Referrals & Resources

Tools for Anxiety and Issues Related to School Violence

Connecticut Children’s Center for Care Coordination (the Center) has seen an influx in referrals for kids with anxiety surrounding instances of violence in schools, particularly school shootings. Although high-alert behavior is a byproduct of mass tragedies, it got us thinking about how best to communicate with our families about these incidents. In our quest for best practices, we came across a guide “Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Parents and Educators” from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). The guide goes over when to talk to children, the best tactics to use, and how social media plays a role.

The Center was also concerned about our patients with special healthcare needs. What are schools doing, or what can they be doing, to make sure all children stay safe when terrible things happen? Right now, there is not a national model for school-based emergency preparedness (Clarke, Jones, & Yssel, 2014). That being said, parents and educators must advocate for a specific and individualized plan that is unique to fit each student’s needs through their Individualized Education Program or 504 plan. Read more about what strategies and plans are suggested.