Partners share direct aid resources to support Uvalde community post-tragedy
Many of UP Partnership’s community partners have been on hand assisting with in-person emergency response in our neighboring county of Uvalde after the senseless tragedy that unfolded at Uvalde CISD’s Robb Elementary School on Tuesday, May 24. Education Service Center, Region 20 Executive Director and UP Partnership board member Jeff Goldhorn has been on-site providing support to that district’s leadership and helping coordinate support efforts from the San Antonio region.
These efforts included mobilizing a group of counselors to provide needed healing supports from surrounding school districts such as Northside, East Central and Edgewood ISDs, among others. Additionally, the University of Texas at San Antonio is also offering counseling services to its students and is working to also offer similar support to the families in Uvalde.
The San Antonio Area Foundation in tandem with the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and in partnership with the National Compassion Fund is accepting donations toward two funds aimed toward providing direct financial assistance to the survivors of the deceased and those directly affected by this tragedy, as well as an emergency relief fund to support area nonprofits that will provide long-term assistance, including mental health services in Uvalde.
H-E-B is also driving donating $500,000 to help the victims, as well as coordinating donations through its stores, while the Charles Butt Foundation is actively working on their coordinated response.
Below are further ways that we can all help the Uvalde Community in the short-term, as they begin the journey to recovery.
How to help the Uvalde Community
Monetary Donations
First State Bank of Uvalde has setup an account for donations. To donate to the Robb School Memorial Fund, please call them at 830-278-6231 and ask for Roxanne Hernandez, Chance Neutze or Cody Smith for any questions.
You can also drop off donations at any of their branch locations or mail to: PO Box 1908, Uvalde TX 78802. Checks can be made payable to the “Robb School Memorial Fund.” Donations are also being accepted via Zelle using email address: robbschoolmemorialfund@gmail.com.
The San Antonio Area Foundation in partnership with the Community Foundation of Texas Hill Country have started a relief fund for the victims and their families, as well as others affected by the Uvalde shooting. You can donate on their websites.
Donate Blood at the following blood drives
• University Health in San Antonio is encouraging blood donations at its donor room at University Hospital, 4502 Medical Dr. in San Antonio. Appointments can be scheduled here.
• South Texas’ primary blood bank, the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, has also organized a blood drive for Wednesday in Uvalde at the Herby Ham Activity Center.
• Walk-ins are welcome for those in the area. Interested donors can also make an appointment ahead of time through their website.
Resources to navigate discussions around trauma
In response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde Texas, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help children, families, educators, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together. These resources include:
• Talking to Children about the Shooting
• Helping Youth After a Community Trauma: Tips for Educators (En Español)
• Talking to Children: When Scary Things Happen (En Español)
• Talking to Teens about Violence (En Español)
• Tips for Talking to Students about Violence
• Coping After Mass Violence: For Adults
• For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence (En Español)
• Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
• Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
• Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
• Guiding Adults in Talking to Children about Death and Attending Services
• After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
• Once I Was Very Very Scared – children’s book for young children
• After the Injury – website for families with injured children
• Health Care Toolbox – website for pediatric health providers working with injured children
• Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing (En Español) – for responders
Resources for Responders
The NCTSN also has resources for responders on Psychological First Aid (PFA; En Español). PFA is an early intervention to support children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by these types of events. PFA Mobile and the PFA Wallet Card (En Español) provide a quick reminder of the core actions. The PFA online trainingcourse is also available on the NCTSN Learning Center.
Additional PFA resources for schools include:
• Psychological First Aid for Schools (PFA-S) – Field operations guide
• Providing PFA-S: For Health-Related Professionals – handout
• Providing PFA-S: For Principals and Administrators – handout
• Providing PFA-S: For School Support Staff – handout
• Providing PFA-S: For Teachers – handout
From the National Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center
• Transcend (mobile app to assist with recovery after mass violence)
• Rebuild your Community: Resources for Community Leaders
• Media Guidelines for Homicide Family Survivors
• Timeline of Activities to Promote Mental Health Recovery
• Self-Help: Resources for Survivors
• E-learning Courses: Trainings for Clinicians
• Resources for Victim Assistance Professionals
From the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University
Disaster Helpline
SAMHSA has a Disaster Distress Helpline – call or text 1-800-985-5990 (for Spanish, press “2”) to be connected to a trained counselor 24/7/365.