TeenLink — 866-TEENLINK

This Washington-based service is staffed by teen volunteers who receive 60 hours of training and often have experienced mental health issues themselves. The peer-to-peer connections make young people feel more comfortable sharing their concerns. The service can connect teens to local resources as well.

You can call 1-866-TEENLINK (833-6546) to talk by phone from 6-10 p.m. nightly or text from 6-9:30 p.m. every night. You can also call, chat or text in to connect with an adult substance use specialist from 1-6 p.m. Tues-Sat.

If you are an adult looking to help a young person, there are resources on the TeenLink website, or you can call 1.866.4CRISIS.

Crisis Connections — 866-427-4747

This 24/7 number provides immediate support and resources for people in emotional crisis and will help you determine if you or your loved one needs professional help. They provide immediate translation into 155 languages.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Disaster Distress Helpline — 800-985-5990

This 24/7/365 service from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides crisis counseling for people going through both natural and human-caused disasters. It’s free, multi-lingual and confidential. You can also text TalkWithUs to 66746.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline— 800-273-8255

The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. MORE resources for youth

Crisis Text Line

Specifically anxious about Coronavirus? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor. 

National Alliance on Mental Illness - Great mental health resources

Kirkland Food Hotline

School Lunches

Pre-order on this website: https://www.lwsd.org/covid-19/grab-go-student-meals

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)

Children on the free/reduced meal program at school can receive money to cover other food costs.   These benefits will be on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card which is used like a debit card to buy groceries.   (You must have EBT card to receive this money.  You can apply for EBT at washingtonconnection.org)
For additional Information about the P-EBT Program, visit the OSPI website here: k12.wa.us/PEBT.

YMCA Grab and Go Lunches

Free lunches for kids age 18 and under

• June 23 through August 2
• Monday - Friday, 11:j30 am - 12:30 pm
• Kenmore City Hall, 18120 60th Ave NE, Kenmore WA 98028
• nlowe@seattleymca.org

Hopelink   

Prepackaged box of food – enough for 21 meals. Hours of service:

• Tuesdays 12 - 4 pm     
• Wednesdays 3 - 7 pm
• Thursdays 10 am - 2 pm
• 11011 120th Ave NE, Kirkland WA 98033
• Phone (425) 889-7880
• Website: Hopelink.org

ChurcHOME

Grocery giveaway Fridays 2 - 6 pm, 9051 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland WA 98033

The Woodinville Storehouse Food Bank

http://www.woodinvillestorehouse.org/

• Tuesday 6:30 - 7:20 pm
• Saturday 9:30 - 10:20am
• Walk-in clients are welcome
• Bring ID for all family members and proof of Woodinville, Kirkland or Redmond residency such as utility bill or rental agreement.

Contact info: (425) 483-5252, info@woodinvillestorehouse.org, 17110 140th Ave NE, Woodinville WA 98072

Open Kitchen  

https://openkitchenredmond.com/

Wednesday 5:00 – 6:00 pm (To-go meal). Redmond United Methodist Church, 16540 NE 80th Street, Redmond, WA 98052

• Friends of Youth shelter support for youth
• King County 211

King County 2-1-1 connects people to the help they need. They provide the most comprehensive information on health and human services in King County. Whether it’s for housing assistance, help with financial needs, or to find the location of the nearest food bank. To begin, text your zip code to 877-211- 9274.

Housing, Legal Assistance, Transportation, Childcare: visit the LWSD Community Resources page.

Parents, family members, and other trusted adults play a valuable role in helping children make sense of what they are hearing about COVID-19 and their associated fears or concerns. The CDC has created some guidelines to help with these conversations.  

• Remain calm and reassuring  
• Make yourself available to talk and to listen  
• Avoid language that might blame others  
• Pay attention to what you child us hearing/seeing on TV, online  
• Provide information that is honest and accurate
• Teach and reiterate to your child the daily actions to reduce germs.
• From the National Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Nurses- Talking to children about COVID-19
• Locally, families and students can call the Washington State Department of Health’s Coronavirus hotline with questions at 1-800-525-0127.

RHMS Families,

We understand that the current situation impacts students and families in different ways.  If you are a family in need (food or other resources) please reach out to your student’s school counselor (emails below), leave a message at 425-936-2460 and then press 4 or check the RHMS Counseling WEB Page.

