Supporting Our Community

For parents, families, children, and young adults

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) offers family-centered resources including Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After a Shooting and Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event for understanding and responding to children’s needs sensitively.
• SAMHSA’s School Shooting Resources offer tip sheets, trainings, and videos for parents, caregivers, and professionals to guide trauma-informed support.
• NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) provides guidance for talking to children about violence, understanding trauma responses, and establishing a sense of safety. 

For the well-being of educators, pediatricians, and mental health professionals

• The SAMHSA Disaster Behavioral Health Resource Center (Minnesota Department of Health) includes tools like Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) to support responders, professionals, and communities. 
• Limit exposure to news coverage, stay connected with supportive colleagues, maintain healthy routines, and seek professional support to avoid compassion fatigue and secondary trauma. Health
• Everytown Survivor Network provides guidance on trauma, grief, coping with trauma in youth, and self-care practices, applicable to both clinicians and caregivers.

Immediate help lines

• 988—Call or text this number for urgent mental health support.
• Disaster Distress Helpline (SAMHSA)—Dial 1 (800) 985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish) for crisis counseling.
• Crisis Text Line—Text your location code (e.g., MN) to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

Parents, educators, pediatricians, and mental health professionals, please lean on one another and consider sharing developmentally appropriate guidance and self-care strategies. If you’re processing this personally, it’s okay to pause, reflect, or reach out.

Together, let’s continue to offer compassionate, trauma-informed care—while also honoring our own emotional needs in this difficult time.