The Florida Center for Early Childhood and the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading partnered on three webinars designed to help parents and children talk about Coronavirus, COVID-19, and how to navigate the challenging new realities we are all facing in a way that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety. Click here for the first webinar focusing on children six years old and younger where Beth Duda, director of SCGLR, asked Dr. Kristie Skoglund, COO of The Florida Center for Early Childhood, questions from young children ages 6 and under. Click here for the second webinar focused on children seven years old and up where Beth Duda, director of SCGLR, asked Melissa Bradley, director of school-based mental health therapy at the Florida Center for Early Childhood, questions from children ages 7+. Click here for a parent chat on how to help children deal with COVID-19.  Beth Duda, director of SCGLR, Tamra Cajo, director of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Clinic for The Florida Center for Early Childhood, and Marina Bunch, clinical director of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Services for the Florida Center for Early Childhood share how parents can help themselves and their children through this challenging time.

Also, The Power of Presence book and program is back.   In The Power of Presence, Joy Thomas Moore explores seven pillars of presence: heart, faith, mind, courage, financial freedom, values, and connectedness, which all parents can use to positively influence their children. Using compelling stories from women who have been there and practical advice on everything from savings accounts to mindfulness, this book is a compassionate look at what it takes to raise great kids, even in less than ideal circumstances.  Families across the country are adapting to the evolving changes to daily life during the pandemic. Join author Joy Thomas Moore for a discussion on how the seven pillars of presence can help guide families through these challenging times.  In partnership with The Florida Center for Early Childhood, participants will be invited to continue the connection in a series of weekly facilitated discussions focused on the seven pillars of presence on May 1 at 2pm, May 2 at 10am and May 4 at 8pm.