Talking With Your Kids About Covid-19

By Raquel Daniels GRANDcares Site Coordinator, Larimer County

During this month as multiple changes have been enacted in various states and cities for the health and safety of everyone, kids may be scratching their heads wondering what is going on?

As youth, many children are probably not watching the news similar to how adults would do to be informed but they are however watching YOU. Children are paying attention to their parents, their guardians and other adults in how they are adapting to this change. Observing changes in behavior as well as changes in routine may have children puzzled. Many children have started asking questions with a very common one being “why?” Why can’t I go over to my friend’s house, why can’t I go to school, and why are we staying home, among others that have disrupted familiar patterns of the past. At this point old routines have been thrown out the window and the time has come to develop a new normal.

Starting off with a new normal starts with a conversation.

What do kids know about Covid-19? Is what they know accurate?

Asking children if they have any questions or concerns will allow parents to gain more understanding of what children may be experiencing. Having an age appropriate conversation with children can ease uncertainty and worry. Children may experience anxiety from overhearing conversations or news reports. Parents can take this opportunity to be educational and supportive.

Below are three links for how to talk with your children about Covid-19:

https://nyulangone.org/news/schools-out-parents-guide-meeting-challenge-during-covid-19-pandemic

https://www.sfusd.edu/helping-children-during-covid-19-pandemic

https://www.uth.edu/news/story.htm?id=e5c159f0-11af-4091-9f1d-342b5a64583a

GRANDcares Update: COVID-19

Christine A. Fruhauf, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies

Effective at 5:00pm on March, 23, 2020 Colorado State University (CSU) moved all research to virtual operations until April 15, 2020. At this time CSU will reevaluate and suspect that they may have to extend virtual operations of research projects even longer. What this means for the GRANDcares Project is that in Colorado no Powerful Tools for Caregivers-Grandfamilies or the GRANDcares Youth Club program will be delivered. In an effort to follow federal and state guidelines related to social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we will not hold these programs until further notice. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Christine Fruhauf (PI) at christine.fruhauf@colostate.edu. Everyone with the GRANDcares Project team wishes you well and encourages you to engage in healthy self-care practices. If you have not visited the GRANDcares project website, please see grandcares.colostate.edu.

Spot Scams: 3 Tips to Protect Your Identity (& Money)

By Diana Juarez, Family & Consumer Sciences Educator, Adams County Extension

I’m calling from ABC bank. Someone is using your credit card ending 3456 at the grocery store. I’ll need to verify your Social Security number to stop the unauthorized activity of the card.

Before answering the phone, you look at the caller ID and shows the name of your bank. And the caller seems very concerned about the misuse of your credit card and knows the last four digits of the card. Does it mean it’s legit? No. It’s a type of scam.

How much do you know about the type of scams? Test your knowledge.

Which of the following are made-up words?

A. Phishing

B. Smishing

C. Spoofing

D. Smurfs

The answer is D.

Phishing is when you get emails, text, or calls that look or sound like they are from companies or people you trust. This is called phishing.

Smishing stands for short message service (combines short message service + phishing), is a text message masking as a company or bank with a link or phone number for calling. Scammers may try to pressure you into downloading malware to your smartphone.

Spoofing is when a caller manipulates the information on your caller ID display to disguise their identify. Spoofing may appear as a local number or a government agency to entice you to answer and provide personal information. The above example is a spoofing scam.

Tips to avoid scams:

1. Be skeptical about the caller ID. If someone is asking you to confirm personal financial information or asking for money—hang up. Report any scams to the Federal Trade Commission.
2. Check your credit report. It’s a good habit to check your credit report to confirm all your loans, credit cards are yours and not someone else. We get one free credit report, you may get it online at annualcreditreport.com. The three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion—you get a free credit report from each agency.
3. Informed Delivery® by USPS®-sign up for the program it’s at no cost. When you register, you will get an email of scan images of your incoming mail before it makes it physically to your home.

Self-Care for Human Services Practitioners: Compassion Fatigue and Tools to Cope with Job Stress

By Raquel Daniels GRANDcares Site Coordinator, Larimer County

Self-care is more than just a buzz word, it is an important form of care that shows up in various forms. As helping professionals, making time for self-care is essential because health care providers are susceptible to compassion fatigue, burnout and secondary traumatic stress. When I say helping professionals, that includes case managers, social workers, mental health counselors, family liaisons, and school teachers, among others.

What does compassion fatigue means for you?

Compassion fatigue can be described as the emotional and physical exhaustion that helping professionals and caregivers can experience over the course of their career. Helping professionals use tools like empathy, compassion and hope for their clients on a daily basis. Continually being exposed to traumatic content, having a heavy case load or having clients who come in with crisis all contribute to compassion fatigue. Therefore, it makes sense that most helpers will experience some level of compassion fatigue as it ebbs and flows through their workload. It develops because you care, you cannot do this work without being affected by it.

How can you manage this aspect of work and what tools can you carry with you to give yourself the care you need in order to continue caring for others?

It starts by having a strong social support system, having awareness of your work life balance, and recognizing stressors when they arise. When they do arise, what can you do in the moment, if possible to take care of yourself.

