THE FACING HISTORY SCHOOL

P-EBT Food Benefits for the 2020-21 School Year

New York State is providing Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to all households with children who receive free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act and whose school was closed or operating with reduced in-school attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 academic year. OTDA continues to work with the United States Department of Agriculture on New York State's plan to issue these benefits.

At this point, we estimate the food benefit distribution will commence no earlier than the end of April and continue for several months, due to the large number of eligible children and schools participating in the National School Lunch Program across the state. Information about New York State's distribution of P-EBT food benefits will be posted to our website once it is available.

  Dear Parent or Guardian,  

As schools have closed, so has our school-based health center (SBHC) on your campus. We are still able to provide telehealth appointments, either through video or phone, for your  child’s medical and mental health needs. We are able to make diagnoses, form treatment plans,  and send prescriptions without seeing your child face-to-face in many instances. To schedule a  telehealth appointment, please do not hesitate to e-mail us at school@ryanhealth.org. Your child  can also be seen for a face-to-face visit at the Ryan Chelsea Clinton (RCC) community health center, which is located just around the corner from the Park West High School campus. The RCC address is 645 10th Avenue (between 45th and 46th Streets), New York, NY 10036 and they  can be reached at 212-749-1820.  

Outside of school, there are things you and your child can do to keep yourselves and the  community safe. Whenever leaving the home, please ensure that you and your child are wearing  masks to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Wash your hands often, cough and sneeze into  your elbow instead of your hands, avoid touching your face, and try to keep at least 6 feet away  from others. If you are feeling unwell and have only mild to moderate symptoms, stay home.  Additionally, ensure that you child is up to date with their annual physical exam and required  immunizations. School entry requirements can be found here:  

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/sh65-medical immunization-requirements. 

For more information, Ryan Health recommends consulting the Centers for Disease  Control (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html), the New York State  Department of Health (https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home), the New York City Department  of Health (https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-main.page), and the World Health  Organization (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019).  

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to e-mail us at  school@ryanhealth.org, or give us a call at 212-769-7216 once schools reopen.  

Thank you for the privilege of serving your children and your school community.  

Sincerely,  

Your Ryan Health SBHC Staff 

It’s fast and easy for your child to receive health care services through the Ryan Health School-based Health Center!

• FREE!   No cost to students or their families

• Does not replace your Primary Care Provider

• Does not affect your insurance

• Telehealth and In Person Services Available for Virtual and Blended Learners

If you child is not yet registered for these free services, please download, print and complete the attached forms.  If you would like a copy mailed to your home, please call the school and we will happily mail a copy home.  You can either take a picture of your completed form and email it to dana@facinghistoryschool.org or bring it into the school. 

PWHS SBHC Consent Form ENGLISH 2020-2021.pdf 

PWHS SPANISH SBHC Consent Form 2020-2021.pdf 

Parents/Guardians:  If you are not currently receiving emails from FHS, please call or email Rita Laguer our Parent Coordinator to provide us with you most current email address. 

Rita can be reached at rita@facinghistoryschool.org or 347-777-6537 

Another great way to stay connected to the school community is by following our school's Instagram account.  Please follow us @thefacinghistoryschool

Support Hotlines  National and local NYC hotlines for resources, emotional support, and guidance for parents in crisis and in need of a knowledgeable and helpful listening ear.

• NY Foundling 888-435-7553

Support by providing resources over the phone. The crisis nursery is closed.

• Parents Helping Parents Stress Line 1-800-632-8188

Support for parents feeling overwhelmed, stressed, etc.

• Child Help National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD/1-800-422-4453

Parents can call to talk to a counselor about the stress they are under or young people can call to ask for help for themselves and talk to a counselor

• Su Familia: The National Hispanic Family Health Helpline 1-866-783-2645

Spanish helpline for families that need support and information

https://www.healthyamericas.org/help-line

• National Parent Helpline-1-855- 4A PARENT / 1-855-427-2736

Emotional support, resources, advice and more from a peer advocate

• NYC Well-1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355), Text WELL to 65173,

Chat at https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/

Free, confidential, 24/7 mental health support by speaking to a local counselor via phone, text, or chat in more than 200 languages.

• National Domestic Violence Hotline 1−800−799−7233

Support for people with experiences of domestic violence. Resources for those quarantined with their abuser.

https://www.thehotline.org/

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

Free, confidential, 24/7 support for people in mental health or suicide crises. Can call for yourself or on behalf of someone else.

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

-LINKS-

 Need to Talk - COVID-19- English.pdf 

 Need to Talk - COVID-19 SPANISH.pdf 

 Accessing MH Resources.pdf 

Updated 4/8/2020                  Compiled for use in NYC by the Office of School Health- Mental Health Unit