ACA Responds to the Tragedy at Northern Illinois University – Resources for Coping With Crisis

The American Counseling Association wishes to express our sadness over the tragedy that occurred Thursday, February 14th on the Northern Illinois University campus in DeKalb, Illinois. Our thoughts are with the entire Northern Illinois community as students, faculty, staff, family, and friends deal with this trauma.

To help individuals cope in the aftermath of this tragedy, ACA has posted resources for the public and professional counselors.

ACA Resources

From Terrorism, Trauma and Tragedies: A Counselor’s Guide to Preparing and Responding:

• Dealing With the Impact of Trauma (PDF)
• Common Responses to Traumatic Events (PDF)
• Rituals and Creativity: Strategies for Victims of Terror (PDF)
• Helping Your Workforce Cope and Return to Work (PDF)

From Journal of Counseling & Development:

• Preventing Vicarious Trauma: What Counselors Should Know When Working With Trauma Survivors (PDF)
  JCD Vol. 82, No. 1 Winter 2004
• Assessing Threats of School Violence: Implications for Counselors (PDF)
  JCD Vol 80, No 2 Spring 2002
• JCD's Special Section on School Violence: Reactions and Thoughts of a Counselor (PDF)
  JCD Vol 82, No. 3 Summer 2004
• Toward a Positive Perspective on Violence Prevention in Schools: Building Connections (PDF)
  JCD Vol 82, No. 3 Summer 2004

From Vistas:

• Providing Mental Health Services to Clients in Crisis or Disaster Situations (17.78 KB)
  Howard B. Smith
• Moving Forward: Issues in Trauma Response and Treatment (PDF)
  Jane M. Webber, J. Barry Mascari, Michael Dubi, and J. Eric Gentry
• Frequency and Importance of Grief Counselor Activities (PDF)
  Darlene Danecker
• The Role of Personal Assumptions in Response to Traumatic Incidents (PDF)
  Tammy J. Shaffer

Tips from the NIU Counseling & Student Development Office

For:

• Students
• Faculty & Staff
• Families

U.S.Department of Education Resources:

Threat Assessment in Schools (PDF): A Guide to Managing Threatening Situations and to Creating Safe School Climates, a publication of the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education. (May 2002) www.ed.gov

Wide Scope, Questionable Quality: Three Reports from the Study on School Violence and Prevention. These three reports, along with an Executive Summary, provide findings from the Study on School Violence and Prevention. (August 2002) www.ed.gov

The Final Report and Findings of the Safe School Initiative (PDF): Implications for the Prevention of School Attacks in the United States, a publication of the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education. (May 2002) (www.ed.gov)

Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence)
Project SERV funds short-term and long-term education-related services for school districts to help them recover from a violent or traumatic event in which the learning environment has been disrupted. Immediate services assistance covers up to 60 days from the date of the incident. Extended services assistance covers up to one year from the incident.

External Resources

American School Counselor Association (ASCA) - School Shooting Resources

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) - School Safety and Crisis Resources