YU School Partnership - YU Institute

Resources for Responding to the Boston Marathon Bombing

As we struggle to make sense of the enormity of the terrible tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombing, it is important to know how to talk to children about this and other tragic events.  The following resources can support you in addressing the questions and concerns of children, educators and parents:

1. Dr. Norman Blumenthal, Ph.D. of OHEL's Director of Trauma, Bereavement & Rapid Response Team put together a list of pointers for parents regarding the Boston Tragedy.  Click here to view the PDF.

2. Carey Goldberg of Boston's 90.9 WBUR prepared useful guidelines in How To Talk With Children About Boston Marathon Bombs .

3. Our article Recommendations for School Responses to Newton Shooting Tragedy , which was written with the partnership of Project Chai- Chai Lifeline, can assist school leaders in addressing the safety concerns of students and parents and assure their sense of security.

4. The Letter to Teachers in Response to Connecticut Shooting and Letter from Head of School In Response to Connecticut Shooting, which was shared with us by our colleagues at the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy after the Newtown tragedy, are  useful examples of the type of message that can be shared with teachers and parents in response to the Boston Marathon tragedy as well.

5.  Resources for Responding to the Connecticut School Shooting is a comprehensive compendium of additional tools, sample communications, school security resources and online resources that can be applied to helping children cope with the Boston Marathon Tragedy as well.