Practice Solidarity and Spread Awareness of COVID-19

Ensuring the health and safety of our volunteers and members is our highest priority. Acting swiftly to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), such as washing your hands for 20 seconds, will not only reduce your risk of the coronavirus infection, but is an act of solidarity. Protecting yourself decreases the risk that you will infect people in your community and around the world. Help us to not only connect, serve, and change lives, but save them. Spread awareness about the virus by sharing the below facts sheets, sample social media posts, and graphics available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. 

English Fact Sheet               Tabla de Datos             Folheto Informativo

Social Media Posts               Social Media Graphics

Chapters' Responses to COVID-19      Programs' Responses to COVID-19

August

• Considerations for Using Masks (August 7, 2020) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides guidelines in Spanish for how to wear a mask and who should use a mask to slow the spread of COVID-19. 
• 101 Free Resources for Home-Schooling During COVID Crisis (July 28, 2020) — With more schools becoming remote or part-time this fall, many parents now have to home-school their children. This article lists 101 free resources to support parents during this challenging time. 
• Machu Picchu Virtual Tour — This site lets you explore the amazing sites of Peru’s Machu Picchu from your own home. Explore the Inca citadel, with descriptions and guides in English. 
• Advice from UC Davis Experts to Calm the Anxieties of Back-to-School During COVID-19 (July 31, 2020) — Experts from the University of California, Davis explain how to look for physical anxiety symptoms, how to cope with anxiety, and techniques to relieve anxiety about taking classes online in the fall. 
• 20 Creative Activities For Kids To Do At Home During COVID-19 (July 21, 2020) — This article lists 20 creative activities for children to do at home that encourage them to use their imaginations, burn off some energy, and work through different emotions during this hectic time. 
• How Do You Tell a Child Bad News? (July 8, 2020) — UNICEF provides tips in Spanish to support parents, caregivers, health professionals, and social workers in the difficult task of talking to children about the death or illness of a loved one. 
• Stronger Together 2020 — The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) launched a Caribbean communication campaign to promote mental wellbeing and positive coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 hurricane season. Access an illustrated booklet, social media cards and messages, and listen to jingles for mental health and psychosocial support. 
• How to Take Care of Yourself During Stressful Times — Voices of Youth provides tips to take care of yourself and your relationships and tackle your problems during stressful times.  
• Helping Kids Deal with Back-to-School Anxiety (August 13, 2020) — This article presents strategies for parents and teachers to reduce back-to-school anxiety and transition their children and students from being at home to having more structured schooling.

July

• COVID-19 Resources (July 16, 2020) – The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University provides a list of international and national helpful resources and links relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These include health care information, food insecurity resources, domestic violence, and a number of other topics.  
• At-Home Learning Resources for the COVID-19 Outbreak (July 16, 2020) – This article outlines a daily routine plan to keep your children focused, productive, and positive during this COVID-19 pandemic.  
• Mood-Boosting Tips for Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic (June 24, 2020) – Social distancing for an extended amount of time can take a toll on your emotional health. This article supplies ways to boost the entire family’s mood during this challenging period. (Read in Spanish)   
• Hand Sanitizers: Keep Children Safe from Poisoning Risk (July 23, 2020) – Hand sanitizer is the best alternative when soap and water are not available for keeping your hands clean. Learn more about the chemicals used to make sanitizer and how to keep your children safe when using it. (Read in Spanish).
• If You Can’t Get to a National Park, Appreciate Their Beauty with These 11 Photos (July 4, 2020) – The pandemic has put traveling at a halt, but you can still appreciate the beauty of America’s national treasures through these breathtaking images.  
• Window Swap – This website lets you escape your quarantine by gazing out strangers' windows from across the globe. Take a peek into Italy, Japan, Brazil, and more places from the safety of your home!  
• App Lets You Destress By Screaming Into Icelandic Wilderness (July 17, 2020) – 2020 has been a challenging and stressful year for everyone. Now you can release some frustrations by letting out your screams into the Icelandic wilderness. Through this web app, record your scream and through the use of speakers, it will be released into Iceland's beautiful, wide-open spaces.   
• How to Vacation Safely During Coronavirus This Summer (July 18, 2020) – This article provides you with locations and activities ranging from least risk to high risk in maintaining safety measures to keep in mind if you are planning a getaway.   
• COVID-19 Activity Book – An activity book for children created by Child Life specialists at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center (Available in Spanish)    
• Track COVID-19 Risk in Your U.S. County with Harvard's Assessment Map (July 1, 2020) – This map lets you track the three levels of COVID-19 risk in your country (U.S only).  
• Enduring Stress (July 18, 2020) – This article written in Spanish by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gives you advice and provides resources about how to manage fear, stress, and anxiety in a healthy manner during this global pandemic.  
• Mayo Clinic Consumer Health Tips: Debunking COVID-19 Myths (July 15, 2020) – There is misleading information about possible cures and treatments for preventing and treating COVID-19. This article written in Spanish by the Mayo Clinic provides you with recently updated and scientifically fact-checked COVID-19 information and debunks a list of common myths claiming to effectively fight off the virus.   
• School Decision-Making Tool for Parents, Caregivers, and Guardians (July 23, 2020) – This article written in Spanish by the CDC provides parents, tutors, and guardians with important information to take into consideration, including the risks and benefits of having in-person or virtual learning for their children when the new school year begins.  
• COVID-19: How Much Protection do Face Masks Offer? (July 17, 2020) – This article answers questions you may have about how crucial the role of face masks is in helping to slow down the spread of COVID-19. 

