In the wake of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, we all may experience fear and anxiety, especially children. Below are some resources you may wish to use as you navigate conversations with your Girl Scouts.

Ways to Help

We’ve seen an outpouring of support for Uvalde from across the nation. Here are some ways you can help locally, as well as ways to talk with your Girl Scout about this tragedy.

Note Cards:
Girls are encouraged to create personalized cards for families or friends of the victims, those recovering in the hospital, and first responders.

Cards can be mailed to:
Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center
811 N Coker Loop, San Antonio, 78216

Monetary Donations:

• Donate to Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas to benefit of our sister Girl Scouts in Uvalde – please click here to make a gift.
  
  
• Robb Elementary Memorial Fund - The First State Bank of Uvalde has set up a memorial account for the families of Robb Elementary. Checks should be payable to “Robb School Memorial Fund” and mailed to: 200 E. Nopal Street, Uvalde, TX 78001 or can be made via Zelle to: robbschoolmemorialfund@gmail.com or via 830-278-6231.
  
  
• VictimsFirst (a group of survivors of mass school shootings) has started a GoFundMe for Uvalde and is planning to partner with the National Compassion Fund. To learn more and to donate to a fund, visit the National Compassion Fund website  here.
  
  
• GoFundMe.com has created a listing of verified GoFundMe pages offering direct relief to victims of the Uvalde school shooting. You can view these GoFundMe fundraisers  here.

Supporting your child's mental health and wellness

Girl Scout Raising Awesome Girls content:
 When Violence on the News Shakes Her World

For child-centered grief and trauma resources 

• The National School Crisis Center has resources which offer practical tips for supporting youth and opening conversations­—for example: Talking to children about tragedies
• The National Alliance for Children's Grief (NACG) offers videos and an FAQ section  aimed at understanding grief in children and helping caring adults guide them through loss. Their “ Hero Toolkit” offers activities for talking about grief with children and teens.
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has many resources on grief and trauma, but here are some aimed at helping adults talk to children about violent events and grief:
  • Tip Sheet on  Coping After Mass Violence: provides common reactions children and families may be experiencing after a mass violence event and what they can do to take care of themselves.
  • Guidance for parents for helping youth after mass violence: Offers parents guidance on helping their children after a mass violence event. This fact sheet describes common reactions children may have, how parents can help them, and self-care tips after a violent event.
  • Helping teens with traumatic grief: Describes how teens may feel when struggling with the death of someone close and offers tips on what caregivers can do to help.
  • After a Crisis: Offers tips to parents on how to help young children, toddlers, and preschoolers heal after a traumatic event.
  • Guiding Adults in Talking to Children: Provides ways to navigate children’s questions about death, funerals, and memorials. This fact sheet discusses this challenging, but manageable, task and includes sample Q&A to help guide discussions.
  • Tip Sheet for Teens on Coping after Violence

For mental health crises

• Call 911
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 
  1-800-273-8255 or suicidepreventionlifeline.org for online emotional support
• The Crisis Text Line connects you to a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message: text NAMI to 741741
• The Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24/7 national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling (more info at National Institute of Mental Health): Dial 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor

For families or troops seeking mental health care services

• National Alliance for Children's Grief (NACG) links to  local support groups and professionals  
• SAMHSA's Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• Mental Health America (MHA) links to affiliates across the country and offers resources for finding treatment