The impact on children and families of disasters, trauma, or violence presents many challenges to families and health professionals. This guide provides resources to help children and adolescents cope with injury; loss of loved ones; destruction of homes, schools, and workplaces; and other trauma.

The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry's Facts for Families series provides information on a variety of issues that affect children, adolescents, and their families. Selected topics include Children and Grief, Children and TV Violence, Helping Children After a Disaster, and Talking to Children About Terrorism and War. The fact sheets are available in English and Spanish.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has assembled a collection of Coping Resources for parents, educators, students, schools, and pediatricians, including resources on violence prevention, school safety, and promoting mental health.

The American Red Cross provides educational materials to help people of all ages work through the emotional aspects of disaster. Masters of Disaster contains lessons and activities for educators to use in helping students (K-12) work through a broad range of questions, feelings and reactions following a tragic event. Maintaining a Healthy State of Mind provides information for adults, parents, and caregivers and middle to high school students about what reactions to expect and how to help themselves and others cope with unexpected events. The booklet, Listen, Protect and Connect presents steps for adults to talk with children during times of stress.

The MedlinePlus Web page, Disasters and Emergency Preparedness, links to overviews of family emergency preparedness, coping information, law and policy, and pages for specific emergency situations such as giving birth in emergency situations and emergency management for children and seniors. The page also includes links to news on current disasters and relief work.

Mental Health America's (formerly the National Mental Health Association) Web page, Helping Children Cope with Loss, contains information for parents, educators, and others on signs of grieving in children and adolescents and how to help them overcome loss. The Web page also links to organizations and resources that can provide useful materials and referral information.

The NYU Child Study Center provides the booklet, Caring for Kids After Trauma and Death, A Guide for Parents and Health Professionals. The 68-page guide (available in English and Spanish) describes how children grieve at different ages and the specific ways teachers, mental health professionals, and parents can help them with the immediate and ongoing tasks of grieving. Talking to Kids About School Violence provides resources to help educators, parents, and other caregivers support children and adolescents.

The National Association of School Psychologists' resource, Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers, lists ways that parents and school personnel can help children feel safe by establishing a sense of normalcy and security and talking with them about their fears. Points to emphasize when talking to children are also suggested.

The National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement offers guidelines for responding to the death of a student or school staff, template letters for schools, and other resources.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network's Web site provides resources for parents and other caregivers, educators, the media, and health professionals on standards of care and access to services for traumatized children, their families, and communities throughout the United States.

The National Children's Advocacy Center's Psychological Impact of Disaster on Children lists resources pertaining to psychological trauma experienced by children as a result of natural disaster.

The National Institute of Mental Health's booklet, Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters, is written for professionals and describes the impact of violence and disasters on children and adolescents with suggestions for minimizing long-term emotional harm.

The Nemours Center for Children's Health Media Web site, KidsHealth contains educational resources for children, adolescents, parents, educators, and others. Selected topics include Dealing with Feelings, Staying Safe, Emotions and Behavior, Positive Parenting, and In the News.

Related MCH Library resources include: