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Covid-19

RESOURCES

211 Helpline Florida – The United Way is aiding those who are affected by COVID-19. If you or somebody you know needs help, please reach out through calling 2-1-1 24/7 Call 2-1-1, available 24/7.

Breakthrough Miami Program Updates 

We have suspended our traditional on-site academic and community programming to safeguard the health and well-being of our Breakthrough Village, most importantly, our Scholars, volunteers and staff, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, our work continues. 

We are committed to #BreakthroughTheDistance and we are keeping our Village engaged, connected and united through this time. We are working together to ensure our Scholars adapt and thrive in the midst of rapid changes. 

Our Scholars were busy and engaged this summer:

  • Preparing for their next grade- Scholars were fully engaged in project-based learning in their core academic classes, providing a hands-on preview of their academic year ahead.
  • Exploring new interests and passions- Scholars put their creativity to use in a wide variety of electives. 
  • Developing leadership and communication skills- Scholars developed their social emotional and 21st Century Learning skills during advisory with activities, discussions, challenges and games. 
  • Planning for success- Scholars began to envision and document their academic goals, creating a pathway to achieve their dreams.
  • Nurturing relationships- Scholars forged meaningful mentor relationships with Teaching Fellows, reconnected with old friends, and actively contributed to our Breakthrough family. Throughout the summer, our Breakalicious spirit continued to shine!

Using the momentum gained from this summer, our program team is working hard to prepare for Virtual School Year Programming. For more details on how to access Breakthrough Miami Virtual Program reach out your Site Directors by phone or email.  

  • Virtual Learning & Support:
    • Student School Year Programming – Volunteers are creating and leading virtual courses, electives and academic support sessions to assist scholars with distance learning. 
    • Parent Workshops – hosted by licensed family psychologist, Dr. Bettina Lozi-Toscano providing valuable information to guardians on how best to support children through a variety of issues (i.e. transitions, bullying, managing academic success, etc.)
    • We are working with our partners to deliver engaging virtual programming aligned with our curricular themes. 

Miami Dade County Public Schools

  • MDCPS Support Lines
    • To answer questions from students, parents and other community members about school district-related coronavirus response efforts.
    • Hours of Operation: M – F from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • To support students, parents and teachers in engaging in distance learning.
    • Hours of Operation: M – F from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • To assist students and their families with mental health support.
    • Hours of Operation: M – F from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • District Emergency Operations hotline: 305-995-3000
    • Instructional Learning Plan Hotline: 305-995-HELP (4357)
    • Mental Health Services Hotline: 305-995-7100 
  • MDCPS Distance Learning FAQs (English, Spanish, Haitian Creole)
  • M-DCPS Parent Academy Videos (English, Spanish, and Creole)
  • MDCPS Mobile Device Distribution (English, Spanish, Haitian Creole)
  • Reopen SMART Return SAFE
    • Reopening phases with breakdown and models for the new platform. Currently only available in English, however, Spanish and Creole are coming soon.
    • Back to School Immunizations are required whether students are online or in-person.

M-DCPS Distance Learning Requirements

Daily Attendance: Starting April 6, 2020, students will log into the student portal to be recorded as present in school. Students will receive a confirmation alert when they log in. If a student fails to log into the portal, his or her parents will receive an automated phone call the next day by noon, indicating the student did not log into the portal the day before and was marked absent.

Academic Support

  • Breakthrough Miami Volunteers will provide academic support sessions/tutoring for any Breakthrough Scholars during the academic year. Please contact your site director for more information.
  • Miami Dade Librariesproviding homework help and tutoring in reading and math online by appointment for students grades K‑12. Certified teachers will host 30‑minute online tutoring sessions on Saturdays from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m.

Learning Resources 

If you have questions or concerns about navigating these resources, please reach out to your site director. All the resources below are free for individual users.

