Greetings!
Our primary concern is always for the well-being of all of our children and families.
Kids need us as much as ever. At the same time, none of us can be helpful if we are not healthy. Kids and families can be worried about community interactions. There are a lot of questions. What happens if school closes? Or the courts? What about that Bucks game we were looking forward to? And for adults, how do we answer all those questions? How can we help kids make sense of coronavirus?
We will do our best to communicate in this rapidly changing environment.
The best strategy is to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). If you feel ill, or think you may be ill, please stay home and take care of yourself.
This newsletter includes resources for talking to kids about coronavirus, as well as some exciting new resources for kinship caregivers. Scroll to the bottom for a message to CASA volunteers about COVID-19 and dates for the next CASA training in April.
Sue
Susan Conwell, JD
Executive Director
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For Kids-Learning About Coronavirus on BrainPOP
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From BrainPop: It can be scary to hear about a disease outbreak, but learning the facts can help ease your mind. A new coronavirus—a type of virus named for its crown-like shape—emerged in Wuhan, China in 2019, and then spread to people around the world. While the most severe cases often dominate the headlines, they’re not the whole story. Most coronavirus cases have been mild, and healthy bodies can fight off the infection on their own. Find out more about how viruses work, and the best ways to prevent them from infecting more people. Viruses can’t spread without our help, so click below to learn how
not
to help them! (Thanks to Randi for sharing!)
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Additional Information on COVID-19
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Free and Reduced School Meals:
Many families that receive free or reduced school meals for the children are concerned about access to these meals if schools close. The USDA is actively working to put in place ways to help children and families access these meals in other ways. We will share more information as it becomes available.
How To Talk to Kids:
Here’s a helpful comic or "zine" that will help you explain coronavirus to the kids in your life. Kids feel safer when they get good information from trusted adults. Click below and scroll down -- there is a lot of good information in a friendly format. This resource can be printed out and folded into a comic book that explains safety practices.
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Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus
Kids, this comic is for you. It's based on a radio story that NPR education reporter Cory Turner did. He asked some experts what kids might want to know about the new coronavirus discovered in China.
Read more
www.npr.org
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2020 Wisconsin State of the Tribes Addresses Opioids and Grandfamilies
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"We are all well aware of [the opioid epidemic] as it's impacted every corner of our state. It has no regard for age, race, gender or income, and has likely impacted many of you sitting here today. Unfortunately, I know firsthand the pain and suffering the same of that epidemic is causing families and consequently my wife and I are now raising some of our own grandchildren. Sadly my story is not unique--Native communities across Wisconsin have been hit especially hard by the opioid epidemic. There are hundreds of families like mine who are now caring for the young ones of relatives because of opioid addiction... Our children and grandchildren will remember and thank you for the things you do on this issue today.”
--Ned Daniels Jr., Chairman of the Forest County Potawatomi Community
Watch more below:
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New Kinship Navigator for Wisconsin
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The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families released a new tool to help relative caregivers discover resources. The Wisconsin Kinship Navigator can be used by any relative caregiver throughout the state to identify services and resources available to them based on their specific caregiving situation. Caregivers will be asked to answer a set of questions specific to their situation, and based on those answers, will be provided with an array of information about eligibility for various programs.
Click here
to explore the new Wisconsin Kinship Navigator.
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Watch Now: Adoption vs. Guardianship for Children in Kinship Foster Care
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When children in kinship foster care are ready to exit the system to permanent families with relatives, families need to decide whether to adopt or secure guardianship of the child. The laws that determine how adoption and guardianship are granted and what each option entails are developed at the state and tribal levels. As a result, the intricacies of obtaining these relationships and the benefits of each differ across the country.
It is important that caseworkers, relative caregivers, older children and their birth parents understand the options and determine, based on all the information, what is best for their particular child and family. This recorded webinar provides information about each option, how they differ and trends in state laws as they impact these options. It highlights a new resource from Generations United created with support from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and other state-specific tools for helping families.
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Save the Date: Wisconsin Families Like Mine Conference
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We will share registration information when it becomes available.
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A Message for CASA Volunteers about COVID-19
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Our primary concern is always for the well-being of all of our children and families, and that includes our family of volunteers.
How is COVID -19 impacting our roles as advocates and volunteers? How do we best balance the important role of volunteers in ensuring child safety and with the critically important role of limiting risk of sharing the virus? This is uncharted territory.
Of course, the kids need us as much as ever. At the same time, none of us can be helpful if we are not healthy. Kids and families can be worried about community interactions. There are a lot of questions. What happens if the courts or schools close? What happens to kids who rely on free school lunches? How do I answer questions about coronavirus if kids ask?
We will do our best to communicate in this rapidly changing environment.
The best strategy is to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
If you feel ill, or think you may be ill, please stay home and take care of yourself. While everyone connected to CASA has a truly inspiring work ethic, it is not worth risking your health or the health of others. Please do not hesitate to cancel your attendance at an event and cancel or re-schedule meetings with CASA staff or others.
If there is a meeting you cannot attend, communicate with your CASA Supervisor to find the best solution.
Below are best practices for health and safety to prevent the spread of this illness or other illnesses based on recommendations from the CDC that we urge everyone to follow:
- Wash hands regularly, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water (click here for more details on effective handwashing: Handwashing Best Practices)
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
- Disinfect surfaces regularly
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then dispose of the tissue and wash your hands immediately. If you do not have a tissue to hand, cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than your hands.
- Stay home when you're sick and call your doctor’s office for guidance
- Stay away from gatherings with large crowds
- Keep your “social distance.” Wave hello rather than shaking hands!
- Visit the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website for the most current information on COVID-19
- Oh yes -- try not to touch your face (this is harder than it looks!)
If you have traveled abroad in the last month, talk with your CASA supervisor.
If you are an older adult or a person with severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes, please talk with your supervisor. If you are at higher risk, we want to make sure you have greater protections!
Health and safety are of the utmost importance. If you have any questions please reach out to the team to create a protective strategy that works for you and the kids you advocate for. If a child or family you are working with have questions, we have resources to share that are helpful in explaining COVID-19 to children.
If you are wondering, Kids Matter is already set up so that most staff can work remotely! If that becomes necessary, we will let you know. Volunteer support will continue to be available.
You play a vital role in our community. Thank you!
--The entire Kids Matter CASA team
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Upcoming CASA Training: Sign Up Today!
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Would you like to make a difference in the life of a child? Become A Court Appointed Special Advocate!
Spring Training for CASA volunteers
– 5 required sessions
Our next CASA volunteer training cycle will begin on April 15, 2020. This 5 week training will be on four Wednesday evenings from 6 PM to 9 PM, one Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM, and a weekday morning courtroom observation. The training is comprised of at-home online session (16 hrs) and classroom sessions (18 hrs). All classes are held at the Kids Matter office near downtown Milwaukee; the courtroom observation is held at the Vel R. Phillips Juvenile Justice Center in Wauwatosa.
Wednesday, April 15, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Wednesday, April 22, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Monday, April 27 – Friday, May 1 – courtroom observations scheduled
Wednesday, April 29, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Wednesday, May 6, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Wednesday, May 13, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
We are accepting applications now! Background and reference checks and a personal interview are required for all volunteer applicants. Please call 414-344-1220 or
email us
to sign up or if you have questions about future Kids Matter CASA training opportunities.
PLEASE NOTE: We may change the above schedule to an online curriculum with limited in-person sessions in response to ongoing concerns about COVID-19. Thank you!
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