The Florida Association of School Psychologists (FASP is dedicated to fostering the mental health and educational development of children, youth, and families throughout Florida. Our resources are curated to support school psychologists, educators, families, and policy makers by providing comprehensive tools and information necessary for promoting well-being and success in educational settings.
Whether you are a professional seeking to expand your expertise, a family in need of guidance and support services, or an advocate striving for improvements in school-based practices, you will find valuable insights and practical tools here. Explore our extensive collection of publications, guidelines, case studies, legislative updates, and more to help navigate the complexities of school psychology and educational advocacy.
Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of Florida’s students by ensuring access to essential mental health services and creating safe, supportive, and equitable school environments.
Provided by the following: National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), American Psychological Association, Mental Health America (MHA), National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Supporting Children’s Mental Health: Tips for Parents and Educators (NASP)
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health (NIMH)
- http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/talking-to-children.aspx
- Mental Health America
- Identifying signs of stress in your children and teens (APA)
- Facing the School Dropout Dilemma (APA)
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Bullying Prevention Resources (NASP)
- Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- School Safety and Crisis
- School Violence Prevention
- Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Families and Educators (nasponline.org)
- Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (English | Spanish | Korean | Vietnamese | French | Amharic | Chinese | Portuguese | Somali | Arabic | Kurdish)
- Companion Infographic for “Talking to Children about Violence”
- Managing Strong Emotional Reactions to Traumatic Events: Tips for Families and Teachers (nasponline.org)
- Addressing Grief
- Managing Strong Emotional Reactions to Traumatic Events: Tips for Parents and Teachers
- Social Media and School Crises
- Responding to School Violence: Tips for Administrators
- Best Practice Considerations for Schools in Active Shooter and Other Armed Assailant Drills
- Culturally Competent Crisis Response Resources
- Child Trauma Toolkit for Educator
- Helping Youth and Children Recover From Traumatic Events
- Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans: At A Glance
- The Disaster Distress Helpline, 800.985.5990, can provide immediate counseling to anyone who needs help in dealing with the many issues and problems that might arise from a tragedy (24/7). Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Helpline immediately connects callers to trained and caring professionals from the closest crisis counseling center in the nationwide network of centers. The toll-free Helpline is confidential and multilingual and can be accessed online at http://disasterdistress.samhsa.gov/.
- In 2006, FEMA launched Ready Kids, a tool to help parents and teachers educate children ages 8 – 12 about emergencies and how they can help get their family prepared. The program includes family-friendly Web pages and online materials developed by Sesame Workshop and Discovery Education.
- Helping Children After a Natural Disaster: Information for Families and Educators provides information on what to expect and tips for recovery.
- Ready.gov – Hurricanes: This page explains what actions to take when you receive a hurricane watch or warning alert from the National Weather Service for your local area. It also provides tips on what to do before, during, and after a hurricane.
- Ready.gov – Recovering from a Disaster: Recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process. Safety is a primary issue, as are mental and physical well-being. If assistance is available, knowing how to access it makes the process faster and less stressful. This section offers some general advice on steps to take after disaster strikes in order to begin getting your home, your community and your life back to normal.
- Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness – The guide has been designed to help the citizens of this nation learn how to protect themselves and their families against all types of hazards. It can be used as a reference source or as a step-by-step manual. The focus of the content is on how to develop, practice, and maintain emergency plans that reflect what must be done before, during, and after a disaster to protect people and their property. Also included is information on how to assemble a disaster supplies kit that contains the food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity for individuals and their families to survive following a disaster in the event they must rely on their own resources.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – a free, confidential, suicide crisis hotline. You can call or text 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- International Association for Suicide Prevention
- Florida Health Suicide Prevention
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Center for Disease Control Suicide Prevention Resources
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Tools and Resources for Crisis Prevention & Intervention
- NASP School Safety and Crisis Resources
NASP has made materials available free of charge to the public in order to promote the ability of children and youth to cope with traumatic or unsettling events. - Tips for Teachers and Parents Following School and Community Violence
NASP/NEAT developed this resource for school psychologists to use in the schools. It is a PowerPoint that details how to respond to children in the aftermath of a tragedy. Download Tips for Teachers & Parents - PFA Mobile
PFA Mobile was designed to assist responders who provide psychological first aid (PFA) to adults, families, and children as part of an organized response effort. This app provides responders with summaries of PFA fundamentals, PFA interventions matched to specific concerns and needs of survivors, mentor tips for applying PFA in the field, a self-assessment tool for readiness to conduct PFA, and a survivors’ needs form for simplified data collection and easy referral.
Available for download free through iTunes - Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma
Learn more about traumatic grief in the NCTSN Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma.
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited. – Plutarch”
Well-Being Resources:
- Florida Department of Education’s Office of Safe Schools
The Office of Safe Schools serves to promote and support safe learning environments by addressing issues of student safety and academic success on state, district, and school levels. Schools that implement safety measures, drug prevention programs, and positive school climate facilitate rising student academic achievement.