The Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support (formerly RCASA) has complied a resource guide with information that may be useful to parents and families in the district. The guide includes supports like tips on talking to children about the COVID-19 outbreak, tools for managing stress and anxiety during a crisis, guidance on how to access mental health and substance use disorder treatment, information on virtual AA/NA meetings and family support groups, and much more! The guide is being updated as the resources available change, so please check the document regularly. The resource guide can be found on the Reading Coalition website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed. Please contact Samantha Salkin, Outreach Coordinator, Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support at ssalkin@ci.reading.ma.us with any questions.

Also, Operation Parent is hosting a webinar this Thursday April 2^nd at 2PM on tools to help teenagers cope with anxiety during COVID-19. The webinar is free, but registration is required. The webinar description is below and you can register for the event here.

“Feeling stressed and anxious during this unusual time of school closing, social distancing and canceled school events? Not sure what to say or how to help your teen cope? You are not alone. Join us as Dr. Tanya Stockhammer, Clinical Psychologist, will explain the positives and unhelpful components of anxiety, what happens to our teens during high anxiety, tips to help with discussions about the crisis and how to help them deal with their emotions. Dr. Stockhammer is a clinical psychologist specializing in child, adolescent and pediatric psychology and is co-owner of StrongMinds. Her clinical specialty areas include anxiety disorders (including OCD) in youth of all ages, teenage adjustment issues, and parenting challenges (including parenting children with complex behavioral or health issues).”