OVC extends our sympathy for the victims, their families, and the community impacted by the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia on September 4, 2024.
Below is a list of resources that may provide support during this difficult time.
Resources for victim service providers, law enforcement, first responders, and community and faith leaders responding to this tragedy are also listed.
Victim Helplines
VictimConnect
VictimConnect is an OVC-funded service that offers confidential assistance to victims of crime. Trained specialists are available to help you locate services in your area, including mental health counseling, legal services, and more. Contact VictimConnect, Monday-Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time at:
Phone or text: 855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846)
Chat: https://victimconnect.org/get-help/victimconnect-chat
Dial 711 and VictimConnect staff can provide services through an interpreter in more than 200 languages and to hearing- and speech-impaired individuals.
Disaster Distress Helpline
The Disaster Distress Helpline, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is a national hotline dedicated to year-round disaster crisis counseling.
This 24/7 toll free, multilingual, crisis support service is available to residents in the United States and its territories experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call or text the hotline at 800-985-5990.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a source of support available 24/7 to people in crisis, including people experiencing challenging reactions to disasters. Support is available in English or Spanish.
Phone or text: 988
Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat
Victim Compensation
The Georgia Crime Victim Compensation program, funded in part through the OVC-administered Crime Victims Fund, may help offset a victim’s financial burden related to funeral, mental health, medical, and other expenses. Following is contact information for this program:
Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
Victims Compensation
Phone: 404-657-2222
Resources to Support Children
Recovery From Large-Scale Crises: Guidelines for Crisis Teams and Administrators
In this tip sheet, the National Association of School Psychologists describes what to expect in schools after disasters and other crises and how school crisis teams and administrators can support the school community in coping and recovery. It identifies steps administrators and crisis teams can take at different points after the crisis, from immediately after the crisis to more than a year later.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
The NCTSN provides a series of resources that may assist parents, school personnel, pediatric care providers, and others when speaking with youth and teens, including:
- Coping After Mass Violence
- Community Violence Resources
- Childhood Traumatic Grief
- Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief
- Helping Youth After a Community Trauma
Select resources have been translated into various languages, including Spanish, American Sign Language, and more.
The NCTSN also has resources for responders on Psychological First Aid. Psychological First Aid is an early intervention to support children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by these types of events.
The following resources may also be of assistance in the aftermath of this crime.
Be Red Cross Ready: Taking Care of Your Emotional Health After a Disaster
This fact sheet explains normal reactions to a disaster, what a survivor can do to cope with these emotions, and where to seek additional help if needed. This fact sheet is also available in a large-print edition and in Arabic, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
OVC Help Series for Crime Victims: Homicide
This OVC brochure provides information on what to expect as a co-victim or survivor of homicide, where you can get help, and additional resources for information and assistance.
Tips for Survivors: Coping With Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
This tip sheet contains information about grief, the grieving process, and what happens when the process is interrupted and complicated or traumatic grief occurs.
Tips for Survivors: Coping With Anger After a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event
This tip sheet intends to aid survivors in coping with bouts of anger that may follow disasters or traumatic events. It describes the physical changes that may indicate anger and provides guidance for coping and integrating positive habits into your life, as well as resources for additional support.
Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: Coping with Retraumatization
This brochure explains the signs and symptoms of retraumatization. Gives guidance on how to manage the symptoms. It provides resources for building resilience and an adequate support system for dealing with triggering events. This brochure is also available in Spanish.
Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Traumatic Event: What To Expect in Your Personal, Family, Work, and Financial Life
The Spanish tip sheet suggests steps to cope with a disaster or other trauma, lists signs of the need for professional mental health and substance use assistance, and identifies resources for additional information and support.
What You Can Do If You Are a Victim of Crime
This brochure highlights victims' rights and compensation and assistance programs, and lists national organizations that help victims to find information or obtain referrals.
