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https://formedfamiliesforward.org/resources-for-families-during-covid-19/FB
Food Resources
- Text “Food” or “Comida” to *877 877*
- https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
- https://vafoodbanks.org/covid-19-response/
Child Care for Essential Personnel
Medical/Testing
Parenting
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Flyer on talking with children about infectious disease outbreaks.
- Talking to your younger children about Covid-19: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3210-tips-for-families-coronavirus
- Talking to your older children about Covid-19: 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
Social
Superintendent’s Memo #161-19
Commonwealth of Virginia - Link to Superintendent's Memos page
COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education
DATE: July 12, 2019
TO: Division Superintendents
FROM: James F. Lane, Ed.D., Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT: Student Enrollment Requirements – School Year 2019-2020
As you begin to prepare for the 2019-2020 school year, I want to take the opportunity to provide you with some general information and remind you about certain enrollment requirements. Please distribute this information as widely as possible throughout your school division to ensure that appropriate school division employees are aware of these requirements.
All parents, whether they be adoptive, foster, kinship, or birth have questions about raising children. We all know that parenting is never easy. NewFound Families strongly believes that every foster, kinship, and adoptive parent should have a support system of other parents who are going through the same struggles. That’s why we host weekly support chats on our private Facebook Group to help facilitate conversation and answer the questions.
Foster Caregivers play an important role in supporting and advocating for children and youth with mental health difficulties in their care. Children and youth in foster care are more likely to be prescribed antipsychotic medications (APs) compared to children and youth who are not in foster care. Caregivers, with the right tools and information, have the ability to advocate for collaborative systems of care for children and youth taking antipsychotic medications.
Thinking about becoming a foster parent but you just aren’t sure where to begin? It’s okay to be overwhelmed at first. Choosing to become a parent is a big deal, no matter how your child comes to you. Unlike “traditional” parenthood, becoming a foster parent requires several boxes to be checked before you welcome your new family member home. But if you follow these 123’s of becoming a foster parent - and just take it step by step - the process can feel a lot more manageable and understandable.
As you’re contemplating being a foster parent, check out this roadmap we’ve created to help guide you on your journey to parenthood.
