Administrators' Resources: How Can Schools Cope with Tragedy?
Crisis Response in Schools
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are impacted
by tragedy. Below are just a few resources to assist you, your School Social Worker and other staff in working with students, schools, families and communities following a heartbreaking event. Resources are also included for crisis response planning and prevention as well as links to numerous organizations that can also provide resources and supports. We hope they will be
of some help.
Click on shortcuts below to go to sections:
School/District Crisis Response
Self Care for Those Providing Crisis Response
Comprehensive Listing of Crisis Response Interventions as well as documents in different languages
Resources for Educators:
A National Tragedy: Helping Children Cope National Association of School Psychologists
Child Trauma Response Toolkit for Educators National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Common Reactions After Trauma The National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Coping with Violence and Traumatic Events: Coping with Mass Violence & Shootings Numerous resources. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Coping with Crisis: Helping Children with Special Needs National Association of School Psychologists
Crisis Prevention and Response: UCLA's Quick Find Clearinghouse. Numerous Resources
Dealing with Death at School National Association of School Psychologists
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What (Educators &) Community Members Can Do National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Helping Children with Special Needs National Association of School Psychologists
Identifying Seriously Traumatized Children: Tips for Parents and Educators National Association of School Psychologists
Guidelines for Working with Traumatized Children
Parent Guidelines for Crisis Response National Center for Crisis Management
Psychological Impact of the Recent Shooting National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Resources for Educators on Child Trauma Products developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network may be viewed on line or printed from our website. Through a partnership with FedEx Office, printed copies of selected products are also available for purchase in the NCTSN DocStore.
Following National Tragedy Powerpoint by National Association of School Psychologists
Responding to a Crisis at School UCLA School Mental Health Project
School Crisis: Aftermath for Caregivers National Association of Secondary School Principals
School Crisis Guide: Helping and Healing in a Time of Crisis (54 page PDF document). National Education Association & Health Information Network
School Crisis Guide: Helping and Healing in a Time of Crisis (Website) National Education Association & Health Information Network
School Helping Students Deal with Loss UCLA School Mental Health Project
Talking to Children about the Shooting National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Talking to Children About Violence National Association of School Psychologists
Teacher Guidelines for Crisis Response National Center for Crisis Response
Tips for Helping PreSchool and School Children After Disasters National Center for Child Traumatic Stress
Tips for Helping Students Recovering From Traumatic Events U.S. Department of Education
Tips for Supporting Children and Youth After a Crisis Event National Association of School Psychologists
Tips for Teachers Helping Children Cope with a Crisis Los Angeles Unified School District Psychological Services
Traumatized Children: Tips for Parents & Children National Association of School Psychologists
School/District Crisis Response--Is Your School/District Ready?
Creating and Updating Emergency Management Plans (Several Resources) Department of Education's Readiness & Emergency Management for Schools
Crisis Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Resource Center National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention
Kidpower Safety Tips: Gun Violence in Schools Kidpower
Coping with Violence and Traumatic Events Numerous resources Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Emergency Planning U.S. Department of Education
"Managing Threats: Safety Lessons Learned from School Shootings" by Dr. Marleen Wong, University of Southern California
Practical Information on Crisis Planning The Office of Safe adn Drug Free Schools, U.S. Department of Education
A Practical Guide for Crisis Response in Our Schools National Center for Crisis Management: Guide for Crisis Response in Schools $26.95
Responding to a Crisis at School UCLA School Mental Health Project
School Crisis Guide: Helping and Healing in a Time of Crisis (54 page PDF document). National Education Association & Health Information Network
School Crisis Guide: Helping and Healing in a Time of Crisis (Website) National Education Association & Health Information Network
The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective F.B.I. (52 pages) Report prepared by the F.B.I. which pertains to assessing threats of potential school shooters.
