The American Academy of Pediatrics provides helpful resources and tips for families to have these important conversations.

Racism is harmful to our communities.

The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) shares the University’s commitment to addressing the injustice of racism and promoting equity and inclusion for all.  

Racism can create toxic stress in children, teens and families that negatively affects their health and development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

During these stressful and tumultuous times, families may struggle with how to discuss the issues of race and discrimination with their children.

AAP and HealthyChildren.org, the official parenting website of the AAP, provide the following resources and tips to help your family determine what is age and developmentally appropriate for your child:

• American Academy of Pediatrics Condemns Racism, Offers Advice for Families for How to Talk to Their Children
  
• Talking to Children About Racial Bias
  
• Talking to Children About Racism: The Time is Now
  
• Childhood Exposure to Violence
  
• Talking to Children About Tragedies & Other News Events

• How to Help Children Build Resilience in Uncertain Times
  
• Teaching Children Cultural and Racial Pride

• Recommended Reading: Books to Build Character and Teach Your Child Important Values
  
• AAP’s Policy Statement on Racism and Its Impact on Child and Adolescent Health  

Meals, financial help, health tips, condition-specific information, learning tools and more to support families of children with special healthcare needs.

Parents and caregivers have a lot to juggle as they care for a child with special healthcare needs amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

The uncertainty and required social distancing can pose unique challenges, questions and concerns.

The University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC)’s team of professionals is here to help.

We’ve compiled a list of resources to help families find the right support: https://dscc.uic.edu/browse-resources/covid-resources/.

The list includes places offering free meals, utility assistance, free Wi-Fi, health tips, educational websites, activities during social distancing and condition-specific information.

Resources are also broken down by our regional office locations.

We’ll continue to update this list as new resources become available. Please check back often for the latest information.

If you have a resource to add to our list, please email us at dscc@uic.edu.

State Board shares resources for children, families and educators.

In response to the mass shooting in Las Vegas, the Illinois State Board of Education has compiled a list of resources for parents and educators to help children and youth handle traumatic events. The list was shared in a recent Weekly Message from State Superintendent Tony Smith, Ph.D.:

• Coping with Traumatic Events: Resources for Children, Parents, Educators, and Other Professionals from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do from the National Institute of Mental Health
• Helping Kids After a Shooting from the American School Counselor Association
• Resources from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
• Talking to Children About Tragedies & Other News Events from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Additional resources from the State Board on a variety of topics are available at https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Climate-and-Culture.aspx.