Some resources developed or suggested by Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) staff, may help you process today’s disquieting events emotionally and spiritually for yourself, in your family, and with others in your faith community.

Extra-ordinary times:

Dear families, Please remember that during extra-ordinary times as adults our priority should be protecting our children and youth. It is important to make them feel safe by monitoring their access to news especially sensationalized media.  Also, important is “checking in” by listening to what they are saying to you, to others and paying attention to their behaviors. Intentional conversations about safety measures that have been taken to ensure their safety and what to do if they feel unsafe is always a good idea. Lastly but not least, it is  important to remind them how as UU’s the first principle of “inherent worth and dignity of everyone” begins with their own “inherent worth and dignity” and  how much they are loved. I am happy to be of service to you and your families if you need anything further.

Articles:

2017-18 How to Talk Children About Shootings

Sexual-Abuse-Prevention-Tips-UUA-Manual-pgs

What to Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious

• 2017-18 How to Talk Children About Shootings
• parenting-in-the-midst-of-tragedy
• Talking with children about horrific news by Michelle Richards, UU Parenting blog, March 28, 2011
• Supporting Children in the Face of Disaster or Trauma by Tracey L. Hurd, posted by the UUA Resource Development Office
• Helping Students Navigate a Violent World by Sean McCollum, posted by Teaching Tolerance, A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center
• The Senseless Shootings: How to Talk with Your Children by Donna Schuurman, posted by The Dougy Center for Grieving Children
• Boston Marathon 2013: What Story to Tell Our Children… and Ourselves by Gail Forsyth-Vail, UUA Adult Programs Director
• How to Talk with Children about Boston Marathon Bombs by Gene Beresin, MD, on the website of WBUR, Boston’s NPR news station April 15, 2013

Tips and Fact Sheets

• A National Tragedy: Helping Children Cope and Talking to Children about Violence (PDF): Information for Parents and Educators, from the National Association of School Psychologists
• Helping Children Cope after a School Shooting (PDF), from the Children’s National Medical Center
• Helping Children Cope with Tragedy-related Anxiety, from Mental Health America
• Discussing Hate and Violence with Your Children, from the Anti-Defamation League
• Talking with Kids about News, on the PBS Parents website
• Coping with a Traumatic Event, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• The Terrorism section of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s website offers multiple fact sheets for processing a shooting tragedy with children (PDF), youth, and adults.
• The Educators for Social Responsibility website provides the National Education Association’s 2012 School Crisis Guide (PDF): Help and Healing in a Time of Crisis.

Video

• How to Talk to Kids about Traumatic Events, a video segment from PBS for parents of young children
• How to Cope with a School Shooting (Video) with Dr. Hayley Sherwood, licensed clinical psychologist

Music

• “When I Breathe In” (Video) by Sarah Dan Jones
• “We Pray” (Healing Prayer) (Video) by Nick Page

More Recommendations

• Talking about Death: A Dialogue between Parent and Child by Earl A. Grollman (Beacon Press, 2011)
• Living When a Loved One Has Died by Earl A. Grollman (Beacon Press)
• Listen, Protect, and Connect: Psychological First Aid for Children and Parents (PDF) by Dr. Merritt Schreiber and R. Gurwitch (2006)
• Trauma Response Resources for Families and Congregations on the UUA website

Last updated on Thursday, April 18, 2013.

 

All the Teddy Bears and friends…

are on their way to the children of

Sandy Hook Elementary School and Community of Newtown, Connecticut

**************************************************************************************************

Our Deepest Sympathy to the families and community of Newtown, Connecticut

Our Hearts, Thoughts, & Prayers are with you.

Please note as Reverend Ellen mentioned in her Response…

“Remember that Dolores and I are both resources for you, and you are welcome to call Rev. Ellen , or email her at home or Dolores   if you or your child or youth are having a particularly difficult time.” Please see the following resources shared by Sue Philips, our Clara Barton District Executive:”

• Helping children cope after a school shooting, from the National Children’s Medical Center
• Video series with help answering questions from children and adolescents following a school shooting, from the Reston Psychological Center
• Helping children cope with trauma-related anxiety, from Mental Health America
• Strategies for talking with children about difficult news of all kinds, from PBS
• Information about coping with a traumatic event, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Trauma response resources for congregations, from the UU Trauma Response Ministry

 

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