Dear Northsiders,

As we monitor and respond to the novel coronavirus, we would like to thank all of you for your support during this trying time. We remain committed to bringing high quality services to our 4,000 children and families, who are even more vulnerable during this time of social distancing and quarantine. 

Northside continues to follow the New York City’s mandate regarding social distancing, and have closed our in-person educational and enrichment programming. The Administrative, IT, and Fiscal departments will remain operational and most work will be done remotely/ off-site until further notice. Northside will be open only to essential staff in order to abide by the PAUSE, Policies Assurance Uniform Safety for Everyone, executive order given by Governor Cuomo.

Please see the following updates on our various programs:

Programmatic Updates

• Northside Therapeutic Early Childhood Center, Day School, Early Head Start, and Head Start program: The Northside Therapeutic Early Childhood Center, Day School, Early Head Start, and Head Start programs continue to be closed until further notice. Northside is adhering to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s announcement on Sunday, March 15 requiring New York City Schools to close on Monday, March 16 as the city deals with the spread of the novel coronavirus. Northside hopes to be part of the first attempt to restart schools on Monday, April 20. However, we will wait for further notice from the New York City Mayor and/or Department of Education. Please ensure that you are in communication with your supervisor as work is still occurring via remote/distance learning.
• Early Intervention: Early Intervention continues to work with families offsite and remotely.
• REACH After School and One-on-One Tutoring programs: The REACH After School and One-on-One Tutoring programs are closed until further notice. We are working to provide remote tutoring sessions and enrichment activities.
• Administration for Children’s Services Preventive Services, Home-Based Crisis Intervention, and Juvenile Justice Programs: The Administration for Children’s Services Preventive Services, Home-Based Crisis Intervention, and Juvenile Justice Programs are open and meeting with clients remotely until further notice. Social workers will continue to conduct home visits via remote sessions.
• Northside Mental Health Clinic and Clinic in School programs: The Northside Mental Health Clinic and Clinic in School programs will continue to treat clients and operate remotely via Telemental Health until further notice.
• Administrative, IT, and Fiscal departments: The Administrative, IT, and Fiscal departments will remain operational and most work will be done remotely/ off-site until further notice. Northside will be open only to essential staff in order to abide by the PAUSE, Policies Assurance Uniform Safety for Everyone, executive order given by Governor Cuomo.

Additional Resources

We have compiled a list of resources to help our community navigate the COVID-19 pandemic:

Northside Staff

EAP: We understand that these can be stressful times for all of us. Please do not hesitate to seek help from our EAP, Employee Assistance Program, provider Integrated Behavior Health if you would like to speak to a counselor, need medical, or other resources.  They can be reached at 1-800-386-7055.

Children and Families

We are working directly with families to connect them to resources such as internet, food, and enrichment activities for children who are at home. Please see and share, if applicable, the following links to the various websites below and the attached document.

• Breakfast and lunch meals are available for pickup outside schools from 7:30am-1:30pm. Additionally please look out for messages from the Department of Education’s website (schools.nyc.gov).
• Please also refer to https://www.cdc.gov for more information on how to safe and more information on COVID-19.
• Scholastic is offering free resources for children who are at home, please be productive with your children so that they do not miss their much- needed education: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html.
• Additionally, The Food Bank for NYC is providing emergency food at nearby soup kitchens and food pantries. Please refer to this link for help: https://www.foodbanknyc.org/get-help/
• If a student does not have internet access for online classes here are a list of companies offering free or reduced priced internet access
  • Spectrum
    
  • Comcast
  • Altice USA
  • AT&T
• Grab & Go Breakfast and Lunch are available at all DOE schools for the remainder of this week. Please continue to look out for messages from the Department of Education’s website: www.schools.nyc.gov for updates on remote learning access and meals.
• There are also community restaurants providing free meals for children and families. Please call your local community restaurants to see if they are providing meals.

Here’s a list of some fun, educational, and safe websites for children to visit and explore:

• www.switcheroozoo.com
• www.funbrain.com
• www.kids.nationalgeographic.com
• www.pbs.org
• www.reading.ecb.org
• www.starfall.com
• www.seusville.com
• www.storylineonline.net
• www.abcya.com
• www.highlightkids.com
• www.classroommagazines.scholastic.com

Please visit the following websites for more information on how to stop the spread of COVID-19:

• New York City Department of Health
• New York State Department of Mental Health and Hygiene
• New York City Department of Education

Please know that we will continue supporting our children and families. We are confident that we will overcome this crisis with grace and strength.

Be well,

Thelma Dye, Ph.D.

The Hilde L. Mosse Executive Director & CEO