Resources for Families

Free Resources From the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement:
(A one page printout)
Talking to children about terrorist attacks and school and community shootings in the news

Includes resources for kids and teens with some book lists:
Using Books to Support Students Through Grief, Loss, and Healing

Organizations & Lists of Resources

• Brooklyn Public Library: Talking About Gun Violence with Children: Supporting Early Conversations – many excellent resources in here
  • Of note: American Red Cross – Helping Children Cope with Disaster (available in):
    • English 
    • Chinese 
    • Korean 
    • Spanish 
    • Tagalog 
    • Vietnamese
• NCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress
• WeRepair.org: Talking to Kids About Gun Violence (includes resource list)
• ¡Colorín Colorado!: 15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence / en Español
  • Includes resources specific to Uvdale & Buffalo shootings
• ALSC Tough Topics Booklists (includes lists for gr. K-2, 3-5 & 6-8) – each list includes resources at the end
• National Organization of School Psychologist: Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Families and Educators
• Cognitive Behavior Institute: Proactive and Positive Parenting in the Aftermath of a Tragedy
• American Psychological Association: Resilience in a time of war: Tips for parents and teachers of elementary school children

Articles/individual resources

• Sesame Street in Communities: Traumatic Experiences
• Child Mind Institute – How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings – includes help for parents/caregivers to reduce their own anxiety
• Mental Health First Aid: Five Tips to help Teens Cope with Stress
• Mindfulness for Teens: This website has resources to help teens use mindfulness to handle stress and includes apps to practice meditation and guided meditation recordings. http://mindfulnessforteens.com/

Misc & Book Lists

• Sesame Street Monster Meditations (YouTube)
• ALSC Tough Topics Booklists (includes lists for gr. K-2, 3-5 & 6-8)
• Chicago Public Library Coping with Stress & Anxiety: Recommended Books for Teens
• NowPsych 12 Anxiety Books for Teens
• #ARMEWITHBOOKS: a book list for young people in the age of school shootings includes lists of Picture Books, Middle Grade & Young Adult
• #ARMMEWITHGAMES: Leading game designers, researchers, and educators recommend 20 empathy and social-emotional learning games for young people growing up in the shadow of lockdown drills and school shootings. Includes games for High School, Middle School & Up, and Elementary School.
• The Ultimate Book List for Discussing War with Kids: A Parent’s Guide

National Child Traumatic Stress Network Resource List:
In response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde Texas, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help children, families, educators, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together. These resources include:

• Talking to Children about the Shooting
• Helping Youth After a Community Trauma: Tips for Educators (En Español)
• Talking to Children: When Scary Things Happen  (En Español)
• Talking to Teens about Violence (En Español)
• Tips for Talking to Students about Violence
• Coping After Mass Violence: For Adults
• For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence(En Español)
• Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
• Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers(En Español)
• Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
• Guiding Adults in Talking to Children about Death and Attending Services
• After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
• Once I Was Very Very Scared – children’s book for young children 
• Health Care Toolbox—website for pediatric health providers working with injured children
• Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing (En Español) (for responders)

Psychological First Aid
The NCTSN also has resources for responders on Psychological First Aid (PFA; En Español). PFA is an early intervention to support children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by these types of events. PFA Mobile and the PFA Wallet Card (En Español) provide a quick reminder of the core actions. The PFA online training course is also available on the NCTSN Learning Center.

Additional PFA resources for schools include:

• Psychological First Aid for Schools (PFA-S) – Field operations guide
• Providing PFA-S: For Health-Related Professionals – handout
• Providing PFA-S: For Principals and Administrators – handout
• Providing PFA-S: For School Support Staff – handout
• Providing PFA-S: For Teachers – handout

From the National Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center

• Transcend (mobile app to assist with recovery after mass violence)
• Rebuild your Community: Resources for Community Leaders
• Media Guidelines for Homicide Family Survivors
• Timeline of Activities to Promote Mental Health Recovery
• Self-Help: Resources for Survivors
• E-learning Courses: Trainings for Clinicians
• Resources for Victim Assistance Professionals

National Association of School Psychologists

• Recovery from large-scale crisis 
• Talking to Children about violence: Tips for Parents & teachers
• Responding to a Mass casualty event at a school 
• School safety Drills for students with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) 
• Using Social Media during and after