We can’t always have control over the many challenges currently happening in our world, but we do have the power to take care of ourselves.  This can be a very stressful time for you and your family.  So, we wanted to share few stress buster tips for both parents and students:

1. Breathe
   • Relax your jaw; wiggle it back and forth. Make sure your tongue is not pressed against the roof of your mouth.
   • Sit with your hands on your stomach and your feet on the floor. Breathe in through your nose so deeply that you feel your hands move (5 seconds). HOLD for 2 seconds. Breathe out through your mouth for 6 seconds.
2. Take a shower or a bath. Changing the temperature of your body helps with stress. Make sure you are breathing (#1).
3. Put some ice in a bag and hold it in your hand. Focus on how it feels (10 minutes). Make sure you are breathing (#1). If your thoughts wander, try to refocus on how the ice feels in your hand.
4. Trace the outline of your right hand with your left finger. Focus on how that feels. Make sure you are breathing (#1). If your thoughts wander, try to refocus on how it feels to trace the outline of your hand. Repeat.
5. Download a mindfulness video. Lay on a bed or couch; close your eyes and listen to the message. Make sure you are breathing (#1).
6. Squeeze your hand into a fist as hard as you can. Your knuckles should turn white. Make a fist as you breathe in and hold fist as you hold your breath; release fist as you breathe out. Repeat.

Breathing is the most important way to release stress; add one or all of the stress busters listed above to help with anxiety.

Here are a few more tips from the Seattle Seahawks Weekly Challenge.

Best wishes,

Dear Rose Hill Middle School Families, 

Important Note: Your counselor cares about You and Your Family. This letter has some important information. The most important thing is that you can reach out to us and we will respond.

• Carolyn Stelling (6th Grade) cstelling@lwsd.org
• Veronica Nelson (7th Grade) vnelson@lwsd.org
• Danielle MacDonald (8th Grade) dmacdonald@lwsd.org

Our thoughts are with you as our school, community and world navigate this challenging time. The Rose Hill Middle School counseling department is committed to supporting our students and families while our school is closed. We believe that it is essential that students and families continue to receive support to cope with the increased anxiety and stress that this difficult situation brings. Our counseling team will remain active during the school closure. We will provide ongoing support through:

• Email - We are all checking email and will be happy to answer questions, share resources, and assist you and your student.
• Newsletter -The counseling team will be sending out a weekly newsletter to families. The newsletter will include helpful articles, information about community resources and activities to keep your students engaged.
• RHMS Counseling Web Page - We will be updating the counseling department’s web page with resources, activities, and tools. https://rhms.lwsd.org/studentsfamilies/counseling
• Scheduled appointments - We will be available for phone appointments. You may schedule an appointment with your student’s school counselor through email. 

As you know, COVID-19 has been characterized as a pandemic. The uncertainty and continual changes of this situation has brought on a lot of fear and worry. As we go through this together, it is important that we remember to stay positive, focus on what we have control over and remain connected to each other.   

Here are five strategies to build resilience and help cope with this unique situation:

• Stay positive:  Remember to keep calm. If you show anxiety or fear, your child will pick up on this and also feel nervous and afraid. Changes to the environment and routines can create unease. Having calm, panic-free discussions can ease emotions around these changes. Check-in on how your child is feeling and acknowledge and address their worries. 
• Stick to the facts: It is important to have thoughtful conversations regarding COVID-19 to dispel anxiety or fear. Look at the facts. Consider your child’s age and emotions to determine how to frame these conversations to ensure your child understands. Let them know that our leaders are doing everything they can, and you are up to date on current information. Highlight positive news. Discuss that not everything they hear or see is accurate.  
• Consider media consumption: When looking online, consider the source and fact-check to prevent fake news, and think before you share. Be mindful of how much media you are checking and minimize how often you are reading stories. Try to keep a healthy balance (both online and offline) in your daily routines and lifestyle. 
• Eliminate stigma: It is important to be aware of how COVID-19 is explained to your child to avoid any person/group being blamed. Communicate that if someone has a fever or cough, this does not mean this person has COVID-19.  
• Boost your coping strategies: Change or uncertainty can create some levels of worry or anxiety. When this occurs, use positive coping strategies to manage these emotions. As every person is different, so too are our coping strategies. Coping strategies can include: positive self-talk, singing, journaling, dancing, reading, drawing, music, a gratitude list, prayer, meditation, coloring, exercise, cooking, baking, talking to a friend or family member, or other activities that give you joy. If you notice your child is still worried or anxious, be assured that this is a normal reaction. If you find that additional support is needed, please reach out to one of our counselors. 

Warm regards, 

Rose Hill Middle School Counseling Team

• Carolyn Stelling (6th Grade) cstelling@lwsd.org
• Veronica Nelson (7th Grade) vnelson@lwsd.org
• Danielle MacDonald (8th Grade) dmacdonald@lwsd.org

If you wish to be connected remotely to the YES Behavioral Support Specialist, serving RHMS, please leave a message for Mina Kirilov at 425 747-4937, extension 2790. You can enter the extension at any time during the YES voicemail greeting.  Be sure to leave your name and phone number. It may take one or two days before you receive a call back.  If you need immediate assistance or are in a suicidal or high risk crisis please call 911 or Crisis Connections 866-4CRISIS (206-461-3222).