Responding to the Tragedy in Uvalde
The impact of the recent school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde CISD is being felt nationwide and across our state. Texas educators, family members, students, and community members are heartbroken for the Uvalde community. Our thoughts are with the families impacted by this tragedy.
As we all mourn the lives lost in Uvalde, the need for ongoing grief and trauma supports throughout the state and the south Texas region is recognized. The following resources have been developed to support adults in talking with children in age-appropriate ways about the school shooting, supporting children in their coping, and understanding some of the ways in which children may respond to the trauma.
For Youth:
Resources in English
- For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
Resources in Spanish
- Para los adolescentes - como afrontar los efectos de la violencia masiva (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
For Parents and Families:
Resources in English
- Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth after the Recent Shooting (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Talking to Children about the School Shooting (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Tips for Parents on Media Coverage of a Shooting (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Talking to Children: When Scary Things Happen (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Talking to Teens about Violence (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Tips for Talking to Students about Violence (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Guiding Adults in Talking to Children about Death and Attending Services (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Once I Was Very Very Scared – children’s book for young children (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- After the Injury—website for families with injured children (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Psychological Impact of the Recent School Shooting (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Restoring a Sense of Safety in the Aftermath of a Shooting: Tips for Parents and Professionals (Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress)
- Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News (PBS for Parents)
Resources in Spanish
- Hablando con los ninos cuando sucede la violencia (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Hablando con los Adolescentes cuando sucede la violencia (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Ayuda para los adolescentes con duelo traumatico - consejos para los cuidadores (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Ayuda para los ninos pequenos con duelo traumatico - consejos para los cuidadores (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Ayuda para los ninos en edad escolar con duelo traumatico - consejos para los cuidadores (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
For Educators and Other Professionals:
Resources in English
- Helping Youth after Community Trauma: Tips for Educators (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Health Care Toolbox—website for pediatric health providers working with injured children
- Restoring a Sense of Safety in the Aftermath of a Shooting: Tips for Parents and Professionals (Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress)
- Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Grief Leadership: Leadership in the Wake of Tragedy (Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University)
- Leadership Communication: Anticipating and Responding to Stressful Events: (Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University)
- Coping with Stress Following a Mass Shooting (Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University)
Resources in Spanish
- Ayuda para jovenes despues de un trauma comunitario: consejos para los educadores (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
Psychological First Aid
The NCTSN also has resources for educators and other 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
Disaster Helpline
SAMHSA has a Disaster Distress Helpline – call or text 1-800-985-5990 (for Spanish, press “2”) to be connected to a trained counselor 24/7/365.: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (24/7/365) - call 1-800-273-8255 (for Spanish, 1-888-628-9454) https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Crisis Text Line – text TX to 741-741 (now have Spanish resources and can connect via WhatsApp) https://www.crisistextline.org/