Unfortunately, in today’s society it has become increasingly necessary for Minnesota victim service professionals to know how to best advocate for victims after mass casualty events. The following links will hopefully assist with needed planning, response, and training resources.
If you have any questions or have additional resources to share, please email [email protected].
MAC thanks Barb Hedstrom of the Shakopee Police Department and Anne Seymour of Justice Solutions for their invaluable help with this project. We are also incredibly grateful to our former intern, Emily Mackay, for her assistance with compiling these resources.
Crisis, Support and Mental Health Resources for Victims
Minnesota Day One Crime Victim Support Line
- 1-866-385-2699 or text 612-399-997
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Support, information and referrals for victims of crime.
Disaster Distress Helpline:
- 1-800-985-5990
- Text “TalkWithUs or “Hablamos for Spanish language assistance at 66746
- For anyone experiencing significant emotional distress related to a mass crime or major disaster.
United Way 2-1-1:
- Dial 211.
- https://www.211unitedway.org/
- United Way 2-1-1 provides free and confidential health and human services information for people in Minnesota, here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect you with the resources and information you need.
Minnesota Crime Victims Reparations Board
- https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ojp/help-for-crime-victims/Pages/crime-victims-reparations.aspx
- If you or someone you know has been the victim of a violent crime in Minnesota the compensation program may be able to help. The Crime Victims Reparations Board provides financial help to victims and their families for losses incurred as a result of the crime.
Survivor Resources
- https://survivorresources.org/
- 651-266-5674
- Provides support, reparations assistance, liaison with law enforcement and county attorneys, therapists referrals.
Family Partnership
- https://www.thefamilypartnership.org/services/mental-health-therapies/
- 612-728-2061
- Provides integrated mental health therapies for all ages. Their multilingual and culturally diverse therapists help meet the unique needs of children, teens and adults to help them heal from adversity, trauma or mental illness.
Innovative Soulutions
- https://peacetreatyminnesota.org/
- Community program that can assist with connecting individuals to support and provide information for other community resources.
Pathways Counseling Center
- https://www.pathwayscounselingcenter.org/index.asp
- To inquire about counseling services, contact Jerrod Brown: 651-734-5517 or [email protected]
- Pathways’ purpose is to effectively assist adults and families in their journey towards healthy, fulfilling lives and relationships. They recognize that everyone encounters rocky patches along the way and most could benefit from addressing those instances with caring professionals.
Further Resources for Victims
Voices Center for Resilience
- https://voicescenter.org/
- Provides long-term support and resources that promote mental health care and wellness, for victims’ families, responders, survivors, and families of those who have died of 9/11 related illnesses; and assists communities in preparing for and recovering from tragedy.
Tuesday’s Children
- https://www.tuesdayschildren.org/
- Supports victims, survivors, first responders and others affected by mass violence.
Professional Resources & Toolkits
ICP-TTA Website
- https://icptta.com/
- Provides training and technical assistance to incorporate victims services into existing community plans for mass casualty events.
National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center (NMVVRC)
- www.nmvvrc.org
- The mission of the NMVVRC is to improve community preparedness and the nation’s capacity to serve victims and communities recovering from mass violence through research, planning, training, technology, and collaboration. The Center offers a wide array of resources for mass violence incident (MVI) victims, survivors, first responders, victim service providers, mental/behavioral health professionals, civic leaders and journalists (among others), and has developed over 50 tip sheets that focus on MVI readiness, response and resilience.
National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards: Compensation Protocol—A Guide to Responding to Mass Casualty Events
- https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/212431NCJRS.pdf
- 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. The proposed mass casualty protocol provides suggestions for policies and actions before, during, and after a mass casualty event.
Office on Victims of Crime: Helping Victims of Mass Violence and Terrorism—Planning, Response, Recovery and Resources
- https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/pubs/mvt-toolkit/partner-plan.html
- Created for communities to prepare for and respond to victims of mass violence and terrorism in the most timely, effective, and compassionate manner possible. Through developing a comprehensive victim assistance plan, the community can respond to mass violence, terrorism, natural disasters, human-caused disasters, emergency crises, and high-profile criminal incidents promptly and more effectively.
- Partnership and Planning Checklists: https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/pubs/mvt-toolkit/PartnershipsPlanningChecklist.pdf
- Response Checklist: https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/pubs/mvt-toolkit/ResponseChecklist.pdf
United on Guns – Mass Shooting Playbook
- https://unitedonguns.org/protocol/
- A resource guide informed by the recommendations and experience of mayors who have responded to a mass shooting. It is organized into ten topic areas: communications, emergency management, victims and families, law enforcement, donations, school shootings, community partnerships, legal considerations, commemorations, and mental health. Each chapter includes the actions and training that a mayor can take in advance of a mass shooting; actions a mayor should take during the response phase; and guidance for providing services to victims, family members, and the broader community as they recover.
