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Mar 16, 20206 min read

COVID-19 Resources For First Responders

Updated: Mar 23, 2020


Updated 3/23/20 @ 1:00 PM

COVID-19 Specific Information

Center for Disease Control- Updated information about the virus; what you need to know; individual, family, and community resources Texas Department of Health & Human Services- Texas specific information on the COVID-19 virus; symptoms and testing; prevention; first responder and school information


First Responder Specific Information


Stress and Anxiety Reduction Resources

Crisis Hotlines

  • Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or​ text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800 -846-8517)

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

  • National Substance Use and Disorder Issues Referral and Treatment Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

  • Fire/EMS Helpline: 1-888-731-FIRE (3473)

  • Safe Call Now for First Responders: 206 459-3020

  • CopLine: 800-267-5463

  • Serve & Protect: www.serveprotect.org/ or call 615-373-8000 for the crisis line

  • Teen Life Line phone or text: 602-248-TEEN (8336)

  • Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 (press 1)

  • The Trevor Project (LGBTQ suicide help): 866-488-7386 (text 202-304-1200 or Trevor Project online chat)

Phone Apps

  • ASK & Prevent Suicide – Easy steps to preventing suicide (iTunes) (Google Play)

  • Breathe2Relax– Stress management tools and exercises (iTunes) (Google Play)

  • Self-help Anxiety Management – Helps people manage anxiety (iTunes) (Google Play)

  • Suicide Safer Home – Practical tips for parents and caregivers (iTunes) (Google Play)

  • Texas Veterans – Access local, state and national resources (iTunes) (Google Play)

  • Virtual Hope Box – Stores personal messages, information and pictures to promote mental wellness and crisis support (iTunes) (Google Play)

Education Resources (Free & Low Cost)

  • Book Creator App:

Book Creator is a simple way for your students to make their own ebooks.  This platform can be used to create for any subject across any grade level. The resources hub gives you a range of lesson ideas, or create your own assignment that lets your students get creative to demonstrate their knowledge!  There is also a list of ways that Book Creator can help with remote learning on the website.

Free Services Offered: Premium feature – real-time collaboration on books

How to utilize: Create an account, start the collaboration trial, and fill out a short form to get access to this feature.

  • CommonLit:

CommonLit is a nonprofit education technology organization working to support all students with reading, writing, communication, and problem-solving skills.  The CommonLit Literacy Midel is built on a foundation of over 2,000 high-quality free reading passages for grades 3-12, complimented by aligned interim assessments, growth oriented goals, and expert led teacher development.  Teachers can assign Mini Units (short, self-paced thematic units for grades 5-12) and Text Sets (relevant reading passages from a variety of genres).

Free Services Offered: Free account access for parents, teachers, school/district leaders can pursue free virtual training and digital resource packs to support contingency plans.

  • Elementari:

Elementari engages students to write their own story, working at their own pace.  The platform provides illustrations to inspire stories, develop analytical thinking, and provide a source of pride for students in their personal writing and coding projects.  Elementari is used around the world for writing in students native language and for second language learning. Teachers can review and give feedback on students’ stories remotely.

Free Services Offered: Free Access to the Entire Platform

How to utilize: Fill out this form to receive access.

  • Epic!:

Epic! is the leading digital library for kids 12 and under, and it is free for educators.  With Epic! you instantly get access to 35,000 of the best books, learning videos, quizzes, & more.  The books have a feature that will read aloud the story to your students.

Free Services Offered: 30 Day Free Trial for Parents; Always Free for Teachers

  • Prodigy:

Prodigy is an engaging, curriculum-aligned math platform for students and teachers from 1st – 8th grade.  The platform encourages self-paced math practice for both in and out of school that is leveled based on your students progress.  Prodigy meets ESSA Tier 3 in partnership with John Hopkins University. Your students can work through topics based on their levels or you can assign specific skills for them to complete; all while they think they are playing a game!  State test prep is also available to assign.

Free Services Offered: Always Free

  • Seterra:

Seterra is the ultimate map quiz site.  You can use already created geography and science quizzes to review learned information.  Through these quizzes you can explore the world and learn about its countries, capitals, cities, rivers, lakes, and more.  With your free account you can create custom quizzes, add custom locations to quizzes, and use a public leaderboard.

  • Age of Learning – ABCmouse, Adventure Academy, ReadingIQ:

ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy is a comprehensive, research-validated curriculum for preschool through second grade, available on all major digital platforms and used by tens of millions of children to date.  Adventure Academy is a first-of-its-kind educational massive multiplayer online game, serving elementary and middle-school aged children with thousands of learning activities in a fun and safe virtual world. ReadingIQ is a digital library and literacy platform for children 12 and under designed by reading experts to improve literacy skills, with many thousands of expert-curated books from leading publishers.

Free Services Offered: Free 30 Day Trial

  • BreakoutEDU:

Breakout EDU is an immersive learning games platform that brings the challenge of an escape room to the classroom.  All Breakout EDU games require players to use critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication. The purchase of each Breakout EDU kit includes a unique collection of boxes, re-settable locks, and access to a digital platform with over 1,500 games.

Free Services Offered: A collection of digital games that students (all grade levels) can play.

How to utilize: Simply visit the website and choose the game you want to play!

  • Scholastic Learn at Home:

Even when schools are closed, you can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys.  Every day includes four separate learning experiences, each build around a thrilling, meaningful story or video.  Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers. Just find your grade level and let the learning begin!  This resource offers 5 days of cross-curricular journeys for the following age groups: Pre-K and K, Grades 1 and 2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6+.

Free Services Offered: Full access for 5 days worth of activities for each age range

How to utilize: Visit the website to choose your grade level.  The directions will walk you through creating any necessary free accounts.

Other General Free Education Sites:

Literacy Planet - This English learning tool includes every literacy aspect: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Mangahigh For Home - Our maths learning tool for home is fully curriculum aligned and uses gamification to keep maths fun and engaging for students. It can be a much needed change of pace for students and keeps them motivated to learn maths. The platform has a reports feature so you can also track your child’s progress in realtime.

Muzzy - The BBC created this video based tool for learning several different languages. They offer animated, story-based videos that teach children English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese and Korean.

Fiction Express - This tool modernizes reading books by connecting children to professional authors and giving the choice of the direction of the story to the children.

Twinkl - This website offers tons of free offline resources for different subjects and fun activities to do in breaks.

Physics Central - This organisation has created a historically accurate physics comic book about Nicholas Tesla. It’s a fun way to get your child interested in physics.

Physics Classroom - On this website you can find tons of online and offline resources surrounding physics. From handouts to video’s and interactive concept builders, there is sure to be something that your child will like.

Other Resources

Comcast offering ‘Internet Essentials’ package free for low-income customers for 60 days: Comcast announced it will be increasing speeds for the Internet Essentials program, and making the program free to new low-income customers for two months, amid the coronavirus outbreak.  To sign up, visit their webpage.

Small Business Resources

The SBA launched www.sba.gov/coronavirus to provide information about resources small businesses can access now to navigate their business through the COVID-19 pandemic.

This includes financing – working capital, microloans, express loans and lines of credit – and counseling services through the SBA Resource Partner Network to help businesses navigate preparedness plans.

Since this is a constantly evolving situation, stay informed with updates from the SBA:

Visit www.sba.gov/coronavirus for guidance and resources. Check www.sba.gov/disaster for updates specific to SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Follow us on Twitter at @SBAgov Subscribe to email updates Contact your local SBA office

Financial Assistance

Nonprofit Resources

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