The Pennsylvania School Counselors Association is deeply saddened and heartbroken by yet another mass shooting, this time killing 3 students and 3 staff members in Nashville, Tennessee.
In our ongoing commitment to support students and schools in their continued healthy and safe development, PSCA recognizes the evident and rising risk for youth regarding gun violence. The CDC (2020) stated that firearms are the number one cause of death among American kids, and children also suffer from the secondary impact to children as witnesses of intimate partner and or community-related violence. Most of all, we know that gun-related violence and death are preventable.
To support PA school counselors, we continue to commit to the following.
Advocate - for policies that promote a safer and healthier school community.
Train - school counselors to provide leadership to design and support healthy school climates and the tools to support students at risk, in crisis, or recovering.
Research - partnering with counselor educators and other educational institutions on the best practices and policy positions.
Change - we will continue to learn, adapt and grow uncompromisingly to ensure PSCA and school counselors can lead in supporting the needs of students, schools, and communities harmed by gun violence.
School counselors are available to assist students, parents, and their school communities begin the healing process after acts of violence and school shootings.
Below are a collection of resources to help begin the healing process:
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network - School Shooting Resources
youth.gov - Resources to Help Youth Cope After a Mass Shooting
American Psychological Association - Resources for Coping with Shootings
National Center for Healthy Safe Children - Trauma, Violence and School Shooting
National Center for School Mental Health - Supporting Students, Staff, Families and Communities
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