Helping kids and families cope in the aftermath of tornadoes
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The Trauma and Grief Center at Children's Hospital New Orleans is here to support children and families across our community who are in need of support due to trauma associated with the tornadoes that occurred this week across Southeast Louisiana. The TAG Center provides evidence-based assessment and treatment for children and adolescents, ages 8 to 18, who have experienced any form of trauma and/or the death of a loved one.
Families in need of support can reach out to the Trauma and Grief Center at 504.896.7200 and select option 5. Our intake coordinator will get back to you within 24 hours.
Resources in Response to Recent Tornadoes
In response to the recent tornadoes, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help children, families, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together.
These resources include:
- Parent Guidelines for Helping Children after a Tornado
- Tips for Parents on Media Coverage of the Tornado
- Questions to Ask Your Children About the Tornado
- After the Tornado: Helping Young Children Heal
- Teacher Guidelines for Helping Students after a Tornado
- Trinka and Sam and the Swirling Twirling Wind—e-book for young children (En Español)
- Tornado Response for Kids: Right After a Tornado
- Tornado Response for Teens: Right After a Tornado
- Simple Activities for Children and Adolescents without Power or When Playing Outside is Restricted
- Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
- Helping Youth after a Community Trauma: Tips for Educators
- Once I Was Very Very Scared – children’s book for young children
- Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing (for responders)
- Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
- Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
- Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
Psychological First Aid
The NCTSN also has resources for responders on Psychological First Aid (PFA). PFA is an early intervention to support children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by these types of events. Learn more by taking PFA Online, our free e-learning course (En Español). The PFA Wallet Card (En Español) provides a quick reminder of the core actions. PFA Handouts include:
- Parent Tips for Helping Infants and Toddlers (En Español)
- Parent Tips for Helping Preschoolers (En Español)
- Parent Tips for Helping School-Age Children (En Español)
- Parent Tips for Helping Adolescents (En Español)
- Tips for Adults (En Español)
Mobile Apps
Disaster Helpline
SAMHSA has a Disaster Distress Helpline—call or text 1-800-985-5990 (for Spanish, press “2”) to be connected to a trained counselor 24/7/365.
Learn more about the Trauma and Grief Center at Children's Hospital.