​June

• Your Child's Mental Health During COVID-19 School Returns (June 16, 2020) – Schools are already beginning to plan the potential return of in-person learning. UNICEF provides tips about how to help your children navigate some of the complicated emotions they may be facing with going back to school. 
• Find Free Meals For Kids – Kids too young for school can still receive meals from schools delivering food during the pandemic. Find a free meals location in your community today using the Free Meals Finder online map (For U.S. only).  
• Updated: Free Resources for Schools During COVID-19 Outbreak (June 11, 2020) – A list of free or discounted educational resources for parents and educators to allow learning to continue at home despite setbacks as a result of COVID-19.  
• COVID-19: How Much Protection do Face Masks Offer? (May 28, 2020) – This article from the Mayo Clinic answers questions you may have about different types of face masks and their proper safety use.  
• COVID-19 Wellness Resource Guide (June 8, 2020) – The Alexandria, Virginia Government lists helpful resources and tools for managing stress and anxiety during the ongoing pandemic. 
• Your COVID-19 Summer Safety Guide (May 21, 2020) – The change in warmer weather is drawing people outdoors. This article from Everyday Health answers questions you may have about following proper safety measures while participating in outdoor activities. 
• Coronavirus: How To Make Your Own Face Mask (June 4, 2020) – Despite many cities easing their lockdown measures, in many places wearing a mask is still mandatory. Here is a step-by-step guide with images explaining how to make your own mask to stay safe. 
• Breathing Through COVID-19 – This article provides a list of breathing exercises to follow in order to help reduce and manage your anxiety during this health crisis. The page details every step with images and addresses questions about the benefits of each exercise. 
• COVID-19 Tips for Keeping Kids Safe During This Summer (June 18, 2020) – Fun can still happen this summer while staying safe. This article answers helpful questions parents may have on how to keep their little ones safe.  
• Teens & COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities During the Outbreak (June 5, 2020) – Due to the pandemic, important experiences for teenagers such as graduations, proms, and school athletic events have been postponed or canceled. Here are a few ways you can help your teen through this difficult time (Read in Spanish). 
• Educational Resources Available During COVID-19 – This article in Spanish provides teachers, students, parents, and guardians with age- and grade-appropriate educational resources. 
• Working and Learning at Home During the COVID-19 Outbreak (June 15, 2020) – This article written in Spanish provides parents with helpful information and answers questions about children adapting to an at-home learning environment.  
• Use a Face Fabric Covering to Help Slow COVID-19 Propagation (May 22, 2020) – This article in Spanish by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information about the importance of wearing face masks in public, how to use your mask safely, and how to properly clean it. 