Transcend Mobile App and Other Self-Help
Funded by OVC, this National Mass Violence Center mobile app provides resources and information about common reactions to mass violence and strategies for recovery. Users can access tools and activities on calming the body, managing distressing thoughts, maintaining healthy activity, coping with loss, and helping others. A “Get Help” feature offers contact information for crisis hotlines and other support services.
Learn more and download the Transcend Mobile App.
The National Mass Violence Center also has a page providing self-help for survivors. It addresses common trauma reactions, coping tips, guides for parents and caregivers, and other support.
The following resources may also be of assistance in the aftermath of this crime.
Be Red Cross Ready: Taking Care of Your Emotional Health After a Disaster
This fact sheet explains normal reactions to a disaster, what a survivor can do to cope with these emotions, and where to seek additional help if needed. This fact sheet is also available in a large-print edition and in Arabic, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
OVC Help Series for Crime Victims: Homicide
This OVC brochure provides information on what to expect as a co-victim or survivor of homicide, where you can get help, and additional resources for information and assistance.
Tips for Survivors: Coping With Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
This tip sheet contains information about grief, the grieving process, and what happens when the process is interrupted and complicated or traumatic grief occurs.
Tips for Survivors: Coping With Anger After a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event
This tip sheet intends to aid survivors in coping with bouts of anger that may follow disasters or traumatic events. It describes the physical changes that may indicate anger and provides guidance for coping and integrating positive habits into your life, as well as resources for additional support.
Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: Coping with Retraumatization
This brochure explains the signs and symptoms of retraumatization. Gives guidance on how to manage the symptoms. It provides resources for building resilience and an adequate support system for dealing with triggering events. This brochure is also available in Spanish.
Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Traumatic Event: What To Expect in Your Personal, Family, Work, and Financial Life
The Spanish tip sheet suggests steps to cope with a disaster or other trauma, lists signs of the need for professional mental health and substance use assistance, and identifies resources for additional information and support.
What You Can Do If You Are a Victim of Crime
This brochure highlights victims' rights and compensation and assistance programs, and lists national organizations that help victims to find information or obtain referrals.
Transcend Mobile App and Other Self-Help
Funded by OVC, this National Mass Violence Center mobile app provides resources and information about common reactions to mass violence and strategies for recovery. Users can access tools and activities on calming the body, managing distressing thoughts, maintaining healthy activity, coping with loss, and helping others. A “Get Help” feature offers contact information for crisis hotlines and other support services.
Learn more and download the Transcend Mobile App.
The National Mass Violence Center also has a page providing self-help for survivors. It addresses common trauma reactions, coping tips, guides for parents and caregivers, and other support.
Compensation Protocol: A Guide to Responding to Mass Casualty Incidents
The product of the OVC-funded Mass Casualty Protocol project, this manual examines the role of victim compensation programs during a mass casualty incident and describes a strategy for serving victims, survivors, allied victim professionals, and compensation program staff.
Field Manual for Mental Health and Human Service Workers in Major Disasters
This Field Manual is intended for mental health workers and other human service providers who assist survivors following a disaster. This pocket reference provides the basics of disaster mental health, with numerous specific and practical suggestions for workers.
A Guide to Managing Stress for Disaster Responders and First Responders
This guide is designed for first responders, public health workers, construction workers, transportation workers, utility workers, crisis counselors, and volunteers who respond to disasters and other crises. The guide provides information on how people experience stress, signs of extreme stress, and ways for organizations and individuals to manage and mitigate stress before, during, and after disaster response.
Health Care Toolbox
This website is designed for pediatric health providers working with injured children and provides guidance on patient-centered and trauma-informed care.
Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Information Gateway: Mass Violence
This resource collection is designed to help emergency managers, public health professionals, and other responders support communities affected by an incident of mass violence. The resource collection features tip sheets, topical collections, newsletters, and other materials about community response, family assistance, emergency medical considerations, and responder safety and health.
Helping Victims of Mass Violence and Terrorism: Planning, Response, Recovery, and Resources
This toolkit is designed to help communities prepare for and respond to victims of mass violence and terrorism in the most timely, effective, and compassionate manner possible.
The OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center also has a dedicated Mass Violence and Terrorism Resource page that contains more than a dozen recorded webinars on topics related to the toolkit mentioned above. Webinars include—
- Are You Prepared – the Role of Victim Assistance Providers,
- the First 24-48 Hours,
- 48 Hours and Beyond,
- Volunteer Management,
- Donation Management,
- Addressing the Impact of Trauma When a Mass violence Incident Occurs,
- How to Design and Implement a Resiliency Center,
- and other topics.
The Impact of Disaster and Mass Violence Events on Mental Health
This online article from the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) describes the emotional, cognitive, physical, and interpersonal reactions that disaster survivors may experience. The article also presents information on risk and protective factors in disaster survivors.
Media Coverage of Traumatic Events
This article discusses the potential impact of viewing news coverage of mass violence and terrorism on adults and children. It concludes with tips on how to address stress symptoms caused by viewing traumatic events.
Mental Health Response to Mass Violence and Terrorism: A Field Guide
This guide is intended for service providers and professionals in the mental health field providing the basics in responding to and assisting victims and families during the aftermath of mass violence and terrorism.
Multidisciplinary Response to Crime Victims With Disabilities Community Guide
This guide provides a seven-step model for enhancing any community's capacity to respond to crime victims with disabilities.
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services: Officer Safety and Wellness
This section of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services website contains resources on protecting law enforcement personnel from the physical, mental, and emotional health problems associated with the job. Resources on this page include guidance on handling mass casualty incidents.
Providing Trauma Support to Your Workforce Following an Incident or Threat of Violence
This issue brief examines trauma support for hospital and health system team members. It was developed from discussions the American Hospital Association’s Hospitals Against Violence Advisory Group had with the Medical University of South Carolina’s National Mass Violence Center team about the challenges and opportunities to provide trauma support to health care workers following an incident or threat of violence.
Psychological First Aid for First Responders: Tips for Emergency and Disaster Response Workers
This tip sheet provides first responders with information on how to address people for the first time after a disaster and how to calmly communicate and promote safety.
Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide
Developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the National Center for PTSD, Psychological First Aid is an evidence-informed approach for assisting survivors of disaster and terrorism.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA supports preparedness efforts by states, U.S. territories, Tribes, and local entities to deliver an effective mental health and substance use-related (behavioral health) response to disasters. In addition to administering the Disaster Distress Helpline dedicated to year-round disaster crisis counseling, SAMHSA offers other disaster behavioral health preparedness and response services and resources including:
- SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center: helps states, territories, Tribes, and local providers plan for and respond to mental health and substance use–related needs after a disaster.
- SAMHSA Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series Resource Center: This resource collection focuses on incidents of mass violence, community violence, and terrorism and their effects. Resources discuss common reactions to incidents of mass violence, tips for coping, and ways to support children and youth in coping.
- SAMHSA Disaster App: this mobile app helps responders focus on people in need by providing resources for any type of traumatic event, including tip sheets; guides for responders, teachers, parents, and caregivers; and a directory of behavioral health service providers in the impacted area. Key preparedness materials are available and information can be shared with others via text message, email, or transfer to a computer for printing.
Tips for Disaster Responders: Understanding Compassion Fatigue
Disaster behavioral health response work can be very satisfying, but it can also take its toll on disaster responders. This fact sheet discusses the causes and signs of compassion fatigue and tips for how to prevent it.
Tips for First Responders, 5th Edition (supporting victims with disabilities)
This booklet offers tips that first responders can use during emergencies to support and communicate with people with disabilities. The booklet is divided into sections that focus on older adults and on people with service animals, mobility impairments, autism, multiple chemical sensitivities, cognitive disabilities, and hearing or visual impairments.
The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit
Research shows that vicarious trauma, when left unaddressed, can lead to staff burnout, turnover, stress, and a lesser quality of services for victims. This OVC toolkit offers guidance to help organizations strengthen their ability to address work-related exposure to trauma.
- Develop a comprehensive victim assistance plan for responding to incidents of mass violence, terrorism, natural disasters, and high-profile criminal incidents.
- Bring key partners together to review existing emergency plans, and to initiate or continue the development of a victim assistance plan within a community.
- Establish victim assistance protocols, which can greatly enhance the effectiveness of response and recovery efforts.
- Follow protocols for short- and long-term responses to victims following incidents of mass violence.
Compensation Protocol: A Guide to Responding to Mass Casualty Incidents
The product of the OVC-funded Mass Casualty Protocol project, this manual examines the role of victim compensation programs during a mass casualty incident and describes a strategy for serving victims, survivors, allied victim professionals, and compensation program staff.
Field Manual for Mental Health and Human Service Workers in Major Disasters
This Field Manual is intended for mental health workers and other human service providers who assist survivors following a disaster. This pocket reference provides the basics of disaster mental health, with numerous specific and practical suggestions for workers.
A Guide to Managing Stress for Disaster Responders and First Responders
This guide is designed for first responders, public health workers, construction workers, transportation workers, utility workers, crisis counselors, and volunteers who respond to disasters and other crises. The guide provides information on how people experience stress, signs of extreme stress, and ways for organizations and individuals to manage and mitigate stress before, during, and after disaster response.
Health Care Toolbox
This website is designed for pediatric health providers working with injured children and provides guidance on patient-centered and trauma-informed care.
Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Information Gateway: Mass Violence
This resource collection is designed to help emergency managers, public health professionals, and other responders support communities affected by an incident of mass violence. The resource collection features tip sheets, topical collections, newsletters, and other materials about community response, family assistance, emergency medical considerations, and responder safety and health.
Helping Victims of Mass Violence and Terrorism: Planning, Response, Recovery, and Resources
This toolkit is designed to help communities prepare for and respond to victims of mass violence and terrorism in the most timely, effective, and compassionate manner possible.
The OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center also has a dedicated Mass Violence and Terrorism Resource page that contains more than a dozen recorded webinars on topics related to the toolkit mentioned above. Webinars include—
- Are You Prepared – the Role of Victim Assistance Providers,
- the First 24-48 Hours,
- 48 Hours and Beyond,
- Volunteer Management,
- Donation Management,
- Addressing the Impact of Trauma When a Mass violence Incident Occurs,
- How to Design and Implement a Resiliency Center,
- and other topics.
The Impact of Disaster and Mass Violence Events on Mental Health
This online article from the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) describes the emotional, cognitive, physical, and interpersonal reactions that disaster survivors may experience. The article also presents information on risk and protective factors in disaster survivors.
Media Coverage of Traumatic Events
This article discusses the potential impact of viewing news coverage of mass violence and terrorism on adults and children. It concludes with tips on how to address stress symptoms caused by viewing traumatic events.
Mental Health Response to Mass Violence and Terrorism: A Field Guide
This guide is intended for service providers and professionals in the mental health field providing the basics in responding to and assisting victims and families during the aftermath of mass violence and terrorism.
Multidisciplinary Response to Crime Victims With Disabilities Community Guide
This guide provides a seven-step model for enhancing any community's capacity to respond to crime victims with disabilities.
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services: Officer Safety and Wellness
This section of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services website contains resources on protecting law enforcement personnel from the physical, mental, and emotional health problems associated with the job. Resources on this page include guidance on handling mass casualty incidents.
Providing Trauma Support to Your Workforce Following an Incident or Threat of Violence
This issue brief examines trauma support for hospital and health system team members. It was developed from discussions the American Hospital Association’s Hospitals Against Violence Advisory Group had with the Medical University of South Carolina’s National Mass Violence Center team about the challenges and opportunities to provide trauma support to health care workers following an incident or threat of violence.
Psychological First Aid for First Responders: Tips for Emergency and Disaster Response Workers
This tip sheet provides first responders with information on how to address people for the first time after a disaster and how to calmly communicate and promote safety.
Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide
Developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the National Center for PTSD, Psychological First Aid is an evidence-informed approach for assisting survivors of disaster and terrorism.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA supports preparedness efforts by states, U.S. territories, Tribes, and local entities to deliver an effective mental health and substance use-related (behavioral health) response to disasters. In addition to administering the Disaster Distress Helpline dedicated to year-round disaster crisis counseling, SAMHSA offers other disaster behavioral health preparedness and response services and resources including:
- SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center: helps states, territories, Tribes, and local providers plan for and respond to mental health and substance use–related needs after a disaster.
- SAMHSA Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series Resource Center: This resource collection focuses on incidents of mass violence, community violence, and terrorism and their effects. Resources discuss common reactions to incidents of mass violence, tips for coping, and ways to support children and youth in coping.
- SAMHSA Disaster App: this mobile app helps responders focus on people in need by providing resources for any type of traumatic event, including tip sheets; guides for responders, teachers, parents, and caregivers; and a directory of behavioral health service providers in the impacted area. Key preparedness materials are available and information can be shared with others via text message, email, or transfer to a computer for printing.
Tips for Disaster Responders: Understanding Compassion Fatigue
Disaster behavioral health response work can be very satisfying, but it can also take its toll on disaster responders. This fact sheet discusses the causes and signs of compassion fatigue and tips for how to prevent it.
Tips for First Responders, 5th Edition (supporting victims with disabilities)
This booklet offers tips that first responders can use during emergencies to support and communicate with people with disabilities. The booklet is divided into sections that focus on older adults and on people with service animals, mobility impairments, autism, multiple chemical sensitivities, cognitive disabilities, and hearing or visual impairments.
The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit
Research shows that vicarious trauma, when left unaddressed, can lead to staff burnout, turnover, stress, and a lesser quality of services for victims. This OVC toolkit offers guidance to help organizations strengthen their ability to address work-related exposure to trauma.
- Develop a comprehensive victim assistance plan for responding to incidents of mass violence, terrorism, natural disasters, and high-profile criminal incidents.
- Bring key partners together to review existing emergency plans, and to initiate or continue the development of a victim assistance plan within a community.
- Establish victim assistance protocols, which can greatly enhance the effectiveness of response and recovery efforts.
- Follow protocols for short- and long-term responses to victims following incidents of mass violence.
The mission of the OVC-funded National Mass Violence Center is to improve community preparedness and the Nation’s capacity to serve victims recovering from mass violence through research, planning, training, technology, and collaboration. The following tips sheets are for community and civic leaders rebuilding their communities.
- Tips for Civic Leaders: Supporting Your Community’s Remembering of Mass Violence Victims
- Community and Faith Leaders: Tips for Recognizing the Anniversary of a Mass Violence Incident
- Remembering Tragic Events as a Community: Creating a Permanent Memorial
- The Role of Victim Service Professionals in Building Resilience After Mass Violence Incidents
- Strategic Story Telling: Guidelines for Victims, Survivors and Family Members of Mass Violence Incidents
- Timeline of Activities to Promote Mental Health Recovery
- Tips for Community Leaders: Establishing a Family Assistance Center
- Tips for Community Leaders: Supporting Victims and Families
- Tips for Community Leaders: Managing Donations
- Tips for Community Leaders: Managing Volunteers
- Tips for Community Leaders: Funding and Victims Compensation
- Unexpected Challenges for Communities in Recovery Phase
- Unexpected Challenges for Communities during the Immediate Response of a Mass Violence Incident
The mission of the OVC-funded National Mass Violence Center is to improve community preparedness and the Nation’s capacity to serve victims recovering from mass violence through research, planning, training, technology, and collaboration. The following tips sheets are for community and civic leaders rebuilding their communities.
