OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families released a resource guide recently to help parents, families and caregivers work through the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DCYF issued a statement that the department recognizes the struggles many parents and caregivers are facing at home. These parents are forced to deal with shifting or vanishing work schedules, school closures and limited child care availability.

“Washington State Resource Guide for Parents and Caregivers: Caring for Your Family During COVID-19” is a compilation of information and resources to “bolster the incredible resiliency of parents and families,” according to DCYF.

Judy King, director of Family Support Systems for DCYF, said in a press release that the resources were intended to help families and caregivers cope with the uncertainty and stress the spread of COVID-19 has brought on.

“These are unique circumstances for families in Washington and around the world,” King said in the press release. “We are working to ensure parents in our state have the resources they need to be successful and strong during this time.”

The DCYF’s resource guide is built on the protective factors framework, which details five areas of focus for family well-being: parental resilience; knowledge of parenting and/or child youth development; social connections; concrete supports; and social and emotional development.

The DCYF said the resource guide was inspired by stories and voices of families across the state as well as Prevent Child Abuse partners across the country.

The guide is available online at www.dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/pubs/FS_0039.pdf.