AIR’s COVID-19 Response and Resources
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. This virus, also known as COVID-19, has dramatically changed the lives of people around the globe, touching all aspects of life, from health care to education to the economy. In this new world of rapidly changing information about the virus, AIR seeks to be a source of evidence-based information that examines and begins to understand the various complexities of this crisis.
Read a message from AIR's President and CEO about the coronavirus pandemic, and what steps AIR is taking to protect staff and support evidence-based strategies to stem the spread of the virus >>
Read our plain language COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions Fact Sheet >>
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AIR’s Experts Address Issues Raised by the Pandemic
AIR’s experts take an evidence-based approach to their research, evaluation, training, and technical assistance work on a daily basis. For our latest podcast series, AIR Informs, AIR experts explore the different ways the coronavirus pandemic is affecting our lives and how we can address the challenges it presents.
Episode #1: Focusing on Facts and Evidence During a Health Crisis, with Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar
Episode #2: Opportunities for Learning and Development in Out-of-School Time, with Deb Moroney
Episode #3: The Science of Safe, Supportive Learning at Home, with David Osher
Episode #4: Communities of Practice During COVID-19, with Melissa Rasberry and Marshal Conley
Episode #5: The Economics of the Coronavirus for People with Disabilities, with Michelle Yin
Episode #6: Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities During COVID-19, with Allison Gandhi
Episode #7: The Real Unemployment Rate and Workplace After COVID-19, with Irma Perez-Johnson
Episode #7: The Real Unemployment Rate and Workplace After COVID-19
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 23 million to 24 million people in the U.S. lost their jobs since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. In this episode of AIR Informs, Irma Perez-Johnson explains why the U.S. Department of Labor’s unemployment statistics may not capture the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workforce; why an accurate count matters; and what the road to economic recovery may look like.
Episode #6: Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities During COVID-19
Remote learning requires adjustment for all students, but students with disabilities face additional challenges during the COVID-19 quarantine. In this episode of AIR Informs, Allison Gandhi describes some of these obstacles, as well as strategies to help students, schools, and families make the most of this time.
Episode #5: The Economics of the Coronavirus for People with Disabilities
The coronavirus pandemic is affecting everyone, but people with disabilities will likely feel the effects more than people without. AIR economist Michelle Yin explains factors that make this population especially vulnerable—and discusses how the pandemic has the potential to shift all workplaces to be more inclusive and flexible.
Episode #4: Communities of Practice During COVID-19
Even though the coronavirus pandemic has pushed interaction, learning, and professional development to online environments, that doesn’t mean these activities can’t be just as effective as they would be in person. In this episode of AIR Informs, Melissa Rasberry and Marshal Conley discuss communities of practice and how they can help teachers connect.
Episode #3: The Science of Safe, Supportive Learning at Home
With so many children now participating in online or distance learning during the coronavirus pandemic, it is more important than ever to have a safe, supportive learning environment at home to help with students’ academic success and well-being. AIR Vice President and Institute Fellow David Osher explains the science of learning and development, as well as how parents can create this environment at home while their children are away from school.
Episode #2: Opportunities for Learning and Development in Out-of-School Time
While schools are closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, out-of-school time programs and employees continue to support students and provide child care—especially for parents who can’t work from home—while still complying with local policies and practicing social distancing. AIR managing director and youth development expert Deborah Moroney shares what parents should know about out-of-school time programs and resources to support students while they’re not in school.
Episode #1: Focusing on Facts and Evidence During a Health Crisis
With the major changes the coronavirus (COVID-19) has forced people across the world to address, it can be hard to cut through the noise to find reliable, evidence-based information. Dr. Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar, a practicing physician, researcher, and director of the AIR Center for Addiction Research and Effective Solutions (AIR CARES), provides some insights for navigating the crisis while avoiding a sense of panic.
Other Resources
COVID-19 Blog Series
In this latest blog post series, our colleagues at IMPAQ experts bring you timely updates and informed insights on the intersection of COVID-19 and pressing policy issues.
CCPH Community Partners Survey
AIR and the Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) have developed a survey to assess the impact of COVID-19 on community-based organizations.
Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC)
The MSKTC is supporting people living with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and burn injury to help them stay healthy during the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. People living with these injuries can continue to improve their health and wellbeing during these unprecedented times using a variety of MSKTC’s free, online resources.
Remote Learning Resources from the Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs)
The 10 RELs funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences have collaborated to produce a series of evidence-based resources and guidance about teaching and learning in a remote environment, as well as other considerations brought by the pandemic. AIR operates REL Midwest and REL Southwest, and serves as a partner to Florida State University on REL Southeast.
At Home with the Child Experts: The Science of Learning and Teaching at Home During COVID-19
In this 30-minute informal conversation from the Society for Research in Child Development, early education experts, including AIR researcher Erin Bogan, answered parents' and caregivers' questions about learning and teaching at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Resources for People with Spinal Cord, Traumatic Brain, and Burn Injuries During COVID-19
The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) is supporting people living with spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and burn injury to help them stay healthy during the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. People living with these injuries can continue to improve their health and wellbeing during these unprecedented times using a variety of MSKTC’s free, online resources.
Center on Great Teachers and Leaders: Insights on COVID-19
The GTL Center team is supporting states, districts, and their educators in their momentous efforts by gathering and sharing practical resources around a range of topics, including distance learning, students with disabilities, and English learners.
Women’s Groups and COVID-19: Challenges, Engagement, and Opportunities
This brief presents the implications of the pandemic and lockdown for women’s groups, with a focus on India, Nigeria, and Uganda, which have responded differently to the crisis.
