Community trauma

• Crisis Resources for Families. Iowa PBS provides English and Spanish resources to help children understand emergencies.
• Tips for Survivors: Coping with Grief after a Disaster or Traumatic Event  | SAMHSA Flyer  Grief is the normal response of sorrow, heartache, and confusion that comes from losing someone or something important to you. Grief can also be a common human response after a disaster or other traumatic event.

Iowa HHS provides the following resources to assist with the aftermath of natural disasters, including tornadoes and flooding.

• Children and Disasters | SAMHSA  Learn about how children and adolescents experience disasters.  Learn ways parents and caregivers can help young people cope and develop resilience.
• Have you and and your family been affected by a disaster? | SAMHSA Flyer  Children and youth react to disasters differently than adults. Adults need to know what type of reactions to look for and when to seek additional help.
• Survivors of Disasters Resource Portal | SAMHSA Learn about possible reactions to disasters as well as resources for survivors to prepare for and cope with disasters or traumatic events.
  • Tips for Disaster Responders: Preventing and Managing Stress | SAMHSA Flyer
• Email/letter template for students and parents Template for educators, healthcare providers and more to share about YLI's free services.

Tornadoes

• Tornadoes | Ready.gov Helpful information for before, during and after and Tornado.
• Tornadoes: Before, During and After | CDC  Helpful information and resources from the CDC.
• Tornadoes, Hurricanes, and Children | APA  Information from the American Psychological Association on children and natural disasters.  
• Tornado Resources | NCTSN Helpful information and resources from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
  • Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event | NCTSN Flyer
  • After the Tornado: Helping Young Children Heal | NCTSN Flyer
  • For Kids: Tornado Recovery - Right After a Tornado | NCTSN Flyer
  • For Kids: Tornado Recovery - Making Things Better | NCTSN Flyer
  • For Teachers: Helping Students after a Tornado | NCTSN Flyer
  • For Teens: Tornado Recovery - Right After a Tornado | NCTSN Flyer
  • For Teens: Tornado Recovery - Making Things Better | NCTSN Flyer
  • Parent Guidelines: Helping Children after a Tornado | NCTSN Flyer
    • Questions to Ask Your Children about the Tornado | NCTSN Flyer
    • Trinka and Sam: The Swirling Twirling Wind This book offers parents and caregivers a way to talk to their children about tornadoes.
    • Simple Activities for Children and Adolescents | NCTSN Flyer
  • Tips for Parents: Media Coverage of the Tornadoes | NCTSN Flyer

National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)  

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is a national resource to help parents and caregivers talk about traumatic events with children and teens. 

Help Talking to Children

• Talking to Children: When Scary Things Happen (En Español)
• Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After Mass Violence (ASL)
• Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
• Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
• Helping Youth After Community Trauma: Tips for Educators (En Español)
• After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal (En Español)
• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event (En Español; ASL)
• Once I Was Very Very Scared – children’s book for young children 

Help Talking to Teens

• Talking to Teens When Violence Happens (En Español)
• For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence (En Español; ASL)
• Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event (En Español; ASL)

Psychological First Aid

PFA assists children, teens, and adults who have experienced tragedy.

• 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

Help for Responders

• Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing (En Español)

National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center 

NMVVRC helps communities prepare for and respond to mass violence.

• Coping After Mass Violence (ASL)
• Transcend (mobile app to assist with recovery after mass violence)
• Rebuild your Community: Resources for Community Leaders
• Media Guidelines for Homicide Family Survivors
• Timeline of Activities to Promote Mental Health Recovery
• Self-Help: Resources for Survivors
• E-learning Courses: Trainings for Clinicians
• Resources for Victim Assistance Professionals

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials 

ASTHO works to improve the public health of communities. ASTHO’s Catalyst Center for Firearm Injury Prevention compiled resources for communities as they process tragedies caused by firearm violence.

• Resources for Communities - Mass Violence Events