National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention

This month we bring you a special issue dedicated to the impact of Hurricane Katrina on our communities. We highlight grantee stories and specific resources we hope will be useful.

Barbara Friedrichs of the Lafayette Parish School System in Lafayette, LA reports that the Lafayette school system has enrolled over 3,300 new students as of September 7th, and they have accepted 200 applications from displaced teachers and school staff. Lafayette is also addressing their need for school supplies, uniforms, housing, household items, and training in traumatic stress.

Carol Lee of the Russellville School District in Russellville, AR, says that SS/HS and district staff have taken a lead role in providing services to families coming into the area. They are serving about 400 evacuees right now, including 75-100 children that have enrolled in the local schools, and more people are arriving every day. Carol reports that it is too early to get a true handle on the numbers or needs of the evacuees, and she expresses concern about the already overtaxed local mental health systems and the anger that is beginning to surface in the community.

Deborah Healy of Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas reports that welcoming the 25,000 evacuees to the San Antonio area has been a city- and statewide effort. To meet the immediate needs of students in the district, the community has donated clothing, school supplies, and back packs, and the school is offering critical incident stress debriefing sessions.

Joellen Cook of the Lexington Richmond School District #5 in Ballentine, SC is preparing for 2,000-6,000 evacuees with a well-organized effort which includes arranging hotels, transportation, additional school staff, and volunteer resources. The district will need additional mental health services, and Joellen and her staff have made a request to their FPO to use their carryover monies to help provide these services.

Rosemary Virtuoso in Las Vegas, NV reports that the Las Vegas district is receiving 300 FEMA families. The displaced students are being treated as “homeless” in order to access free breakfast and lunch. Rosemary expects that issues of space, planning for food, and recognition of the displaced students’ emotional needs are going to be paramount. SS/HS staff and agencies in the area are available for supporting these students’ needs.

Lisa Brewster reports that the New Hanover County Schools in Wilmington, NC have accepted 25 displaced students and they are expecting many more. SS/HS is coordinating with Communities in Schools to provide filled backpacks for students, and the district has a strong Crisis Intervention Therapy team that will work with the children and families. Lisa also reports that the Stuff the Bus project for collecting supplies for donation has been very successful in Wilmington, and she can offer the model for replication.

Terry Longoria of the Napa County Office of Education in Napa, CA reports that Napa, although far from the affected areas in the Gulf, is also in a flood zone, and students have expressed concern about alligators in the Napa River. School staff is watching for PTSD in the students, and Terry says that the district is prepared to turn to the Red Cross and other community resources for support if necessary.

The National Center has collected a vast array of resources to assist your school and community relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. These can be found at http://www.promoteprevent.org/hurricane.htm.
We’ve highlighted a special few here:

The U.S. Department of Education - Hurricane help for schools: Providing supplies for schools serving students displaced by Hurricane Katrina
This webpage will serve as a nationwide clearinghouse addressing the needs of the affected children and the schools and districts serving displaced students. Schools may list the items they need, from school supplies to personal items to counseling resources, and these requests are then posted on the site. Companies and organizations seeking to make contributions may also post what items they are able to contribute, and the schools may contact these organizations directly. You can visit this site at http://www.ed.gov/news/hurricane/index.html.

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Crisis Resources
NASP has posted the following handouts on responding to Hurricane Katrina:

• Responding to Hurricane Katrina: Helping Children Cope – This handout is intended for use by parents and caregivers. It includes a description of symptoms children may be experiencing, and guidance for parents and caregivers in helping their child cope.
• Responding to Hurricane Katrina: Information for Schools – This handout is intended for use by school personnel. It includes an overview of common crisis reactions for preschoolers, elementary school children, and adolescents, and it provides suggestions to facilitate the school’s response.
• Responding to Hurricane Katrina: Helping Students Relocate and Supporting Their Mental Health Needs – This handout is intended for use by school personnel, including mental health professionals. It includes an overview of common crisis reactions for preschoolers, elementary school children, and adolescents, and it provides suggestions for effectively integrating displaced students.
• Responding to Hurricane Katrina: Understanding Reactions of Children and Youth – Provides an overview of possible reactions to the hurricane, and the common crisis reactions children might display at different age levels. Also includes information on severe crisis reactions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Helping Children Cope in Unsettling Times: Tips for Parents and Teachers – This handout contains information for parents and teachers on how to identify children most at need, how to help them cope, and how parents and teachers should cooperate to discuss the needs of the child.

You can find all of these on NASP’s website at http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/katrina.html.

American Psychological Association: Hurricane Katrina and Children
The APA Help Center’s “Managing Traumatic Stress: Hurricane Katrina and Children” provides a description of the reactions children may experience in response to the hurricane, as well as recommended strategies for parents and caregivers to help alleviate the consequences of trauma. Access the handout on the APA Help Center’s website at http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=109.

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry – Helping Children after a Disaster
This handout alerts parents and caregivers to changes in a child’s behavior that could be signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms include:
• Persistent fears related to the catastrophe
• Loss of concentration and irritability
• Behavior problems, such as misbehaving in school in way that are not typical for the child
• Physical complaints, such as stomachaches and headaches, for which a physical cause cannot be found
• Withdrawal from family and friends

Find this handout and other resources on coping with the hurricane online at http://www.aacap.org/publications/DisasterResponse/index.htm.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Helping Students after a Hurricane
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed the following handouts for helping children after a hurricane:
• Teacher Guidelines for Helping Students after a Hurricane
• Parent Guidelines for Helping Students after a Hurricane