March 16 Coronavirus Update

Children's Health Council

March 16, 2020, News

Dear Parents, Clients and Friends of CHC,

The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly and we want to keep you informed so you can make plans for your family. As you know, earlier today six Bay Area counties issued Shelter-In-Place orders: Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin, Alameda and Contra Costa. You can access details about this order here. As a result, CHC’s Palo Alto, Ravenswood and South Bay offices will close at midnight on March 16. Most mental health services will be addressed via telehealth.

CHC is still here for you and our services remain available. Please continue to call us if you need to arrange appointments. Most mental health services will be addressed via telehealth. Urgent needs that require in-person communication and evaluation will be addressed in person by individual therapists.

REMINDERS

SCHOOLS

Both Sand Hill School and EBC Schools have gone to a distance-learning model with a possible return to school on April 7, depending on the situation. Chief Schools Officer Chris Harris and Head of EBC Schools Jody Miller and their teams continue to evaluate the situation.

CLINICAL SERVICES

Most of our clinical services have moved to telehealth where appropriate and in compliance with public health measures and practices. Individual clinicians and our care team are making arrangements with existing clients to provide telehealth options where appropriate. We understand that the community’s mental health needs remain the same and often increase in times like these. As such, CHC continues to accept new referrals. We are here to support you and your family. Please reach out to us for any need at careteam@chconline.org. Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Ramsey Khasho and his leadership team continue to monitor the situation.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Community Education classes will be going to webinars when possible. Details will be available in the Community Ed Weekly that goes out each week as well as on Eventbrite.

A SPECIAL MESSAGE

Please familiarize yourself with guidelines for how to stay safe, and please know that CHC is here for you during this unsettling time. See our previous communication about the coronavirus and follow us on Facebook for tips on how to talk to kids about COVID-19, ideas for entertaining kids at home and more.

Best wishes to all,
Dr. Rosalie Whitlock and The Executive Team at CHC
 

A Reminder: Widespread reporting and potential misinformation about Coronavirus can be anxiety-provoking for many, but especially for children/teens and those who struggle with anxiety. It’s important to have developmentally-appropriate conversations utilizing facts with your child/teen about the coronavirus and minimize sensationalized, long-term media exposure. The experts at CHC support the field’s best-practices and talking points recently published by Child Mind Institute (CMI) on talking to kids about Coronavirus. If you need further consultation about how to best speak with your child or have concerns regarding your child’s anxiety, please contact our Care Team for a free 30-minute consultation with one of our providers.
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