By: Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health

With the holiday season fast approaching and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surging in most parts of the country, millions of Americans—including me and my family—will break with tradition this year to celebrate in ways that we hope will help to keep us all safe and healthy. Granted, this may present some difficult emotional and logistical challenges, but I’m confident that the American can-do spirit will rise to meet those challenges.

I also recognize that this will be hard for many of us. Celebrating holidays alone or with your immediate household members can sound rather dreary. After all, who wants to roast and carve a turkey for just a few people? But, if you look at it another way, the pandemic does offer opportunities to make this holiday a season to remember in new and different ways.

Continue reading for ideas on sending gifts, making videos, sharing a meal remotely, staying safe and more.

This holiday season is going to look a bit different for everyone. Children may have trouble understanding and coping with these changes. Dr. Gabrielle Roberts (right), a pediatric psychologist at Advocate Aurora Health, explains how parents can put “currency” back in their child’s emotional piggy bank.

Learn more by watching this video.

Find a pediatric provider in Illinois and Wisconsin.

In response to the rising community spread of COVID-19 and hospitalizations, all Advocate Aurora Health hospitals have implemented a No Visitor Policy for inpatients, with limited exceptions, to help keep our patients and team members safe.

We are encouraging the use of virtual visits and virtual vigils through Zoom video conferencing to help families connect safely with their loved ones during this difficult time. Call your hospital site and ask for the chaplain on call to arrange or learn more about virtual visits and virtual vigils.

Please know that, while visitation policies have changed, Advocate Aurora Health remains committed to honoring spiritual practices of those who are hospitalized. Faith leaders and family members can send cherished religious items, such as a Bible, Holy Water, Quran, etc., as well as electronic devices. Learn more about sending critical items to inpatients.

See details about the no-visitor policy here.

Advocate Aurora Health and the State of Illinois have partnered to help people recover from COVID 19 safely at home. The program is available to all residents over 12 months of age with known exposure to COVID 19 or experiencing COVID like symptoms. The program is free and there are no insurance requirements.

December is HIV/AIDS Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness around HIV/AIDS, commemorate those who have passe on, and celebrate victories, such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.

Breaking the Silence of HIV/AIDS Amidst COVID-19: We’re in this together!

Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, Senior Pastor, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Houston, TX

Biomedical Update: Dr. Stephaun E. Wallace, Director of External Relations, HIV Vaccine Trials Network, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Washington

Panel Moderator: Dr. Karriem S. Watson, DHS, MS, MPH, Assoc. Exec. Director-UI Health Mile Square Health Center, Assoc. Director Community Outreach and Engagement UI Cancer Center, Research Assistant Prof. UIC School of Public Health Community Health Sciences

Panelists:

Dr. Ulysses Burley III, Founder, UBtheCURE LLC, Ambassador, COVID-19 Prevention Network Faith Initiative; Dr. Jasmin Searcy-Pate, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Near North Health Service Corporation, and Ms. Vanessa Smith, Executive Director, South Side Help Center

For more information contact: Priscilla Rodriquez, prodriquez@mccormick.edu.

The Advocate Children’s Health Resource Center has easy access to trusted health information for parents, teenagers and children. Explore online resources on a wide variety of children’s health topics, including coping with HIV and AIDS.

Suggested eBook: Coping with HIV and AIDS

Related Articles:

Explore other resources for adults, teens and kids in the Advocate Children's Health Resource Center eBook Library and KidsHealth Online Library.

Using non-violence communication and restorative justice principles, we will explore the question, "How do our faith traditions speak to trauma and addressing polarities at this time?"

During this two-hour session, network members and Rev. Michelle Day and Hema Pokharna will guide us through a presentation and discussion on addressing polarities - opposites through the intersection of faith and restorative justice.

Together, we will:

Learn to be in relationship with others despite complete differences.

Understand what we can do to manage polarities in a way that is functional and restorative.

Identify tools to maintain dialogue by seeing beyond our differences and otherness.

Advocate Aurora Health and AgeOptions have partnered to offer this educational opportunity for faith leaders. The webinar will include information on:

The Prayer Support Line allows us to come together in unity to release our burdens, receive comfort and express our gratitude to God for holding us close during this pandemic.

The Prayer Support Line is a place where we can join with others in prayer for health, healing and spiritual care with the expectation that God will meet us and provide us with encouragement.

“What’s Next?” is a weekly resilience program that combines evidence-based scientific studies with encouragement from faith-based resources. Participants will gain tools to:

Attend any or all sessions. LaShondria Purnell, RN, a faith community nurse with Advocate Aurora Health, facilitates "What's Next?" and looks forward to learning alongside you.

A workshop designed for all who are dealing with pandemic stress as well as those supporting them, including parents and guardians, community leaders, educators, and faith leaders of all religious faiths.

Download a flyer to share.

The holidays can be a stressful and emotionally challenging time of year for many people in a "normal year," and this holiday season will bring its unique set of stresses and feelings of anxiety, loss and grief due to the current pandemic.

This webinar will explore some holiday challenges, emphasize the importance of acknowledging and legitimizing our feelings, help participants recognize some signs and symptoms of emotional struggle, and offer practical coping strategies, including self-care and self-compassion tips.

Providing Help, Restoring Hope: DOJ National Elder Fraud Hotline 

Financial exploitation and fraudulent scams aimed at older adults result in the loss of billions of dollars every year. These crimes often go unreported because victims are scared, embarrassed, or don’t know who to call. The U.S. Department of Justice National Elder Fraud Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, provides services to adults aged 60 and older who experience fraud and exploitation to help them report the crime and access appropriate resources. This webinar will offer an overview of the National Elder Fraud Hotline and answer frequently asked questions about the available services.

This year, probably all of our Christmas celebrations will be different than in years past. All are invited to join us for a virtual hour of prayer & reflection in preparation for Christmas. We are especially reaching out to anyone living with a mental health concern and their loved ones.

When a death embodies both trauma and loss, the ensuing traumatic bereavement poses special challenges and demands more than mere grief facilitation. Drawing on cutting-edge information from psychology, traumatology, and thanatology, Dr. Rando identifies 12 essential core strategies for effective clinical intervention after deaths from acute natural causes, accident, disaster, suicide, or homicide.

To register, contact Joellen at 847-446-6955, ext. 19 or jhosler@samaracarecounseling.org.

To register, call 708-366-6900 or email gracechurch@graceriverforest.org.

Advocate Aurora Health Faith and Mental Health Quarterly provides updates on mental health resources, events and news to support the well-being of people in your congregation and community.

If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact Cindy Novak.

Up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable, and many of the risk factors are controllable. Take Advocate Aurora Health’s online Stroke Risk Assessment to estimate your chance of experiencing one and learn about the ways you could minimize it.

Learn more about CHAMP (Congregational Health Asset Mapping Partnership), which brings people in a community together to identify how faith communities are supporting the health and well-being of the community.

Dec 6: St. Nicholas Day (Christian)

Dec 8: Bodhi Day (Buddhist)

Dec 11-18: Hanukkah (Jewish)

Dec. 15: Dhanu Sankranti (Hindu)

Dec. 24: Christmas Eve (Christian)

Dec. 25: Christmas (Christian)

Dec. 25: Geeta Jayanti (Hindu)

Dec. 26: Kwanzaa begins

Dec. 28: Holy Innocents (Christian)

Dec. 31: Watch Night (Christian)

We hope you find this update helpful as you promote the health of your members and community. Please contact Cindy Novak if you have topics you'd like us to address or if you have questions or concerns.