A Message from Elena Sanchez, Executive Director

Dear Families, Friends, Professionals and Community Members,

I hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy and are enjoying your Summer, despite all that is happening around us. At Parents’ Place, we successfully began some of our English, Spanish, Mandarin/Cantonese and Teen Titans support groups via Zoom. Our goal is to continue to connect with both new families and familiar faces in our community to empower families, strengthen their sense of support and connect them to available resources. I am pleased to report that we have been able to assist families with food and personal protective equipment in collaboration with The San Gabriel/ Pomona Regional Center.
Coping with the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is stressful for many of us. Fear and anxiety about this disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. According to the CDC, stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include the following: Fear and worry about your health and the health of your loved ones; changes in sleep or eating patterns; difficulty sleeping or concentrating; worsening of chronic health problems; worsening of mental health conditions; increased use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs (www.cdc.gov/).
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, experiences, health and the available resources within your community. People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include older people, people with special needs, people with mental health concerns and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
 
Ways to Cope with Stress:
The following are ideas that you can implement in your routine to help cope with the current difficult circumstances:
Make time to unwind: Try to engage in a hobby or other activities you enjoy, such as painting, swimming, listening to music, etc.
Connect with others: Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. Take care of yourself, your friends and your family. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.
Take care of your body: Eat healthy, exercise and get plenty of sleep.
Take a break, every now and again: Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Take breaks from watching, reading or listening to the news stories, including social          
media.  Repeatedly hearing about the pandemic can be upsetting.
Avoid: substance abuse
Engage in mentally stimulating activities: Join a Parents’ Place Support Group or 
training (see upcoming events calendar for more information). Take a free course locally through   
Mt San Antonio College (909) 274-4192 EOA@mtsac.edu                                                                                        If you are or a loved one is struggling with mental health concerns, please call the L.A. County Mental Health Access line, available 24/7 at 1-800-854-7771.