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How to Help Kids in Times of Crisis and Stress
• Try and keep routines as normal as possible. Kids gain security from the predictability of routine, including attending school.
• Limit exposure to television and the news.
• Be honest with kids and share with them as much information as they are developmentally able to handle.
• Listen to kids’ fears and concerns.
• Reassure kids that the world is a good place to be, but that there are people who do bad things.
• Parents and adults need to first deal with and assess their own responses to crisis and stress.
• Rebuild and reaffirm attachments and relationships.
Sample Documents and Publications
Guidelines for Helping College Students in the Aftermath of the Shooting at Virginia Tech
Published by the Crisis Management Institute
Scared or Prepared
This article from the March/April 2007 issue of ASCA School Counselor magazine, by noted school safety expert Kenneth Trump, provides information about proactively developing a school security and emergency plan.
By The Numbers
This article from the March/April 2007 issue of ASCA School Counselor magazine, breaks down crisis management in the schools into 10 important components, helping educators manage an otherwise overwhelming process. The author, Scott Poland, served on the national crisis teams following school shootings in Littleton, Colo.; Paducah, Ky.; and Red Lake, Minn.
Coping With the Sudden Death of a Student
(written for K-12 school districts but can be applicable for university settings)
A crisis handbook for schools and students dealing with death and grief. The development of this report comes from a belief that schools are a community of people who care for one another.
Culturally Competent Crisis Response: Information for Crisis Teams
This document talks about the importance of delivering culturally competent crisis responses in our changing society. Although written for school psychologists, this document provides and excellent resource for school counselors in giving strategies and tips for effective crisis response planning and implementing.
Lessons Learned from the Shootings at Columbine High School
This pamphlet talks about the immediate response and the long-term impact that took place in the wake of the Columbine shootings. It also discusses the human impact of both of these and how positive relationships can mediate the negative effects of this crisis.
Virginia Department of Education Guide for Crisis Management
Contains section on school shootings
National Education Association Crisis Handbook
Supporting Youth in Grief
Crisis Counseling Guide
Includes age-related reactions of children to disasters, helpful hints in responding to the reactions, tips for parents and referral to mental health professionals.
Practical Suggestions for Dealing with Children in the Aftermath of a Tragedy
Suggested Web Sites
School Violence Resource Center
The goal of the School Violence Resource Center is to help reduce violence and violence-related behavior in American schools. Resources available include a fact sheet on school violence and prevention issues, training for school resource officers and flip charts designed to serve as a quick reference for school administrators and teachers on how to react to school emergencies, including student violence, student injuries, child abduction, fire and natural disasters.
School Crisis Response Initiative
This bulletin describes an organizational model for school preparedness and effective responses to crises. Developed by the National Center for Children Exposed to Violence at the Yale Child Study Center, the School Crisis Response Initiative promotes specific training for school personnel as well as interested community members so they can respond more effectively to the needs of children after a crisis.
Virginia Center for School Safety (Resources Page)
Crisis Management Institute
School-Wide Management in the Aftermath of Trauma
American Red Cross Lesson Plans
A series of K-12 lesson plans. Lessons include hands-on activities, links across the curriculum, open-ended questions to stimulate discussion and activity sheets for students to complete with their families. Registration is required to download.
National Association of School Psychologists
Tips for Parents and Teachers: Helping Children Cope with Violence and Terror
American Counseling Association
Suggested Publications
Books for Kids:
“A Terrible Thing Happened”
Margaret M. Holmes
ISBN # 1-57759-696-X
Dalmation Press
P.O. Box 682068
Franklin, TN 37068-2068
“Reactions”
Allison Salloum
1998
Centering Corporation
Chicago, Illinois
“Why Did it Happen?”
Janice Cohen
1994
Morrow Junior Books
New York, NY
Books for Parents:
“Children and Trauma: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Children Heal”
Josey-Bass
San Francisco, CA
“The Scared Child: Helping Kids Overcome Traumatic Events”
John Wiley
New York, New York
Professional Publications:
“About Traumatic Experiences”
Joy Berry
1990
Children’s Press
Chicago, IL
“Keeping Children Safe: A Program to Help Children Cope with Community Violence”
Annette M. La Greca
Lissette M. Perez
Alissa Glickman
This is a manual based on two years of research examining the effects of community violence on children. The manual can be downloaded free of charge at http://keepingchildrensafe.com.
“Safe From the Start: Taking Action on Children Exposed to Violence”
A summary from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Department of Justice publications may be ordered from
NCJ 182789
NCJRS Publication Orders
P.O. Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
800-851-3420
www.ncjrs.org/puborder
“Terrorism, Trauma and Tragedies: A Counselor’s Guide to Preparing and Responding”
Debra D. Bass
Richard Yep
ISBN# 1-55620-225-3
American Counseling Association Foundation
5999 Stevenson Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22304
“The Peace Book: 108 Simple Ways to Create a More Peaceful World”
Louise Diamond
ISBN# 1-57324-770-7
PeaceTech
PO Box 253
Bristol, VT 05443
888-455-5355
www.peacebook.com
“Right on Course: How Trauma and Maltreatment Impact Children in the Classroom, and How You Can Help”
Civitas
1-800-To-Begin
http://www.civitas.org
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