Coping with Tragedy and Giving Back

(Updated, 19 December 2012)

This post is a departure from the interviews that you will normally find here, but like many of you, the events in Newtown, Connecticut are much on my mind. 

Rather than offer my opinions, which won't fix anything, I have collated some resources that may help the young people with whom you work cope with the confusing, horrifying events there. 

Additionally, you'll find links to some sites that are providing financial and other material support to the Newtown community. 

If you know of other helpful resources, please feel free to add them in the comments section.

In great and loving thanks for all of the teachers, librarians, parents, and children I have known 
- Carol

Coping Resources

• PBS - Strategies for Talking and Listening, http://www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/news/talking.html
• National Association of School Psychologists - School Safety and Crisis Resources, http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/index.aspx
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network - Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators, http://www.nctsnet.org/resources/audiences/school-personnel/trauma-toolkit
• National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/n/school-crisis/default/
• Killing Monsters: Why children Need Fantasy, Super Heroes, and Make-Believe Violence - Gerard Jones, http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Monsters-Children-Make-Believe-Violence/dp/0465036961
• Connecticut Commission on Children, http://www.cga.ct.gov/coc/Newtown.htm
• GalleyCat - Library Books to Help Kids Talk about the Newtown Tragedy, http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/library-books-to-help-kids-cope-with-newtown-tragedy_b62488
• Helping Children and Teens Cope with Trauma, http://sparkaction.org/content/help-healing-web
• Fred Rogers - Dealing with Tragic Events in the News, http://www.fredrogers.org/new-site/par-tragic-events.html
• KidsSource - Developmental Considerations Concerning Grief, http://www.kidsource.com/sids/childrensgrief.html
• Allen County Public Library - Parents' Primer Booklist on Death, http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/children/primer.html
• National Council of Teachers of English - Responding to Tragedy, http://www.ncte.org/responding

Giving Resources

• United Way of Western Connecticut and Newtown Savings Bank, https://newtown.uwwesternct.org/

The Newtown School Board is requesting that all donations be directed to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund in care of the United Way at the above URL. Checks can be mailed to: 

SandyHook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main St
Newtown, CT 06470

• Teachers Paying Teachers - Sandy Hook Memorial Project, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sandy-Hook-Elementary-Memorial-Project
• Evergram - Messages to Families, http://www.evergram.com/post-message/our-broken-hearts-2542/?utm_campaign=subdmn
• Newtown Memorial Fund, https://www.facebook.com/NewtownMemorialFund?ref=stream
• My Sandy Hook Family Fund, https://everribbon.com/ribbon/view/10076