Guidance
Meeting Basic Needs
Wellness Resources
- Child Mind - Information and tools related to mental health, parenting, and addressing current events with children.
- 211 - Resources related to basic needs, crisis, medical care, mental health services.
- DCF Connecticut - Information related to parenting and mental health.
- DCF Children - Educational activities for children.
- TEAM - Community support for toddlers, elderly, and family.
- National Head Start Association - Information related to coping with the pandemic.
- BHcare - Services related to children's behavior and mental health.
- Bridges Healthcare - Mental health programs and services for adults, children, and families.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Calm app - Headspace app - Mind Yeti app - Mind Yeti on YouTube
Drawing, coloring, arts & crafts, and music are a great way for kids (and adults too!) to cope with their feelings and express their feelings.
Find an enjoyable way to move your body, and try to get outside whenever you can. Walk, jog, play with a ball, do yard work, jump rope, use sidewalk chalk to decorate the pavement or even draw an obstacle course or hopscotch for your family to do. YouTube has many physical activity videos, for example if you search for "fitness games for kids," "brain break," or "Go Noodle".
Behavioral Health
As we have seen an increase in children being brought to emergency departments who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, we wanted to provide you resources where supports can be received during these difficult times.
- Urgent Crisis Centers (UCC) are available for children who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis but do not require emergency department level of care. Licensed and funded by DCF, the centers are aimed at providing quality behavior health services to youths and their families outside of an emergency room to address their needs. No appointment is needed, and parents and guardians can bring their child directly to one of the UCC locations. Please see the attached flier for the nearest location.
- The Community Pathways line is now open at Carelon Behavioral Health and accepts referrals from families and community partners, in order to provide information, access, and connection to needed community-based supports and evidence-based interventions. This is an opportunity for families to receive in-home support for non-emergent behavioral health issues and prevent an escalation in behavior acuity. Community Pathways can be accessed by dialing 877-381-4193 (option 1).
- Families may be experiencing a social determinant of health, which may pose a barrier to receiving support. The Family Assistance and Social Determinant fund is for families that need financial assistance to pay for mental health and/or substance use intervention, treatment, or medication for children ages 0-18 years of age. For a limited time, funding assistance is available for those that qualify. Contact Carelon Behavioral Health at: FASD@carelon.com for more information.
At www.connectingtocarect.org families can find information that will assist them in understanding, navigating, and locating children's behavioral health services near them.