Written by Dr. Paige Backlund Jarquín, training director at PCMH.
I grew up in South Boulder. My kids go to schools in that neighborhood. I have visited that King Soopers hundreds of times. After four decades, I still see people I recognize every time I go to that store. And although I do not personally know any of the innocent people taken by the tragic shooting this week, I am grieving with and for our community in Boulder.
And I am ashamed. I am ashamed that we are having this conversation in Colorado, yet again. We as a community, I mean every community, have a responsibility to stop the violence.
There is a lot to do and, for me in this moment, I think it starts with healing in the aftermath of this devastating event. In conversations with colleagues and friends, several resources have been shared with me to help children, parents, teachers, and other community members navigate this difficult time. This is not an exhaustive list – but it’s a starting point for anyone who may be looking for support.
If you have come across other helpful resources, please leave them in the comments below!
Resources for parents and schools
- Help Kids Cope; Children’s Hospital Colorado
- Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth after the Recent Shooting; National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
- Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers; National Association of School Psychologists
- Resources for After a Tragedy; Colorado School Safety Resource Center
- Talking to Kids About Tragedy; Colorado Independent Schools
- Mass Casualty/Community Violence Resources; Colorado Healing Fund
Resources for the Boulder community
- Resources for the Boulder Community in the Wake of the King Soopers Shooting; NAMI Boulder County
- Grief and Loss; Boulder Valley School District
- Resources for Mental Wellness in Times of Mourning; Boulder Valley Mental Health Partners
- Need Support Through This Crisis? Boulder Valley Schools
Crisis/help lines
- Colorado Crisis Services; Call: 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text the word TALK to 38255
- Disaster Distress Helpline; Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746
- Mental Health Partners; Call (303) 443-8500 to schedule an appointment or visit the walk-in clinic at 3180 Airport Road
- National Helpline; Call 1-800-662-HELP
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; Call 1-800-273-8255
Opportunities to take action
- Donate to the Colorado Healing Fund, a nonprofit collecting resources to support immediate victims and their families