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April 1, 2020–SCAN of Northern Virginia today announced it has received a $10,000 grant from AT&T that will support its work this April, during Child Abuse Prevention Month. As SCAN’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month Sponsor, AT&T is providing critical funding and helping to raise awareness at a pivotal moment for the children of Northern Virginia. In addition to dozens of resources that will be available on SCAN’s website and social media channels, SCAN and AT&T are inviting community members to raise awareness of child abuse prevention by participating in Wear Blue Day on Friday, April 3rd. AT&T has rolled out individuals to help parents, children and educators during this pandemic, including a Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund that helps organizations like Khan Academy improve and expand online learning resources to meet the growing demand from parents, teachers and students; 60 days of free access and unlimited usage of Caribu, a video-calling application that allows family members to read, draw, and play games with one another while at different locations; and TIME for Kids will remove their paywall through the end of the school year, digitize their product and launch a library of digital magazines that would become available to everyone.

Without Violence Find Help (Food assistance, help paying bills, and other free or reduced cost programs, including new programs for the COVID-19 pandemic) APS WhatsApp en Español — email dulce.carrillo@apsva.us with the name, school and cell phone number of the person to be added. ’s Coping with COVID-19 Fear and Uncertainty ChildTrend’s Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Wellbeing during the COVID-19 Pandemic Fairfax Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) offers MyStrength web and mobile tools to help parents with self care, wellbeing and more. Loudoun County School Nutrition Services (SNS) is expanding and extending free meal service in our school communities from March 16 to March 20 and March 23 to March 27 at schools and other designated locations. Packaged breakfast and lunch will be served at the same time Salvation Army provides curbside groceries in Fairfax County – Learn more During this difficult time so many families are suffering as COVID19 has impacted daily wagers and people who live their lives pay check to pay check.

Over the past week I have been working closely with our staff and board to transition our team to work remotely, rearrange schedules, and think of the best ways to support children and families during an unprecedented time of isolation and anxiety. Though our Family Programs have been canceled through the end of the month, our program staff will be communicating with families via email and text, and sharing resources online as often as possible. Though CASA Volunteers will not make in-person visits with their children, they will continue working on cases and begin using videoconferencing tools like FaceTime to stay in touch with children and caregivers. As I’ve worked with our team over the past few days, I am reminded that in times like these we see how committed so many in our community are to making the best (sometimes difficult) decisions for children and families.

On February 24th, SCAN, Formed Families Forward, and ARC of Loudoun will host a 2-hour workshop for parents and families of children with special needs. Come battle the mid-year blues with Yolonda Thompson, Family Program Manager of SCAN Family Programs and Kelly Henderson, Ph. D., Executive Director of Formed Families Forward. This winter workshop will help refresh your parenting and problem-solving tool kit with strategies to build resiliency and address mid-school year challenges. We offer training and support to foster, adoptive and kinship families raising children and youth with special needs.