Take notice of what you can do for yourself in various forms individually:

Psychologically- write in a journal, pause to notice your thoughts, judgments and feelings

Emotionally- give yourself affirmations, allow yourself to cry, and identify people who can support you

Spiritually- perhaps meditate or spend time in nature. Identify what is meaningful to you

Professionally- Take breaks, set limits with others, and balance your workload.

In order to be present with others, it must start with yourself.

Giving the Gift of Generosity to Children

By Diana Juarez, Family & Consumer Sciences Educator, Adams County Extension

As a child, the holiday seasons brought me joy because I got a new toy. I remember my mother started a new family tradition, to get a new toy, I had to pick one to donate. As an eight-year-old that was an outrageous thought—Why? My toys are mine, all mine! My mother would go on to explain that other children are less fortunate and don’t have any toys at all to play. The thought of how unhappy I would be without my worn-out doll; I quickly selected a toy to donate. As my mother gathered the donated toys from my siblings and I, she arranged with a friend to pick up the toys. When my mother handed a bag full of toys to her friend—she beamed with happiness. Now as an adult, I still remember the reaction of my mother’s friend to the gesture of generosity, a value my mom taught me.

The holiday season is overwhelming—making list, buying gifts, or planning family visits—who stays where and when--whew! However, the holiday season is a great way to instill a family value: generosity. A study done by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, 2018, showed that charitable giving is passed from parents to children. Growing up, my mother taught me to donate toys, time and gifts to others that are going through a rough situation. Although as a child it was difficult to comprehend giving away “my stuff” to strangers, now I cherish those teachable moments. Whether you’re buying a gift or picking from the Angel Tree’s Salvation Army Program for someone special or volunteering is a great way to pass on the legacy of generosity to family members.

Holiday Resources

By: Gloria Sanchez GRANDcares Site Coordinator, Adams County

Raising a child nowadays is no easy task.  There is so much that one must be aware of -  the  importance of mental health, a positive self-image, developing empathy, cyber-security,  bullying and so on- and so many things to stay on top of – academic achievement, extracurricular activities, medical and dental visits – not to mention the basics such as food, shelter, clothing.  So how does one do it all?  With all the constant day to day pressures throughout the year, the turn of the holiday season only means more added pressure and stress.  Instead of being overcome with holiday cheer, many families become overwhelmed with incessant worry.  The stress created by the worry of not having enough resources to provide a Thanksgiving dinner, or the uncertainty of whether or not the children will have a present under the Christmas tree can be very taxing on a caregiver.  And not being in the right state of mind can be reflected on the quality of care and attention that the child receives.  Therefore, managing stress on a regular basis is definitely a healthy habit, but making it a priority is extremely important, especially during the most wonderful time of the year.  Fortunately, many organizations of the Denver metro area have already recognized this and have taken measures to help ensure that families throughout the mile high city have a bountiful Thanksgiving meal and a very Merry Christmas and Holiday season. 

Two of the largest community events that occur yearly are Operation Freebird- a tradition that started nearly a decade ago and feeds approximately 3,000 families- and Dolls for Daughters/Toys for Boys a program that began in 2007 and now provides a new toy to 14,000+ children in Colorado.  Along with these two mega-magnificent events, there are several other organizations that offer holiday resources that include holiday meals and/or adopt-a-child programs.  Among the popular ones are, The Denver Rescue Mission, Volunteers of America, Salvation Army, A Precious Child, The Christmas Tree Project and Families Forward.  

While the objective of these organizations is to provide help and relief during the holidays, there may be some specific requirements and it is important to call in advance or visit their website to get all of the necessary information.  Another way to access local holiday resources is by calling 211, and a well-informed operator can provide resource information based on need and zipcode.  So, although families may be encountering challenging and difficult situations, this holiday season every caregiver deserves the chance and satisfaction of serving a warm meal and every child deserves the magic that comes with opening up a Christmas gift! 

Happy Holidays!

Three Tips to Avoiding Burnout

By Diana Juarez, Family & Consumer Sciences Educator, Adams County Extension

Burnout is everywhere and at some point, everyone suffers from it. The World Health Organization defines burnout as “syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress.”

Finding the time to take care of your health, doing things you find refreshing and have a sense of purpose is a great way to cope with burnout. Burnout happens at work and in our personal lives! Below are a few tips to prevent burnout.

Establish a routine

I need coffee to function as a human. When I wake up, I make my way to the kitchen and turn on my coffee maker. The coffee aroma spreads throughout my home and I instantly feel I can conquer whatever the day throws at me. Whether it’s coffee, tea or a short exercise—find something that brightens your day and make it a habit.

Go for a walk

I take a 20-minute walk when I feel overwhelmed and my brain is unable to process any information. A study showed that getting out of the office for a 20-minute walk close to nature may lower stress levels, get out of the office and get outdoors, the change in environment can make a difference that is instant.

Nourish a Plant

Studies show that caring for plants reduces stress levels and gives you an outlet to cope with negative feelings. When I planted a mini-jack-o lantern June 2019, three months later I harvested four mini pumpkins. There is something about planting and watching a small seed grow into a 4-foot vine with little pumpkins—it’s gratifying to harvest the fruits of your labor.