Helpful Resources for Coping with Tragedy

To assist schools and parents in helping students cope with violence, loss, and grief, Montebello Unified School District has provided some helpful resources that are applicable for coping with any tragedy.  Counseling and student support specialists (school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and school nurses) and local mental health specialists can assist you in working with individual students and staff.

• CDE: Coping with Tragedy: The website includes links to articles on talking to kids about violence, and helping children deal with tragic events.
• California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA): School safety references, including school violence preparedness; “CalEMA’s Active Shooter Guidebook” available to download in pdf; and resources for parents, kids, and schools.
• California School Boards Association (CSBA)
• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP): The website includes resources for administrators, teachers, and parents.
• Resources for Coping with Tragedy:
  Talking with Kids about Violence:  Tips for Parents and Teachers (also in Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean) Talkin Violence, Talking Violence (Spanish)
  Talking to Children About Violence 
• Thirteen.org
• Caring for Kids After Trauma, Disaster and Death: A Guide for Parents and Professionals
• Action Plan on School Shootings: Attached is a recommended contingency plan on school shootings, developed by Lt. Col. Grossman, an expert on the topic of school shootings.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA): The website includes the publication “Mental Health Response to Mass Violence and Terrorism,” download in pdf.
• SAMHSA also sponsors a Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 to receive immediate crisis counseling.

The helpline is a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week national hotline dedicated to providing disaster crisis counseling. The toll-free Helpline is confidential and multilingual, and available for those who are experiencing psychological distress as a result of natural or man-made disasters, incidents of mass violence, or any other tragedy affecting America's communities. The texting service also is available to Spanish speakers, text "Hablanos" to 66746 for 24/7 emotional support. TTY for Deaf/Hearing Impaired: 1-800-846-8517. Access the Helpline. 

• Emergency Response and Crisis Management (ERCM) Technical Assistance Center: The website includes information on coping with the death of a student or staff member.
• National School Nurses Association (NASN): The website includes resources and links for emergency preparedness school planning.
• Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of school shootings
• Consejos para padres con niños en edad escolar: Cómo ayudar a sus hijos tras los tiroteos en los centros de educación.
• The White House Blog: Resource for Parents and Schools after Connecticut Tragedy