For Parents & Caregivers
Resources appearing on the website are provided for information purposes only and do not represent an endorsement by NYSPEP.
Back to School COVID-19 Resources for Parents/Families and Educators
Recording of the webinar: Grab Your Oxygen First: Tips to Manage Selfcare, held October 6,
2020 available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU--0vFlEU0
Online learning can be an adjustment. Check out these tips for setting your child up for success
while they are learning remotely.
Looking for tips to help support families during COVID-19? Child Mind Institute has a few that
can help!
From Community Playthings: More creative ways to help children be comfortable with masks.
Learning together at home can be fun! You can do these activities around the house, outside,
and in your neighborhood. This resource is also available in Spanish.
Learn at home with PBS Kids using their weekly virtual learning resources!
Helpful distance learning activities for parents and families can be found on the Education
Reimagined website.
Take a look at these Spanish-language resources that can help parents with the challenges of
distance learning.
New York State Parent Guide
New York State Parent Guide contains text from "Starting Life Together", a book specifically designed by NYSPEP as part of its New Parent Kit to help parents: gain knowledge of their child's developmental behaviors, promote evidence-based parenting behaviors, build parenting skills, and promote parent reflection. This electronic version contains links to additional materials.
NYSPEP Community Cafes
Community Cafes are conversations, facilitated by Parent Leaders, which serve to build community strengths, support parent leadership, and promote children's healthy development.
Navigating Multiple Systems
New York State Multiple Systems Navigator is built for parents, family members, caregivers, and youth who rely on supports from multiple child and family serving systems
Attachment Parenting
Attachment Parenting International: Eight Principles of Parenting are founded on sound research and known to be effective in helping children develop secure attachments. www.attachmentparenting.org
Blogs and Parent-Led Resources
Wonder Moms: A New Blog with Parents of Children with Special Needs in Mind.
Child Care
NYS Child Care Resource and Referral-The Early Care and Learning Council (ECLC) is a statewide, not-for-profit membership organization that represents the 35 Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&Rs) programs across New York State. Visit https://earlycareandlearning.org/ to contact your local CCR&R.
National Association for the Education of the Young Children: For information on choosing quality childcare. Call 1-800-424-2460 or visit www.naeyc.org
NYS Office of Children and Family Services - Division of Childcare Services: Child care resources for parents, people interested in starting or currently running a child care program, and anyone with a concern about the health or safety of a child in day care program. http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/childcare/default.asp
Child Development
Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! The Administration for Children and Families: Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! is a coordinated federal effort to encourage healthy child development, universal developmental and behavioral screening for children, and support for the families and providers who care for them. Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! will help families and providers: Celebrate milestones. Every family looks forward to seeing a child’s first smile, first step, and more. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/child-health-development/watch-me-thrive
Center for Disease Control and Prevention-Developmental Milestones: Interactive tool for parents to identify and assess child development. www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html
Project TEACH Parent and Family Resources: Project TEACH Parent and Family Resources: Information for parents about mental wellness at different stages of a child/youth's development and the typical questions that may be asked in a child's wellness visit with their pediatrician. All printable materials are available in English as well as the six most common non-English languages spoken by individuals with limited English Proficiency in the State of New York. https://projectteachny.org/parent-and-family-page/
Zero to Three: Website on early childhood learning and activity tips. www.zerotothree.org
Children and Parents with Disabilities
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services - Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCESS-VR) formerly VESID: Adult career and continuing education services offers a full range of employment and independent living services that may be needed by persons with disabilities throughout their lives. www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/
Early Intervention Program: A program for infants and toddlers with disabilities, and their families.