  • Academic Distance Learning Resources 
    • Created by experts, Khan Academy’s library of trusted, standards-aligned practice and lessons covers math K-12 through early college, grammar, science, history, AP®, SAT®, and more.
    • Carnagie Mellon’s Open Learning Initiative has modules for high school students on a range of topics including the foundations of Java, Biology, Cyber Technology, and more.
    • For support in writing instruction, check out Quill.org for personalized activities and progress monitoring. Their activities help students develop their sentence construction and grammar skills and are designed as supplemental writing exercises
    • Legends of Learning: This has math and science remote games for grades 3-5. 
    • College Board – AP Exam Prep: Resource for high school scholars preparing to take  AP exams in May, live review sessions on YouTube.
  • Enrichment Distance Learning Resources
    • Learn a language from your phone or computer
      •  Duolingo. Learning with Duolingo is fun and addictive. Earn points for correct answers, race against the clock, and level up. 
      • Babbel: Students can access free language learning through mid-June. Languages include Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and more.
    • For lessons on reading and writing music, look to this music theory learning site. The site includes lessons, exercises, and various tools for ongoing, personalized development. 
    • ED TED  Browse hundreds of TED-Ed Animations and TED Talks designed to spark your child’s curiosity. You’ll also find thousands of other video-based lessons organized by age-level and subject.
    • To boost your chess skills, or start as a beginner, try chess.com 
    • Jump on the one’s and two’s to learn the in’s and out’s of music producing with Ear Sketch
    • Get your code on with Hour of Code. Challenge yourself by trying activities above your grade level
    • Learn to type like a professional while playing games at Typing.com. Create a free account to track your progress and level up to get access to resources on professionalism and digital literacy.
    • Girls Who Code:/ this is open for students in all grades.Provides various activities to engage in digital and coding work based on interest and it specifies the level. 
    • Art Therapy Activities for Children and Adults: art activities that families can complete together with materials at home to cope with stress and anxiety. 
    • Supercook:This site allows you to input ingredients you have on hand at home and gives you a recipe to cook!
    • Your scholar can complete several Nearpod modules by going to Nearpod.com and entering the following class codes to engage in educational material around Coronavirus and general health safety.
      • Nearpod Module Codes
      • 2019-2020 Coronavirus Outbreak | Access Code: AQCLD
      • Germs and Staying Healthy | Access Code: CBGJF
      • Truth or Rumor? | Access Code: HXMPO
      • Viruses | Access Code: PBUZM

Internet Access 

  • Comcast – As our country continues to manage the COVID-19 emergency, Comcast is taking immediate steps to make it easier to connect low-income families to home Internet.
    • New Internet Essentials customers will receive two free months of Internet service if you apply and are approved by December 31, 2020. After promotion, regular rates apply.
    • For all new and existing Internet Essentials customers, the speed of the program’s Internet service has increased to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream.
    • Households with outstanding debt owed to Comcast may be eligible for Internet Essentials. We are waiving this qualification if you apply and are approved by 12/31/20. After 12/31/20, standard eligibility rules apply.
  • Xfinity Hotspots Across the County
    • Xfinity WIFI hotspots across the county have been opened for access by anyone who needs WIFI.  They are free for all including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. A map of available Xfinity hotspots are available here
    • Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots, and then launch a browser.
  • AT&T
    • Expanding eligibility based on income and to households participating in the National School Lunch Program or Head Start.
    • Waving all home internet data overage fees.
    • No annual commitment, No Deposit, Free installation, Free in-home Wi-Fi

Community Feedings and Food Distribution

Healthcare 

  • All Baptist Urgent Care and Urgent Care Express locations are open. Go to Baptisthealth.net/urgentcare for hours of operation and save your spot.
  • Baptist Health Care On Demand is offering FREE telehealth visits, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
    • Providers are ready to answer questions and follow CDC protocols to screen for COVID-19. Download Baptist Health Care On Demand at Go.BaptistHealthCareOnDemand.net and use the code CARE 19. 
  • COVID-19 Testing Sites 

Mental Health Resources

Utilities

  • FPL  – information on Coronavirus COVID-19 and billing extensions. While Florida is under a state of emergency, FPL has suspended electric disconnections, are providing payment extensions and are waiving certain late payment fees for customers in hardship situations. 
  • Miami-Dade Water – information on water accessibility, wastewater services and notice to suspend disconnections for 30 days
  • Peoples Gas – information on billing and extensions. Peoples Gas is currently not disconnecting services.

Employment Resources

Business and Non-Profit Assistance

Childcare for Essential Workers

  • Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe aims to assist “essential” working parents (health, first responders, grocery) in locating licensed child care programs. Contact Child Care Resource and Referral unit at 305-646-7220, Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • Early Learning Coalition of BrowardEmergency Personnel Child Care Scholarship (no income eligibility, easy application, for children 0 – 13) 
  • YMCA – will be providing child care services for kids of first responders, healthcare workers as well as city and county staffers.

