Good Afternoon,
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
would like to offer use of our crisis and school
violence resources to you and your members, in light
of the tragedy at Virginia Tech yesterday. NASP is a
primary source of information to the education
community in the event of major tragedies affecting
students and staff. We have been centrally involved
in the response to events ranging from 9-11 and
Hurricane Katrina to virtually every high profile
school shooting. Our relevant expertise is in mental
health, crisis prevention and response, violence
prevention, risk assessment, and crisis recovery,
all within the unique context of a learning
environment.
Historically our outreach has been to the K-12
community but most of the information is applicable
to college and university level students and staff.
We believe that, although, some of the terminology
used in our current online resources is geared
toward the K-12 environment, most of the information
is directly applicable and the strategies adaptable
to the college or university environment.
You can access both PDF and adaptable
school safety and crisis resources online.
Please feel free to make the appropriate adaptations
to any of the resources in Word or html and
disseminate to your members, who may distribute
within their communities. I would be happy
coordinate with you or the appropriate association
staff person on this, if it is helpful.
Among the handouts available for work with students,
parents, and teachers are handouts on
Talking to Children About Violence,
Safe Schools and Springtime Stress: Prevention
Issues,
Tips for School Administrators for Reinforcing
School Safety, and
Promoting Tolerance and Peace in Children.
NASP also has partnered with the National
Association of Secondary School Principals, through
which we provide a monthly column. A number of the
columns address topics related to safety and
crisis that may also be helpful to post-secondary
school administrators and mental health personnel,
such as:
Dealing With Death at School: Guidelines for
School Administrators
Death and Grief in the Family: Tips for Parents
(English)
Death and Grief in the Family: Tips for Parents
(Spanish)
Preventing School Violence: A Plan for Safe and
Engaging Schools
PTSD: Coping After a Crisis
Traumatized Children: Tips for Parents and Educators
Responding to the Mental Health Needs of Students
Threat Assessment: An Essential Component of a
Comprehensive Safe School Program
Understanding and Responding to Students Who
Self-Mutilate
Self-Mutilation: Information and Guidance for School
Personnel
School Safety: A Learning Matter -
Education Week Commentary
Please feel free to forward this email to colleagues
at other higher education associations who might
find the information useful. Know also that NASP
hopes to work in the coming weeks and months to
adapt or develop materials that specifically target
higher education students, staff, and environments.
We will be tapping our members who work in higher
education; however, any input would be welcome.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any
questions.
Sincerely,
Kathy
