Parents, we’re looking out for you! We’ve collected these resource links covering topics you care about. We hope you find them helpful, but remember: Nothing takes the place of a consultation with your child’s pediatrician! This list is by no means exhaustive, and FCAAP assumes no responsibility for content on linked sites.
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Quick Educational Videos:
Kids and Families in Florida are hungry. More than 22% of children in Florida live in a “food insecure” household meaning there is not enough food in the house for every member of the family. If you or someone you know is struggling with hunger and food insecurity we can help!
We have provided you with 4 main resources that will help you access healthy and nutritious foods for your family immediately. Remember to always speak with your Pediatrician. A doctor can help you find programs that provide healthy food for you and your family. Click here – REACH 4 Help to learn and apply for no cost food and nutrition programs in your area..
Disaster Preparedness
- FPL
- Florida Special Needs Registry
- Agency for Persons with Disabilities
- Broward County Vulnerable Population Registry
- County Specific Information – Broward Preparedness Guide
- HealthyChildren.org Alerts
- Disaster Supply Kit
- FEMA
- Family Disaster Supplies List
- Preparing your Family for a Disaster
- Hurricane Preparedness Tips for Families
- Fun and Games to Help Kids Prepare for Disasters
Wellness and Prevention
Asthma
- The Florida Asthma Coalition has information for Parents/Caregivers on asthma action plans and the Asthma Friendly School Initiative
Autism
Cancer
Flu
Heart Health
- Friend’s Don’t Let Friend’s Hearts Stop
- Parent Heart Watch | Information for Parents | PDFInformation for Schools | PDFInformation for Coaches PDF
HIV
Immunizations
- FCAAP Reminds You to Schedule Your Children’s Immunizations Today
- Vaccines for Children (VFC) program: Families without vaccine insurance coverage may be eligible for vaccines at reduced or no cost through the Vaccines for Children program. To learn more about the Florida VFC program, click here.
- Immunization: A Dose of Reality
- Vaccine Safety: The Truth Behind the Fiction
- Help protect the ones you love against Whooping Cough
- HPV Vaccination & Cancer Prevention
Obesity Prevention
- Florida Department of Health’s Prevention: Healthy Weight
- Healthiest Weight Florida
- HBO’s Weight of The Nation: Children in Crisis
- UF/IFAS Family Nutrition Program
Perinatal Health
Zika
- Led by the Florida Department of Health, Spill the Water! is a fun, educational campaign that teaches kids about mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one teaspoon or a bottle cap of water, so eliminating sources of standing water around homes is critical to keep mosquitoes from multiplying. When kids Spill the Water!, they can be superheroes in their home and community! Visit the campaign website for fun activity sheets for kids and useful information for parents on protecting children and babies from mosquitoes.
Mental Health
Anxiety and Depression
- The Center for Child Stress and Health has many resources related to mental health and toxic stress for children and parents
Developmental Stages
Divorce Education
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
- National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233 or text START to 88788)
- Florida Department of Children and Families: Do You Need Help?
- Florida Legal Information and Resources
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Tobacco
- Watch Buenos días AM’s interview with FCAAP E-Cigarette Task Force Chair Dr. Cristina Matheus
- Tobacco Free Florida
- Youth & Vaping
- E-Epidemic: Vaping and Youth – What You Need to Know PDF
- E-Cigarettes: What Parents Need to Know PDF
Safety and Injury Prevention
Drowning Prevention
Home Safety
Vehicle and Child Safety
- FREE Car Seat Installation & Safety Checks: Florida locations PDF
- Safety Center
- Safety Belts and Child Restraints
- AAP’s Car Seat Checkup
- School Bus Safety
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
- Car and Driveway Safety
- Teen and New Driver Safety Tips
- Distracted Driving – LifeSaver App
- ECI Program – Emergency Contact Information registration
Health care Resources
Florida KidCare
Health Care Transitions for Youth
Prescriptions
Public Charge Resources
The public charge rule goes into effect on February 24, 2020.
- Public Charge: Does This Apply to Me? (English and PDFSpanish ) PDF
- Know Your Rights! Public Charge Messages for Community Members English and PDF Spanish PDF
- Should I Keep My Kids Enrolled in Health & Nutrition Programs? English and PDFSpanish PDF
School Health Services
Telehealth
Parent Links
- ACCO – American Childhood Cancer Society
- ACLS – A Parents Guide to First Aid
- ASK Campaign – Asking Saves Kids Lives
- Boys & Girls Clubs
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Children’s Therapy Services – Easter Seals Southwest Florida
- Consumer Products Safety Commission
- Florida Department of Children and Families
- Florida Healthy Kids
- Florida PTA
- Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE)
- Public School Reviews
- The Children’s Trust Parent Club Workshops – Miami Dade County
- Women, Infants, and Children
- YMCA
Covid-19 Resources
Below is FCAAP’s compilation of resource materials for parents on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This list is updated as new information becomes available.
COVID-19 Vaccine for Children and Teens: What to Know
The authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5 and older is a vital step in bringing lifesaving vaccines to children and adolescents. You’ve got plenty of questions. The internet has loads of answers. Unfortunately, though, there’s a lot of misinformation out there. For reliable, evidence-based information, turn to your child’s doctor. Pediatricians just like yours have dedicated their time to answer parents’ most pressing questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Whether your child is a toddler or a teen, you will find credible information that you can trust right here from pediatricians about COVID-19.
