HFA and COVID-19

A message from Kathleen Strader, National Director of Healthy Families America

For many of us, these are unprecedented times. We are charting the course together, and our priority remains, helping you do your best work in supporting families and young children. We continue to be available to you as we always have, via phone or email.

We know these times are adding stress to everyone’s lives, and we expect this to continue at least for the next few weeks. We understand the impact of compounded stress on the lives of families. We know it can be difficult to remember to keep our children at the center when dealing with the issues we as adults must contend with, whether associated with job changes, access to child care, taking care of a sick family member, access to basic needs and household items, etc.. Stress experienced by parents impacts children. Self-regulation and co-regulation are important always and certainly in times such as we find ourselves now. Please be checking in with your staff and with your families regularly. Offer opportunities for bringing joy, laughter and smiles to interactions between staff, with parents, and between parents and their children. With care and compassion for others, we will weather this together.