For Families

COVID-19 can, and has impacted children and families in multiple ways. Many resources have been developed based on best practice models to help mitigate the stress and challenges on children and families associated with the pandemic. 

Resources for Families

• Santa Barbara County Public Health Department - Child Care and School Information

• Santa Barbara County Mask Campaign - Masked and Mighty

• California for All – Help for Families

• For information of quality child care in Santa Barbara go to Santa Barbara County Quality Counts.

• First 5 California’s Be Safe and Healthy with Potter the Otter COVID-19 Safety Guidebook illustrates quick tips for parents and caregivers to talk to children about wearing masks, outdoor play, and hand washing. (Click here to access the guidebook in various languages)

• The new Sesame Workshop back-to-school PSA featuring Elmo and his dad Louie can be found in English here and in Spanish here. 

  • Sesame Street: Back to School with Elmo PSA

  • Sesame Street: Wear a Mask with Oscar PSA

  • Sesame Street: Healthy Habits with Grover PSA

• Talking with Children About COVID-19 (CDC)

• Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19 (National Association of School Psychologists) Cómo ayudar a los niños a lidiar con los cambios provocados por laCOVID-19 (PDF, Spanish)

• COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit Ensuring Children and Young People’s Social, Emotional, and Mental Well-being (CDC) Resources by age group:

  • Early Childhood (0-5y)

  • Childhood (6-12y)

  • Adolescence (13-17y)

  • Young Adulthood (18-24y)

• Keep Children Healthy during the COVID-19 Pandemic Ways to Promote Children’s Wellbeing (CDC)

• Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19 in Children Ways to Protect Children from getting and spreading COVID-19 (CDC)

• COVID-19 in Children and Teens Information for parents and caregivers about COVID-19 in children and teens (CDC)

• Social Story

• Bright Horizons

• Healthy Children

Help Finding Child Care

• If you are a parent/guardian and need help finding child care: Contact Children’s Resource and Referral (805) 925-7071.

• If you are a County of Santa Barbara employee: Contact Sharol Viker at First 5 Santa Barbara County sviker@First5SBC.org.

• If you need help paying for child care: Contact Children’s Resource and Referral (805) 925-7071 or Santa Barbara County Education Office (805) 964-4710  x 4474 or rlopezheredia@sbceo.org

Spread the Word About the Emergency Child Care Website

Let your friends and child care provider know about this website by downloading and distributing this English/Spanish flyer.