ALIGN COVID MEMO’S JANUARY 2021

MEETING INFORMATION
SEE: Meeting Links Group-Congregate Care, SIL, and Contract Foster Care Providers.

CURRENT PRACTICE GUIDE
Children’s Services Caregiver Resources and Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Response Jan 6, 2021
Children’s Service COVID-19 Group and Campus Based Facilities Practice Guidance Dec 1, 2021

JANUARY ALIGN MEMOS

Memo #49 – CS Guidance Update Jan 6, 2021

Q/A on COVID-19 for Alberta’s disability sector Published weekly from April to July 2020.
Resumed on a bi-weekly schedule December 2020.
Bi-weekly Q/A on COVID-19: For Alberta’s disability sector December 2020

New COVID Auditing Guidelines for 2021 If you will be auditing in 2021 please familiarize yourself with the newly published guidelines.

Now Launched! Jan 2021
COMMUNITY SERVICES STAFF SAFETY INITIATIVE (CSSSI)
ACDS, ALIGN, and the Government of Alberta ministries of Children’s Services and Community and Social Services,  are pleased to share with our members the resources available through the Community Services Staff Safety Initiative (CSSSI); an initiative to increase staff safety and reduce harassment and violence in community service workplaces in Alberta.

ALIGN Introduction to Child Intervention In Alberta – Self Study Guide
This is a 9 module online, self directed orientation for folks new to the work with children and families in Alberta.



RECENTLY ADDED COVID-19 RESOURCES

ICYMI: How federal COVID-19 measures can be improved for charities and nonprofits
Late last year, Imagine Canada hosted a convening with 30+ charitable and nonprofit organizations to discuss how federal COVID-19 supports – mainly the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS), and the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) – could be improved, and what resources and initiatives would help more organizations access much-needed relief

Book – Coronavirus: Leadership and Recovery: The Insights You Need from Harvard Business Review

Harvard Business Review What Good Leadership Looks Like During This Pandemic Michaela J. Kerrissey and Amy C. Edmondson April 13, 2020

Harvard Business Review Don’t Let Uncertainty Paralyze You by Nathan Furr April 15, 2020

Harvard Business Review Helping Your Team Heal Leaders must recognize people’s grief and assist them in finding meaning by David Kessler

Harvard Business Review Growth After Trauma by Richard G. Tedeschi

Podcast with David Kessler and Brené on Grief and Finding MeaningHarvard Business Review That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief by Scott Berinato March 23, 2020

Being Well Podcast: How to Cope During a Pandemic with Dr. Bruce Perry.
Dr. Bruce Perry joins the podcast to explore how we can limit the long-term impact of stressful events, and heal from past traumatic experiences. The Podcast covers a number of key topics including Caregiver fatigue, and caring for ourselves.

Fresh Routes
Fresh Routes offer a COVID-19 Emergency Delivery Program (Calgary & Edmonton) that brings boxes of food to those in emergency situations around Calgary and Edmonton safely. The box includes bread, eggs, and fruits and veggies. They ask that if you are able to pay for your requested order (A full food box is $15), please do so — it enables them to continue to provide this service. If you are unable to pay, there are a limited number of donated food boxes available. There will be a limited number of food boxes that will be delivered for free for those in emergency financial situations that are funded through generous donations on their GoFundMe page.

Homeless Hub
homeless hub – Youth Homelessness: Mental Health and Substance Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Pandemic-Proof: Synthesizing Real-World Knowledge of Promising Mental Health and Substance Use Practices for Young People Who Are Experiencing or Have Experienced Homelessness During the COVID-19 Pandemic..Read Full

Nick Falvo Consulting 
The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted Canada’s homelessness sector. Experts now anticipate an increase in absolute homelessness stemming from the current economic recession. This report commissioned by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) lays out what to expect, and what can be done in response.
The long-term impact of the COVID-19 Recession on homelessness in Canada:What to expect, what to track, what to do FINAL REPORT By Nick Falvo, PhD December 2020

Homeless Hub
Girls, Homelessness, and COVID-19: The Urgent Need for Research and Action Kaitlin Schwan et al. / Girlhood Studies
This journal article highlights the urgent need for research and action on structural conditions that foster pathways into homelessness for low-income and marginalized girls in the context of COVID-19 and beyond.

