What happened yesterday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida is a terrible tragedy and major traumatic event for parents, students, teachers and the community as a whole. Jewish Community Services extends its heartfelt condolences to those families who lost a family member, to those who were injured and to those who will suffer the horrific pain and grief in the days, and months to come.

This act of violence can be overwhelming, and learning how to cope after an event like this is paramount in the recovery process. There are a few basic tips and recommendations that can help parents when speaking with children and adolescents who may be affected by a school shooting:

  1. Talk to your children
  2. Limit exposure to news coverage
  3. Know the warning signs
  4. Keep home a safe place
  5. Watch for signs of stress, fear and anxiety
  6. Take “news breaks”
  7. Take care of yourself

Jewish Community Services has highly trained therapists who can assist families who may need the support needed to deal with the symptoms that may occur as a result of this tragedy.

For more information, please call Access Services at 305-576-6550. Other resources include: Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, text line “Talkwithus” to 66746 and 2-1-1.