May

• Communities, Schools, Workplaces, and Events (May 19, 2020) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has compiled a list of resources available in several languages that provides information on safety guidelines to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 as our communities, schools, workplaces, and events re-open and continue again. (Read in Spanish)
• FIFA, European Commission, and World Health Organization (WHO) Launch #SafeHome Campaign to Support Those at Risk From Domestic Violence (May 26, 2020) – Domestic abuse reports have spiked in recent weeks as people are staying home in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. FIFA, the European Commission, and the WHO have launched a campaign and compiled resources to support victims of domestic abuse throughout the pandemic lockdown.  
• Coronavirus Lockdown is Starting to End. Here's How Lifting Quarantine Will Work (May 4, 2020) As states start to lift lockdown restriction, this article explains and outlines the different four phases for slowly reopening. 
• Seven things Not to Do When Coronavirus Quarantine and Lockdown End (May 11, 2020) – A list of seven restrictions you should still continue to follow despite COVID-19 lockdowns coming to an end. 
• Did Your Gym Reopen? How to Protect Yourself From the Coronavirus While Working Out (May 20, 2020) – A list of suggestions about the safety precautions to follow when returning to fitness studios and gyms in a careful manner 
• Category: About COVID-19: Prevention, Symptoms, Testing (Updated May 4, 2020) – An informational document created by the Michigan government answering over 30 questions in detail ranging from topics such as preventing COVID-19, associated symptoms, and testing locations.
• Getting to the Hospital During a Pandemic (Updated May 7, 2020) – During the COVID-19 era, routine medical appointments are changing up their usual routines, but CNN Health provides you with the steps you should take in order to safely attend those routine appointments.
• Visiting Parks and Recreational Facilities (May 19, 2020) – The CDC provides you with a list of important do’s and don’ts on how to keep you and your loved ones safe while visiting open spaces. 
• Hidden Worlds of the National Parks – Travel to and discover hidden worlds right from the safe comfort of your home. Through breathtaking captured footage and videos, you can explore five different parks located in Hawaii, Alaska, Utah, Florida, and New Mexico and the flora and fauna that thrive there.
  • Virtual Yosemite Tour – Go Camping at Yosemite National Park in California from inside your house! Take a groundbreaking interactive tour of one of the U.S.’s most popular and spectacular natural environments. 
  • Parques Nacionales de Colombia – Explore five virtual dynamic tours of Colombia's national parks, including the gorgeous natural and cultural attractions of Sierra de la Macarena, Cueva de los Guácharos, Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo, Tayrona, and Old Providence Mac Bean Lagoon (in Spanish). 

April

• Understanding Changing Guidance on Mask Use (April 27, 2020) -- Written by Johns Hopkins University, this article covers proper mask-use guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and addresses questions and concerns about homemade masks and their effectiveness.
• Tips For Quarantined Parents in the Times of COVID-19 (April 2020) – The American Psychological Association (APA) has gathered a list of helpful resources for parents to help explain the pandemic to their children, to navigate their emotions, and to keep them entertained and busy. 
• Graduating in a Pandemic: Advice for the Anxious Post-College Job Search (April 16, 2020) – As graduation season approaches, newly college grads are uncertain about their professional futures. This article shares their sentiments and provides them with advice from experts on how to navigate this uncertain process during this time. 
• Finding Local Mental Health Resources During the COVID-19 Crisis (April 6, 2020) – This informational article provides specific resources for seeking mental health help, including hotline numbers and websites.
• How to Make Your Own Face Covering (April 3, 2020) - The U.S. Surgeon General shares ways to create your own face covering in a few easy steps.
• Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19 (April 13) - A comprehensive guide from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about cloth face masks, including instructions on how to make them from home.
• ASL Video Series: Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19 (April 11, 2020) - A video from the CDC featuring guidelines in American Sign Language. 
• Mapping the Worldwide Spread of the Coronavirus - Updated each day showing the number of worldwide cases from The Washington Post.
• Twelve Free Things to Watch, Listen to, and Learn in Quarantine - (April 8, 2020) – The Atlantic provides you with a list of free internet resources to help you relax and wind down on a tight budget during this pandemic lockdown.
• Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak - A guide from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on maintaining behavioral health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• COVID-19 and Children’s Rights - A report from Human Rights Watch that outlines the human rights risks to children regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
• United Nations FAQs on Responses to COVID-19 (Read it in Spanish).
• Visit the Disaster Distress Helpline online, call 1-800-985-5990, or text TalkWithUs to 66746 if you are experiencing emotional distress.
• Visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline online, call 1-800-799-7233, or TTY 1-800-787-3224 if you are experiencing domestic violence or seeking resources or information.
• Novel Coronavirus - An overview of COVID-19’s potential effects on human lives, livelihoods, and global food supply chains from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
• Stop Shaking Hands. Do This Instead (April 17, 2020) - An article from CNN Travel on safe alternatives to hand-shaking from around the world. 
• Khan Academy - Free online educational resources for learners, parents, and teachers. 
• "Some Good News" - A new YouTube series from John Krasinski that highlights positive news stories from around the world.
• DIY Household Cleaners That Work if You’re Short on Supplies (April 16, 2020) - From The Washington Post.
• Tips for Staying Healthy During Home Quarantine - From Delaware State University.
• Mental Health And COVID-19 - Mental health information and support during disease outbreaks from Mental Health America.
• Mobile Apps for Guided Meditation and Mindfulness:
• Headspace (free and subscription content) 
• Intimind (Spanish language, free and subscription content) 
• Calm (free and subscription content) 
• Simple Habit (subscription content)

