Trauma Response Resources for Families and Congregations
Helping children and adolescents cope with violence and
disasters: What
community members can do.
A guide by the National
Institute for Mental Health, for teachers, parents, clergy and community. Download the 20-page PDF, which is well
presented and accessible.
Managing Your Distress in an Aftermath of a Shooting
This is an excellent, well-written guide for parents and other adults by the American Psychological
Association, published 2008. One of the best
ways to help children is to put ourselves—parents, teachers, congregation
members—on a path towards healing.
This document could be very helpful.
Tips for Parents of School Age Children: Helping Your
Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of School
Shootings
Aimed specifically at parents
working with their children. From
the American Psychological Association, 2007.
Helping Young Children Deal with Violence in the
News
This article, written by Dr. Diane Levin, is useful and well
grounded in developmentally appropriate suggestions. It is offered by the National
Association for the Education of Young Children.
A Resource for Young People Who Have Personally Experienced Trauma
This document, from the American School Counselor Association, offers information and list of
more resources, including "Practical Suggestions for Assisting Children in the
Aftermath of a Tragedy.” Some resources are geared specifically toward responding to school
shootings.
Recommended Titles
- Trauma in the Lives of Children: Crisis and Stress Management Techniques by Kendall Johnson.
- Children and Trauma—A Guide for Parents and Professionals by Cynthia Monahon.
- A Terrible Thing Happened—a story for children who have witness violence or trauma, by Margaret M. Holmes—addresses the need for children to find a place to speak about their experiences.
Crisis Planning/Preparation
- Children's Ministry offers information on Critical Lockdown Procedures.
- The U.S. Department of Education offers information on Emergency Planning.
Promote Congregational Safety
- Protecting Your Church from Crime and Violence. Regular price: $17.95. Sale price: $14.95. Nine chapters. Particularly recommended: "A Shooter in the House—A Police Officer's Advice on How to Prevent and React to, a Gunman at Church." The entire document is 24 pages long.
- Confronting Gun Violence at Church. Regular price: $17.95. Currently available as a free download. Nine chapters. Particularly recommended: "Should Our Church Have an Armed Security Guard?" The entire document is 22 pages long.
For more information contact religiouseducation @ uua.org.
Last updated on Wednesday, September 10, 2008.
