Many groups and organizations offer resources to help children, families, communities, and responders impacted by traumatic events, such as the devastating May 2022 mass shootings in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX.
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network: NCTSN offers resources to help children, families and care providers navigate traumatic events, including a tip sheet on Talking to Children about Mass Shootings.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: SAMHSA has a collection of Coping Tips for Traumatic Events and Disasters and runs the Disaster Distress Helpline, which offers free crisis counseling to anyone experiencing emotional distress related to disasters (call or text: 1-800-985-5990).
- National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center: NMVVRC provides research and resources, such as community preparedness toolkits, to improve readiness and recovery in mass violence situations.
- Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Innovation & Improvement Center: EIIC has pediatric emergency trainings and tools for prehospital and hospital professionals, including COPE (Compassionate Options for Pediatric EMS) materials to help first responders support grieving families and take care of themselves.
- Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management: WRAP-EM offers pediatric mental health resources, including guidance on the Listen, Protect and Connect psychological first aid system for communities, children and parents, and K-12 education agencies.
Additional resources are available from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Healthy Children (American Academy of Pediatrics), the National Association of School Psychologists, and the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, among others.