www.nyhealth.gov/community/infants_children/early_intervention/
New York State Disability and Health Program: Programs and service for adults and children with disabilities. http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/prevent/main.htm
New York State Multiple Systems Navigator: for family members and caregivers who rely on supports from multiple child and family serving systems. www.msnavigator.org
Parent-to-Parent of NYS: a supportive network of families for those who care for people with developmental disabilities or special healthcare needs. http://parenttoparentnys.org/
NYS Justice Center - For the Protection of People with Special Needs: Charged with the responsibilities, programs, and funding for the dissolved Commission on Quality of Care and Traid Program. www.justicecenter.ny.gov
Early Literacy
American Academy of Pediatrics Books Build Connections Toolkit: This toolkit features a variety of resources for families to explore and expand their understanding of early literacy. A variety of resources are available. https://littoolkit.aap.org/forfamilies/Pages/home.aspx
Education and Learning
New York State Association for the Education of Young Children's (NYSAEYC): Promotes excellence in early care and education for NYS children and families through education, advocacy and the support of the profession. Call 518-867-3517 or visit http://www.nysaeyc.org
NYS Public Library System: Find local information and family events at local branches by visiting www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/libs/publibs/1pls.htm
Family Planning
Planned Parenthood: Provides vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information. To search for a health center in your area call 1-800-230-7526 or visit www.plannedparenthood.org
Grandparents
American Grandparents Association: Information on child development and health for grandparents. www.grandparents.com
NYS Kinship Navigator: Provides information and referral for individuals caring for a child who is not biologically their own. www.nysnavigator.org
Immigrant Families
Detained or Deported: What About My Children?: Website and parent guide helps parents to keep their children from entering the child welfare system, locate children in that system, comply with the case plan, participate in family court and make arrangements at the conclusion of a parent's immigration case.
Multilingual
Multilingual Parent Resource Sheets: Originally published with Play & Parenting, FRP Canada's quarterly newsletter, these sheets are available in fourteen languages. www.welcomehere.ca
Nutrition and Resources (WIC)
Healthy food is just one way WIC helps families. WIC also provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and connections to community resources during pregnancy and to new moms, infants, and kids under 5. Check out WIC’s new “Chat with Wanda” for an easy three-minute screening.
Parenting Information
Boys Town Parenting Gateway: Boys Town and Parenting.org have merged to form a gateway to nearly 100 years of accumulated knowledge on parenting and offers a variety of parenting guides. www.boystown.org/parenting/
The Parenting Project Parent Pages, Cornell College of Human Ecology: Parent Pages summarize the latest parenting and child development research in short, easy-to-read fact sheets for caregivers. https://www.human.cornell.edu/pam/engagement/parenting/parents/pages
Prenatal and Child Health
Healthy Children: For information on health, safety, family life and parenting from American Academy of Pediatricians. www.healthychildren.org/
NY State of Health - Official Health Plan Marketplace: The Affordable Care Act has changed how individuals and their families apply for health insurance. Individuals wishing to enroll in plans, please visit https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov
Prenatal Care in New York State: Consumer information, Medicaid, and other resources for prenatal care. www.health.ny.gov/community/pregnancy/health_care/prenatal
Paid Family Leave: As of January 1, 2019, the number of weeks eligible employees can take to bond with a new child increased to 10 weeks. Find more information here: https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov
Safety
NYS Office of Children and Family Services - Keeping Children Safe: A resource of information for parents and primary caregivers on keeping children safe. http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cps/tips.asp
SafeNY: Information on state regulations for car and booster seats. http://www.safeny.ny.gov/
Screen Time
Where We Stand: TV Viewing Time: This article outlines the American Academy of Pediatrics position on screen time for children under age two and provides additional resource links. www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Where-We-Stand-TV-Viewing-Time.aspx
Screen Sense: Setting the Record Straight: This ZERO TO THREE white paper outlines research-based guidelines on screen time for children under age three. Screen Sense white paper in PDF format.
Substance Abuse Prevention
Talk2Prevent: A number of resources for parents grouped under three categories: Connecting, Communicating, and Consequences. https://talk2prevent.ny.gov
Know the Facts Campaign: Awareness materials on addiction and treatment. Available in Spanish and English. https://combataddiction.ny.gov/resources
Provider Directory: Treatment provider directory for people to access help with and services related to addiction. https://www.oasas.ny.gov/providerdirectory