Steps for Developing a School Emergency Management Plan U.S. Department of Education. Emergency Response and Crisis Management Technical Assistance Management
Responding to Media & Media Coverage
Coping with Violence and Traumatic Events: Tips on Media Coverage Media Guidelines. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Helping Your Child Cope with Media Coverage After a Disaster Parent Guide. Terrorism and Disaster Center at the University of Oklahoma
Health Sciences Center
Helping Students Cope with Media Coverage of Disasters: A Fact Sheet for Teachers & School Staff Terrorism and disaster Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Responsible Media Coverage of Crisis Events Impacting Children & Youth National Association of School Psychologists
Tip Sheet for Youth Talking to Journalists about the Shooting National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Tips for Parents on Media Coverage National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Self Care for Those Providing Crisis Response
Self Care for Responders Coping with Disasters and Traumatic Events. Numerous resources. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Crisis Caregivers: Taking Care of Ourselves National Association of School Psychologists
School Crisis: Aftermath for Caregivers National Association of Secondary School Principals
Violence Prevention
Creating a Safe School Building National Association of School Psychologists
Identifying Students At Risk for Violent Behavior National Center for Crisis Management
Preventing Violent Tragedies in Our Schools National Center for Crisis Management
Preventing School Violence: A Plan for Safe & Engaging Schools National Association of School Psychologists
Safe Schools Healthy Students Website National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention
Threat Assessment: An Essential Component of a Comprehensive Safe School Program National Association of School Psychologists
Threat Assessment at School: A Primer for Educators
Tips for School Administrators for Reinforcing School Safety National Association of School Psychologists
Organization Links Providing Numerous Resources
American Psychological Association
Center for School Mental Health University of Maryland
Center for the Prevention of School Violence
Federal Emergency Management Agency
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Alliance for Safe Schools
National Association of School Psychologists. Many resources. Several listed above.
National Center for Children Exposed to Violence.
"It is the mission of the National Center for Children Exposed to Violence (NCCEV) to increase the capacity of individuals and communities to reduce the incidence and impact of violence on children and families; to train and support the professionals who provide intervention and treatment to children and families affected by violence; and, to increase professional and public awareness of the effects of violence on children, families, communities and society."
National Center for Crisis & Bereavement
National Center for Crisis Management
National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention
The National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention provides training and technical assistance to Safe Schools/Healthy Students and Project LAUNCH grantees funded by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Center staff work with school districts and communities as they plan, implement, and sustain initiatives that foster resilience, promote mental health, and prevent youth violence and mental and behavioral disorders.
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome
National Center for Trauma and Loss in Children
National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
"The National Child Traumatic Stress Network was established to improve access to care, treatment, and services for traumatized children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events." Check out its numerous resources.
The Red Cross helps disaster victims by providing safe shelter, hot meals, essential relief supplies, emotional support and health services like first aid. Trained Red Cross workers often meet one-on-one with families to develop individual plans and identify available resources to help aid recovery.. Red Cross disaster relief focuses on relieving immediate disaster-caused needs so that families can get back on their feet and resume their lives as quickly as possible. The Red Cross also supports emergency workers, links family members outside the disaster area, and provides blood and blood products to disaster victims.
Resources for Dealing with Traumatic Events in Schools Developed by the Center for School Mental Health
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Numerous Resources
Crisis Prevention and Response: UCLA's Quick Find Clearinghouse. Numerous Resources
UCLA Clearinghouse of Crisis Response Resources
"Crisis, emergency, disaster, catastrophe, tragedy, trauma -- all are words heard too frequently at schools today. Almost every school has had a major crisis; every school is likely to have one. Besides natural disasters such as earthquakes and fires, students experience violence and death related to the suicide of friends, gang activity, snipers, hostage-taking, and rape. Some students react with severe emotional responses -- fear, grief, post traumatic stress syndrome. Moreover, such experiences and other events that threaten their sense of worth and well-being can produce the type of intense personal turmoil that leads students to think about hurting themselves or others." On the home page, click on the "Responding to a Crisis" (yellow circle to the right of the sun graphic).
U.S. Department of Education's Emergency Planning Resources
U.S. Department of Educations' Readiness & Emergency Management for Schools: Technical Assistance Center Numerous Resources