Financial Resources

  • IRS – guidelines, process and check the status of COVID-19 stimulus check
  • Catalyst Miami 
    • Provide support for families to apply for the Miami Pandemic Assistance Program
    • Share referrals for existing resources for career centers, food banks, testing sites, etc.)
    • Assisting in applying for unemployment benefits
    • Provides free tax preparation
    • Benefits enrollment and support (Medicaid, KidCare, CHIP, SNAP)
    • Supporting new and existing clients through: virtual coaching sessions, conducting credit pulls and credit checks, budgeting and debt management, enrolling in products (Fresh EBT Apps) and lending circles program
    • Hotline – 786-527-2580; Email – info@catalystmiami.org

Community Resources

  • Axis South Florida 
    • If you’re an individual, a small business or a nonprofit that’s been negatively impacted by the COVID19 pandemic — there is relief for you. Axis has compiled the most comprehensive list of resources to help Miami-Dade and Broward residents weather the coronavirus crisis and emerge from it with stability and strength. Take the first step here.
  • Community Justice Project – information and resources for: 
    • Eviction Moratoriums
    • Unemployment Assistance
    • Mutual Aid Funds
  • Florida Department of Children and Families- Automated Community Connection to Economic Self Sufficiency (ACCESS) 
    • The ACCESS Florida system allows individuals to connect with with their public assistance information 24/7, through online application and MyACCESS Account.
    • Assistance Programs: Food Assistance Program (SNAP), Medical Assistance Program, Temporary cash assistance for families with children (TANF), Family Nutrition Program (SNAP Ed)
    • Other Services and Assistance: Employment Assistance, Transportation Assistance, Housing Assistance, Childcare Assistance, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services, & Literacy Services & GED
  • Rental Assistance – HUD: COVID-19 Resources and Fact Sheet 
  • Project Upstartprovides support of students who are living in unstable housing in Miami-Dade County 
  • Legal Services of Greater Miami – offers free legal assistance in the following areas: employment, housing, healthcare, food and other basic needs. To apply –  call 305.576.0080 or  online at www.legalservicesmiami.org
  • StayHome.Miami – a repository of resources for parents and the community provided by the The Children’s Trust
  • Miami Diaper Bank – If you need diapers complete the contact form and include your name, phone number, email, child’s age, size of diaper and location zip code. 
  • C.A.R.E.S. Act Webinar curated for The Children’s Trust 

#BreakthroughTheDistance

Amidst challenging times, Breakthrough Miami is committed to #BreakthroughTheDistance and your support is needed and appreciated now more than ever!

Coronavirus Email Updates!

APRIL 17, 2020 – As you know our teams have been reaching out to check in on you. We want to know if there is anything keeping you up at night so we can best support you and your children and connect you to the resources you need as together we navigate these challenging times.  If you haven’t done so already please complete our survey. We are using this information to help shape our next steps and we want your voice to be part of our way forward! Read more…


MARCH 19, 2020 – Breakthrough Miami is continuing to monitor recommendations and updates regarding COVID-19 from Center for Disease Control (CDC), Florida Department of Health, Miami Dade County Public Schools, our host site partners, and local officials. As school and business closures affect all of us, we are committed to continuing to support our Scholars, families, volunteers and staff during this time. We acknowledge as more restrictions on social interactions are imposed, this creates challenges to our usual daily activities and livelihoods, but we must abide by them if we hope to curtail the spread of COVID-19. At this time, our team is reaching out to check-in on you, our Scholar families. Read more…


MARCH 13, 2020 – Breakthrough Miami continues to closely monitor the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). We are following guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Florida Department of Health, Miami Dade County Public Schools and our host school partners to safeguard the health and well-being of our Scholars, volunteers and staff. At this time we have suspended all programming at all sites through the end of March. Read more…


MARCH 12, 2020 – Breakthrough Miami continues to closely monitor the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). We are following guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Florida Department of Health, Miami Dade County Public Schools and our host school partners to ensure the health and well-being of our Scholars, volunteers and staff. With careful consideration, Breakthrough Miami has decided to cancel programming scheduled on the following dates: Read more…


MARCH 12, 2020 – COLLEGE TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Breakthrough Miami continues to closely monitor the Coronavirus Disease 2019. We are following guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Florida Department of Health, Miami Dade County Public Schools and our host school partners to ensure the health and well-being of our Scholars, volunteers and staff. With careful consideration Breakthrough Miami has determined it is the best to cancel the College Tour at this time. Read more…


MARCH 11, 2020 – Breakthrough Miami is carefully monitoring the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). The health and well-being our of Scholars, volunteers, staff, and host site school communities continues to be our focus.  We are continuing to follow the latest guidance from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the Florida Department of Health and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS). In addition, we are abreast of the procedures each of our host schools are following on their campuses. Read more…

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