This Indian Health Service grant announcement provides 501(c)(3) organizations an opportunity to apply for funding to support a variety of services to improve the healthcare of the American Indian/Alaska Native community through outreach and education efforts. Eligible organizations include those with expertise in representing Tribal governments and administering national health policy and health programs, including work in substance abuse and suicide prevention, domestic violence prevention, HIV/AIDS outreach and education, and diabetes work. The application closing date is June 29, 2020.

In this Aspen Ideas to Go podcast, a panel of child and adolescent experts define anxiety and stress and offer coping strategies to parents to help support them in their interactions with their children at various stages of their development. In the wake of COVID-19, children and teenagers have experienced disruptions in their normal activities and routines, including attending school and play time with friends and family. Many adolescents and teens are experiencing emotional distress, worry, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Taking a whole family approach, the panel addresses these behaviors and stressors and provides guidance to parents on being honest and clear with their communications, speaking in age appropriate language, filtering out misinformation, and monitoring the news. In addition, the experts also offer parents guidance on managing their own self-care and mental health during this time of uncertainty.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for state, local, and tribal human services leaders serving children and families to provide a Whole Family response. To assist in this effort, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Regional Operations offers an updated list of resources, guidance, and tip sheets with information on ACF funding flexibilities and the whole family approach. This compendium includes:

• ACF Mandatory Program COVID-19 Program Flexibilities, Guidance and Resources (including information from the Office of Child Care, instructions on TANF allowable funds, letters and transmittal reports from the Children’s Bureau, and updates from the Office of Child Support Enforcement); and 

• Whole Family Approach to COVID-19 Response (including coverage about funding and flexibilities from Food and Nutrition Services programs, resources for working parents, and updates to funding resources for career and technical education programs and higher education institutions. There is also information about resources available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to address mental health and substance use disorders and behavioral health challenges as well as funding available at the Health Resources and Services Administration to expand rural health center and telehealth capacity. Support for homeless housing and rental assistance, families living in public housing, and families in need under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is also identified.)

The Aspen Institute’s Ascend initiative has launched a webinar series to cover 2Gen approaches that support the health, economic opportunity, and education of low-income families as they recover and move forward from the COVID-19 pandemic. Upcoming webinar topics are Child Support: Implications and Useful Lessons around Child Support, Parent Voice During COVID-19: Maintaining Feedback Loops, Stopping Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorders Where They Start: Prevention and Treatment in Adolescence, and State Leadership During COVID-19 and Beyond. Recordings of previously held webinars on Telehealth and 2Gen, State Opportunities and Challenges in Advancing Child Care Innovation, and New Frames for a New Time are available.

This recorded webinar from the Annie E. Casey Foundation illustrates ways that state child welfare and substance use disorder officials can utilize the Family First Prevention Services Act to help families affected by substance misuse. Topics covered in the webinar included: discussion of the Family First Act’s substance use disorders provisions, opportunities to implement the law to benefit affected families, and the importance of collaboration between child welfare and substance abuse agencies. Speakers included representatives of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Children and Family Futures, ChildFocus, and the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors.

This guide from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration includes topics and resources to serve women who are reentering communities after incarceration and intends to help them succeed. The guide is a checklist that seeks to: identify critical reentry needs; address substance use disorders; build links to mental health care; address physical and reproductive health care; provide culturally competent services; provide trauma-informed services; build healthy, trusting relationships; reestablish family relationships; facilitate payment of justice system fines and fees; and increase self-efficacy through certified peer specialists.

This issue brief from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) highlights key points addressing intimate partner violence and child abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic, where staying at home may not be safe for those who have previously experienced mistreatment or where current economic conditions might spark mistreatment that would not have otherwise existed. The brief also provides links to resources from the Addiction Technology Transfer Center, the National Hispanic and Latino Addiction Technology Transfer Center, and SAMHSA’s partner, the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health.

This issue brief from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration discusses the impact of the opioid crisis on the Black/African American population. Key elements of the brief include: most recent data on the prevalence of opioid misuse and opioid overdose death rates; contextual factors that impact the opioid epidemic, including challenges in accessing early intervention and treatment; innovative outreach and engagement strategies for evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery; and the importance of the community voice to develop and implement solutions to the opioid crisis.

This fact sheet offers tips, guidance, and resources on how grandfamilies can stay healthy, informed, and connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics include practicing excellent hygiene, accessing food and medicine, accessing technology, staying connected, talking with kids about coronavirus, managing anxiety and stress, resources and activities for children at home, and back-up planning.

This continuously updated set of resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration includes upcoming and recorded webinars to address training and technical assistance available for substance abuse counselors and mental health professionals for supportive practice during the current COVID-19 crisis. Resources are offered from the Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers, the Addiction Technology Transfer Centers, the Prevention Technology Transfer Centers, the Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information, and the Providers Clinical Support System.