- Tips for Civic Leaders: Supporting Your Community’s Remembering of Mass Violence Victims
- Community and Faith Leaders: Tips for Recognizing the Anniversary of a Mass Violence Incident
- Remembering Tragic Events as a Community: Creating a Permanent Memorial
- The Role of Victim Service Professionals in Building Resilience After Mass Violence Incidents
- Strategic Story Telling: Guidelines for Victims, Survivors and Family Members of Mass Violence Incidents
- Timeline of Activities to Promote Mental Health Recovery
- Tips for Community Leaders: Establishing a Family Assistance Center
- Tips for Community Leaders: Supporting Victims and Families
- Tips for Community Leaders: Managing Donations
- Tips for Community Leaders: Managing Volunteers
- Tips for Community Leaders: Funding and Victims Compensation
- Unexpected Challenges for Communities in Recovery Phase
- Unexpected Challenges for Communities during the Immediate Response of a Mass Violence Incident
Faith-Based Responders in the Wake of Mass Violence and Terrorism: Quick Tips
This instructional tip sheet is for faith-based responders, service providers, and volunteers who function in the role of disaster chaplains in mass violence response and mass care settings and within their houses of worship, religious communities, or professional agencies. The recommendations address basic skills for competent engagement within the disaster response field and as service providers in ongoing recovery efforts.
Faith Communities and the Disaster Distress Helpline
This tip sheet provides religious leaders with information on SAMHSA's Disaster Distress Helpline, which offers 24-hour, year-round crisis counseling for individuals and families experiencing emotional distress because of disasters. The tip sheet explains who answers the Disaster Distress Helpline, what happens when someone calls or texts the helpline, and what services are available. The tip sheet also notes when the helpline should be used as a referral. This tip sheet is also available in Spanish.
Faith Communities and Disaster Mental Health
This tip sheet provides information for religious leaders about common stress reactions people may experience in response to a disaster and suggests ways they can cope, and help others cope, with disaster stress reactions. The sheet also provides information on referring people for mental health services. This tip sheet is also available in Spanish.
Psychological First Aid: Spiritual Leader and Practitioners
This tip sheet discusses the importance and benefits of Psychological First Aid in faith-based communities and how to reach out to those who need help and provide them with comfort and care. Psychological First Aid is an approach that the general public can use to assist others immediately after a disaster. The tip sheet discusses how to recognize basic needs, support problem-solving, validate survivors' feelings and thoughts, help survivors connect with support systems, educate survivors about stress responses, and reinforce strengths and positive coping strategies.
Faith-Based Responders in the Wake of Mass Violence and Terrorism: Quick Tips
This instructional tip sheet is for faith-based responders, service providers, and volunteers who function in the role of disaster chaplains in mass violence response and mass care settings and within their houses of worship, religious communities, or professional agencies. The recommendations address basic skills for competent engagement within the disaster response field and as service providers in ongoing recovery efforts.
Faith Communities and the Disaster Distress Helpline
This tip sheet provides religious leaders with information on SAMHSA's Disaster Distress Helpline, which offers 24-hour, year-round crisis counseling for individuals and families experiencing emotional distress because of disasters. The tip sheet explains who answers the Disaster Distress Helpline, what happens when someone calls or texts the helpline, and what services are available. The tip sheet also notes when the helpline should be used as a referral. This tip sheet is also available in Spanish.
Faith Communities and Disaster Mental Health
This tip sheet provides information for religious leaders about common stress reactions people may experience in response to a disaster and suggests ways they can cope, and help others cope, with disaster stress reactions. The sheet also provides information on referring people for mental health services. This tip sheet is also available in Spanish.
Psychological First Aid: Spiritual Leader and Practitioners
This tip sheet discusses the importance and benefits of Psychological First Aid in faith-based communities and how to reach out to those who need help and provide them with comfort and care. Psychological First Aid is an approach that the general public can use to assist others immediately after a disaster. The tip sheet discusses how to recognize basic needs, support problem-solving, validate survivors' feelings and thoughts, help survivors connect with support systems, educate survivors about stress responses, and reinforce strengths and positive coping strategies.