Child Welfare League of Canada
CWLC Guidance note: Maintaining connections for children and youth in the context of COVID-19
This guidance note was prepared by the Child Welfare League of Canada with the expert advice
of youth in care networks, service providers, and researchers. Published on April 14, 2020, this
this guidance will be updated based on evolving knowledge and circumstances.

CASA
Video CASA and Dr. Dorothy Badry Present: “Your Mental Health” Webinars | Session 5: The Changing Face of Loss & Grief in COVID

Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations, or charities who have seen a drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses, starting on September 27, 2020, until June 2021. This subsidy will provide payments directly to qualifying renters and property owners, without requiring the participation of landlords. If you are eligible for the base subsidy, you may also be eligible for lockdown support if your business location is significantly affected by a public health order for a week or more. Read More

The Alberta Child Poverty Report Spotlight: Lessons on Child Poverty during a Pandemic
The report casts a light on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting children and how it is exacerbating problems that were present long before the pandemic started in March 2020. The Alberta Child Poverty Report is a collaboration between the Edmonton Social Planning Council, the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), and Public interest Alberta (PIA). It is part of the Campaign 2000 coalition, a national movement that sought to end child poverty by the year 2000. Obviously, Canada failed to meet this objective and much work remains before poverty for children and youth is eradicated.

Alberta.ca OHS eNews: Special edition Emerging issue: COVID-19 exposure in workplace common areas December 22, 2020
Excerpt – COVID-19 is highly contagious. Alberta OHS incident monitoring shows an emerging trend for COVID-19 exposure related to the failure of controls in workplace common areas. When a hazard cannot be eliminated, it needs to be controlled. The hierarchy of controls must be followed…   Read Full eNews including overviews how COVID exposures can increase in the work place and practices that may reduce those risks.

The Role of Early Learning and Child Care in Rebuilding Canada’s Economy after COVID-19 Report commissioned by the Child Care Now coalition.
Implementing a new national child care system would generate several important benefits for Canada’s economy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession, according to new research from… Read more

ACDS Staff Safety Toolkit App:  This app provides information and resources to strengthen the health and safety of staff within the CDS sector in Alberta. This app provides easily accessible content and resources in one place, with reference to the ACDS Safety Toolkit.

ACDS COVID-19 Leadership Webinar Recording: On November 5, 2020, ACDS hosted a webinar for leaders across the sector to discuss the leanings from COVID-19 outbreaks at four agencies. (Member login required to view webinar recording)

ACDS Reopening Community Access Programs Tool (Updated June 10):  This tool will assist organizations with risk assessment and planning for reopening day programs. This document will be updated as new information becomes available, including any guidance or restrictions issued by Community and Social Services (CSS) or Alberta Health.

ACDS Return to Office Guidelines:  ACDS has made our return to office guidelines publicly available as an example for any organization that is planning their own return to the office. This document includes new protocols and best practices.

ACDS COVID-19 Leadership Webinar Recording: 
On November 5, 2020, ACDS hosted a webinar for leaders across the sector to discuss the leanings from COVID-19 outbreaks at four agencies. (Member login required to view webinar recording)

ACHIEVE Free 1 Hour Webinar Managing Your Stress During COVID-19

ALSO SEE THE COVID RESOURCE LIBRARY

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Based out of Edmonton, we are a provincial collection of allies – a unified community of agencies that represents the diverse needs of Alberta’s children and families. We are proud to champion the work of our front line service providers and to support our members. Together, we are stronger.

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