weConnect Weekly Update 5.27.2020  Supporting Families Through COVID-19

Our Weekly Update helps families make informed and timely decisions. Visit our Events Calendar for upcoming opportunities. You are invited to share this resource with other families. Response to COVID-19 Information, resources and supports for families weConnect will return to being a twice monthly publication beginning June 1, 2020 WE'RE HERE! Please reach out for support and assistance! ‌ ‌ Call U s 1-800-640-4553 or 605-361-3171 Email Us at sdpc@sdparent.org Message Us on Facebook or our website

Social, Emotional and Behavior Wellness Of Our Children During this stressful time, you may be seeing some behaviors in your children, and even yourself, that are somewhat different and more intense than you are used to seeing. It’s important that we recognize signs of stress and anxiety in our children. Here are some suggestions that will hopefully help guide you through some of these behaviors. Some suggestions covered in the video are:

Set realistic expectations * Routines and schedules * Processing time * Triggers * Support systems * Feelings * Cool down place * You’re the role model * Mindfulness

Supporting Children and Families Activities In My Heart, A Book of Feelings, a book read online to children to talk about emotions. Try playing Me-Motions or Who Is Great At This? or creating Encouragement Folders to build your child self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness and relationship skills. Download Social and Emotional Learning Activities Kids feel emotions in big ways! Coaching kids through these emotions is important in helping them grow and work through anxiety or anger. Super Fun Activities to Help Kids Recognize Big Emotions Feelings and Emotions Vocabulary List Mindfulness Activities for Kids, Including Teens 8 Sensory-Friendly Indoor Games and Activities

Resources SD Department of Education Handout - Responding to COVID-19 South Dakota Statewide Family Engagement Center has put together a collection of resources to help families and educators guide student learning while school is out, many which include mindfulness and emotional wellness resources. LD Online Topics: Behavior & Social Skills: Articles discuss the “dos and don'ts” for fostering social competence, the teacher’s role in developing social skills, and many helpful articles on behavior modification, anger management, disciplining students with disabilities, and the emotional issues experienced by some individuals with Learning Disabilities. ADDitude Magazine: Articles discuss Behaviors During COVID-19

CDC Releases School Reopening Guidelines Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued interim guidance for safely resuming K-12 schools and summer day camps , laid out in a series of three steps. Read more....

Mini-Grants for Engagement & Comfort During The Coronavirus Pandemic The SD Council on Developmental Disabilities has made funds available for mini grants to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For more information contact Arlene Poncelet at arlene.poncelet@state.sd.us .  The next due date is June 1, 2020 .

Vocational Rehabilitation Celebrating a Century of Success This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first federally funded program to assist people with disabilities who had not acquired their disabilities as a result of serving in the military.

Join RSA as they pay tribute to this historical occasion by showcasing “Success Stories” of how the VR program helped change the lives of students and adults with disabilities on June 2, 2020, 1:30–2:30pm CT. Register Here

Opportunities For Input Help set priorities for the South Dakota Council on Developmental Disabilities as they develop their Five-Year State Plan. The DD Council wants to hear from South Dakotans about the needs you see in your community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to help us create our next State Plan. The Council’s mission is to assist people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to experience the quality of life they desire through advocacy and systems change. Return attached via email to arlene.poncelet@state.sd.us or mail to SD Council on Developmental Disabilities, 2520 E. Franklin Street, Suite 4, Pierre, SD 5750. SD Parent Connection is supporting the Developmental Disabilities Network to reach families across our state to learn how individuals with disabilities and their families are doing during this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis.   If you are an individual with a disability, or a parent/guardian, family member or caregiver of a child or adult with a disability, and live in South Dakota, please complete the SD COVID-19 Impact Survey by May 31st

Events Calendar Visit Our Website WE'RE HERE! Please reach out for support and assistance! ‌ ‌

This e-publication was developed under grants from the U.S. Department of Education Project Grant H328M140021 and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Grant H84MC07994, Family to Family Health Information Center, $96,750; and approximately 5% financed with non-governmental resources. The contents should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by US Department of Education, HRSA, HHS or the Federal Government.

‌ ‌