We are heartbroken over the senseless act of violence perpetuated by a gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX. We mourn with the families of the educators, young students and families in the Uvalde community whose lives are now devastated. We share in the grief, anger, fear, and sadness that many families, teachers, and students in our Hispanic community are feeling across the country over another senseless school shooting — and one that struck a community that is predominately Hispanic.
The Biden-Harris Administration, U.S. Department of Education and federal agencies have been quickly deploying support. For example:
- Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Administration Responds to Immediate Needs of the Community in the Buffalo and Uvalde Attacks
- Hoja Informativa: La Administración Biden-Harris responde a las necesidades inmediatas de la comunidad en los ataques de Buffalo y Uvalde
- President Joe Biden’s remarks to the nation (video) and proclamation, and Vice President Kamala Harris’ remarks.
- English and Spanish language statements from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona about our agency’s response offering every federal resource, including through our Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence) program.
- Listed below are some English and Spanish language resources shared by community organizations and federal agencies.
- Secretary Cardona’s message in response to the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, during his testimony before the House Education and Labor Committee:
“We can do better, and we must do better… I will be here fighting for you.” – @SecCardona pic.twitter.com/iL4YrZiFX4
— U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov) May 27, 2022
Please share this information with your networks. We will update you with additional resources. If you have bilingual and culturally relevant resources that may support the community during this crisis, feel free to email us at whitehousehispanicinitiative@ed.gov.
Our White House Initiative on Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics is committed to working with our federal colleagues and community partners like you to provide English and Spanish language support as the Uvalde community and our nation share in this collective pain.
Though our hearts are heavy, let’s all commit to honoring the memory of the lives that were lost and to working even more closely together to ensure that the survivors – and all students, educators and schools – feel safe, secure and supported.
Resources:
- U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime: Resources and Support for the Victims in Uvalde, Texas
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Distress Helpline offers free multilingual 24/7/365 crisis counseling. Call or text 1-800-985-5990 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Follow @SAMHSA for regular updates: https://twitter.com/samhsagov.
- SAMHSA Guide for talking about mental health in schools
- Colorín Colorado: 15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence
- Resources shared by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network:
- Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
- Helping Youth After a Community Trauma: Tips for Educators
- Talking to Children: When Scary Things Happen
- Talking to Teens about Violence
- For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence
- Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
- Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
- Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
- Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing (for responders)
Recursos:
- SAMHSA: La Línea de Ayuda para los Afectados por Catástrofes está disponible las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, los 365 días del año. Este servicio confidencial, multilingüe y gratuito está disponible para todos los residentes en los Estados Unidos y sus territorios. Llame o envíe un mensaje de texto al 1-800-985-5990 (oprima 2 para español) para comunicarse con un consejero capacitado para tratar situaciones de crisis.
- SAMHSA: Guía de maneras con las que puede ayudar a los estudiantes y sus familias
- Colorín Colorado: 15 Consejos para hablar con los niños sobre la violencia
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network:
- Ayuda para los adolescentes con duelo traumático: consejos para los cuidadores
- Ayuda para jóvenes después de un trauma comunitario: consejos para los educadores
- Hablando con los Niños Cuando Sucede La Violencia
- Hablando con los Adolescentes Cuando Sucede la Violencia
- Para los adolescentes: cómo afrontar los efectos de la violencia masiva
- Ayuda para los niños en edad escolar con duelo traumático: consejos para los cuidadores
- Ayuda para los adolescentes con duelo traumático: consejos para los cuidadores
- Ayuda para los niños pequeños con duelo traumático: consejos para los cuidadores
- Pausa – Restablecer – Nutrir (PRN)* para promover el bienestar ¡Utilícelo según sea necesario para cuidar su bienestar!
- Recursos por La Red Nacional para el Estrés Traumático Infantil
- Guía para los padres para ayudar a los jóvenes después de un tiroteo reciente
- Child Mind Institute
This list will be updated periodically with additional resources. These links represent just a few examples of the numerous reference materials currently available to the public. The inclusion of resources should not be construed or interpreted as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education or the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics of any private organization or business listed herein. To recommend additional resources, email whitehousehispanicinitiative@ed.gov.