- Protecting Your Child with the COVID-19 Vaccine PDF
- Ask the Pediatrician: COVID-19 Roundup
- The Science Behind the COVID-19 Vaccine: Parent FAQs
- Getting Your Child Ready for the COVID-19 Vaccine
- COVID-19 Information for Families
- COVID-19 and kids: How mRNA vaccines work
- How mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were developed
AAP’s Updated Recommendations for Face Masks for Children
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the continued use of a well-fitting face mask for children and teens who are age 2 years and older and not yet fully vaccinated. You can read their full recommendations here, and review additional helpful articles from HealthyChildren.org below.
- Face Masks for Children During COVID-19
- Mask Mythbusters: 5 Common Misconceptions about Kids & Cloth Face Coverings
- Staying Safe in School During COVID-19
- Youth Sports: A COVID-19 Safety Checklist
- Mental Health During COVID-19: Signs Your Child May Need More Support
- Long-Haul COVID-19 in Children and Teens
- COVID-19: Caring for Children and Adolescents with Special Health Care Needs
Safer Disinfectant Fact Sheet and Infographic
The Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU) program created resources for families to safely reduce the spread of COVID-19. The resources include a Safer Disinfectant Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic fact sheet and infographic. They are both available in English, Spanish, Amharic, Chinese (simplifed), Korean, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese. Visit the PEHSU website to learn more.
From FCAAP:
- How to Prevent Illness from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by Brandon Chatani, MD, FAAP
- Tips on Infant Feeding During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Cara Cannon, MD, FAAP
- Keeping Immunizations Up-to-Date During the COVID 19 Pandemic by David Berman, DO, FAAP
- Safe Gun Storage During COVID-19 by Judith Aronson-Ramos, MD, FAAP
- FCAAP Recommendations Regarding Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic PDF
- FCAAP “Stay S.A.F.E.R.: Travel Guidance During an Ongoing Pandemic” PDF
- Back to School Checklist in English and PDFSpanish PDF
- Keeping Children Healthy PDF
From AAP’s HealthyChildren.org:
- When can children get the COVID-19 vaccine?
- The Science Behind the COVID-19 Vaccines: Parent FAQ’s
- 2019 Novel Coronavirus Parent Resources
- Cloth Face Coverings for Children During COVID-19
- Breastfeeding During COVID-19 Pandemic
- Caring for Children in Foster Care During COVID-19
- Tips for Coping with a New Baby During COVID-19
- Ask the Pediatrician: How should we feed our baby if we’re running low on money?
- ¿Cómo debemos alimentar a nuestro bebé si se nos está acabando el dinero?
- COVID-19 and Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome
- Mental Health During COVID-19: Signs your Teen May Need More Support
- Return to School During COVID-19
- How to Help Children Build Resilience in Uncertain Times
- Ask the Pediatrician: Is it safe to send my child to child care during COVID-19?
- Mood-Boosting Tips for Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Ask the Pediatrician: Is it OK to call my pediatrician during COVID-19?
- Youth Sports & COVID-19: Understanding the Risks
- Mask Mythbusters: 5 Common Misconceptions About Kids & Cloth Face Coverings
- Ask the Pediatrician: Can Children Get COVID?
- Breastfeeding Benefits Your Baby’s Immune System
- 10 Tips to Help Your Child Fall in Love with Reading
- Can telehealth ‘video visits’ be a good option for my child? How do they work?
- Telehealth Services Start With Your Pediatrician
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Additional Resources:
- Staying calm, vigilant can help mitigate COVID-19 effects on children’s mental health, experts say from Healio
- Virtual Learning, Play-Based Yoga, and more at-home resources from Action For Healthy Kids
COVID-19 and Legal Aid and Resources for the Public
- Pose a legal question to a panel of volunteer lawyers: Florida Free Civil Legal Answers
- More resources from Florida Free Civil Legal Answers
- Contact your local legal aid office. Offices listed by county.
- Renters’ rights
- Landlord/Tenant Law in Florida
- Florida Courts Help website
For additional COVID-19 resources, visit FCAAP’s provider resource page.
The information provided on this page is subject to change without notice based upon new information, resources, and directives from federal, state, and local authorities and medical experts. While FCAAP will do its best to update information that has been changed due to the issuance of new guidance and directives, there will be a delay in such updates and we cannot guarantee that all information will be updated to reflect such changes. This information is provided only as general guidance and is not being offered as a medical or legal opinion.
other languages:
recursos en español
Las sugerencias siguientes se han creado para servir como un recurso o referencia para usted. Esta lista es de ninguna manera exhaustiva y el FPS/FCAAP no puede asumir ninguna responsabilidad del contenido en sitios ligados. Si usted tiene algunas preguntas o preocupaciones por alguna información contenida aquí, hable por favor con su pediatra o su dentista pediátrico.
Encuentre un Pediatra
El programa Vaccines for Children
Familias de bajos ingresos pueden ser elegibles para vacunas a costo reducido o sin costo a través de el programa Vaccines for Children. Para más información, haga clic aquí.