March

• World Health Organization (WHO) Coronavirus Resource Page - The WHO’s official page featuring up-to-date information on prevention, travel advice, and more. (WHO Guidelines in Spanish) 
• Have Questions About COVID-19? Message the WHO on WhatsApp for Answers. 
• How to Protect Yourself (March 18, 2020) - A guide by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that outlines how COVID-19 is transmitted and how to protect yourself and those around you.  
• What To Do if You are Sick (March 16, 2020) - A guide by the CDC that outlines how you can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you believe you are sick.  
• Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations (March 6, 2020) - Guidelines from the CDC on how to effectively clean and sanitize your environment. 
• Correct Technique to Wash Your Hands for Proper Disinfection - A tutorial on the most effective way to wash your hands. 
• Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): What Parents Should Know - A guide from UNICEF outlining how families and children can be affected by the coronavirus and how they should protect themselves. 
• How to Protect and Prepare Yourself for the Coronavirus (in Spanish) (March 20, 2020) - A guide from The New York Times on how to protect yourself and your community from the coronavirus. 
• Why Outbreaks Like Coronavirus Spread Exponentially, and How to “Flatten the Curve” (March 14, 2020) - The Washington Post uses a simulation to illustrate how diseases like coronavirus spread and the importance of social distancing to slow outbreaks. 
• Self-Isolation Information - Guidelines from Yale Health on how to self-isolate if you may have been exposed to illness. 
• Know the Difference: Self-monitoring, Self-isolation, and Isolation for COVID-19 (March 23, 2020) - Comprehensive information from the Government of Canada on terms you should know during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Protect Yourself Financially from the Impact of the Coronavirus (March 16, 2020) - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides advice on how to cope with financial challenges relating to the coronavirus pandemic, including loss of income, difficulty paying bills, and avoiding potential scams.  
• Find Your Local Food Bank - Food insecurity is becoming a major challenge for many households during the coronavirus pandemic. Residents of the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) can use this database from Feeding America to find their nearest food bank. 
• Psychology Experts Share Their Tips for Safeguarding Your Mental Health During Quarantine (March 20, 2020) - Social distancing and isolation during quarantine can sometimes strain mental and emotional health. CNBC reports on measures governments, employers, and individuals can take to ease the mental and emotional strain some people experience during quarantine and isolation. 
• 100 Things to Do While Stuck Inside Due to a Pandemic (March 16, 2020) - Suggestions from USA Today on how to keep yourself and your family occupied while self-quarantined at home.  
• 8 Tips To Make Working From Home Work For You (March 15, 2020) - Advice from National Public Radio (NPR) on how to stay productive while working remotely.  
• Quédate en Casa - Have fun at home by dancing along to “Quédate en Casa” ("Stay Home" in English), a new song from Ariel de Cuba that has exploded in online popularity as an anthem and dance to promote self-isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.