TRAC – Toolkit for Response Advocates in Colorado
- http://trac.state.co.us/home
- This toolkit is meant to help victim assistance responders develop tools and templates for their communities to utilize when planning for a mass crisis response or when an incident occurs, and develop guidelines for communities to effectively plan and respond to victims of crime during and after a major criminal incident. Includes: Pre-plan, initial response, community response, long-term recovery, additional resources, forms and checklists.
Trainings & Webinars
Battered Women’s Justice Project: Potential to Prevent Mass Shootings Through Domestic Violence Firearm Restrictions
- https://www.bwjp.org/resource-center/resource-results/potential-to-prevent-mass-shootings-recording.html
- In this webinar, Dr. April M. Zeoli discusses findings from her recently published research investigating mass shooters and the potential to prevent mass shootings through domestic violence firearm restrictions.
Battered Women’s Justice Project: Multiple Victim Homicides, Mass Murders, and Homicide-Suicide as Domestic Violence Events
- https://www.bwjp.org/resource-center/resource-results/multiple-victim-homicides-mass-murders-and-homicide-suicide-as-domestic-violence-events.html
- This webinar covered how often multiple victim intimate partner homicides and homicide-suicides occur, the frequency of firearm use in these homicides, and opportunities for intervention.
Office for Victims of Crime: Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism—The First 24-48 Hours
- https://www.ovcttac.gov/videos/dspPlayVideo.cfm?video=Mass_Violence_First_24_to_48_Hours_09132018.mp4&folder=migrate-ac
- Introduces tips for building and maintaining partnerships before a mass violence incident occurs, effective collaboration strategies to implement when planning for and responding to mass violence incidents, steps to execute a response plan, challenges with issuing death notifications, and factors to consider when setting up a Family Assistance Center.
- Link to Webinar PowerPoint: https://www.ovcttac.gov/ovcttac_assets/eblast/webinar_MV_24%20to%2048%20Hours_final_508c_03262019_JA.pdf
Office for Victims of Crime: Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism—Planning, Response, Recovery and Resources Toolkit
- https://www.ovcttac.gov/videos/dspPlayVideo.cfm?video=MV_Helping_Victims_of_Mass_Violence%26Terrorism-Overview_06282016.mp4&folder=migrate-ac
- Provides an overview of how civic, government, and business sectors can use OVC’s Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism: Planning, Response, Recovery, and Resources Toolkit to develop a comprehensive victim assistance plan to respond to incidents of mass violence and terrorism. Link to Webinar:
- Link to Webinar PowerPoint: https://www.ovcttac.gov/downloads/webinars/MassViolenceTerrorism/Mass_Violence_and_Terrorism_Web_Training_Master_PPT.pdf
Office for Victims of Crime: Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism—Death Notifications
- https://www.ovcttac.gov/videos/dspPlayVideo.cfm?video=Mass_Violence_and_Terrorism_Death_Notification_01212020.mp4&folder=migrate-ac
- This session provides an in-depth look at the notification victim assistance protocol. While the delivery of death notifications in a single homicide or in mass violence incidents are similar, there are also some unique aspects of mass fatalities that should be considered. This session looks at the factors related to delivering mass violence death notifications, the dynamics of death notification teams, training needs and how to integrate a trauma-informed approach.
- Link to Webinar PowerPoint: https://www.ovcttac.gov/ovcttac_assets/eblast/MV_Death_Notifications_1.21_Final_508c_02282020_JA.pdf
Office for Victims of Crime: Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism—48 Hours and Beyond
- https://www.ovcttac.gov/videos/dspPlayVideo.cfm?video=Mass_Violence_48_Hours_and_Beyond_09202018.mp4&folder=migrate-ac
- An overview of the transition from short-term to long-term assistance; how to execute productive outreach plans; understanding immediate/acute, intermediate/transitional, and long-term needs of survivors; how to honor victims and survivors; and how to get involved in exercise planning.
- Link to Webinar PowerPoint: https://www.ovcttac.gov/ovcttac_assets/eblast/webinar_MV_48%20Hours%20and%20Beyond_final_508c_03283019_JA.pdf
Office for Victims of Crime: Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism—Planni ng Response, Recovery and Resources Toolkit – Donation Management
- https://www.ovcttac.gov/videos/dspPlayVideo.cfm?video=MV_Helping_Victims_of_Mass_Violence%26Terrorism-Donation_Management_09152016.mp4&folder=migrate-ac
- An overview of the complex process of managing donations. The process includes organizing, storing, and disbursing the funds, goods, and services received in response to incidents of mass violence or terrorism.
- Link to Webinar PowerPoint: https://www.ovcttac.gov/downloads/webinars/MassViolenceTerrorism/Toolkit_Donation_Management_508c_102816_DM.pdf
Office on Victims of Crime: Planning Response, Recovery and Resources Toolkit –Communications
- https://www.ovcttac.gov/videos/dspPlayVideo.cfm?video=MV_Helping_Victims_of_Mass_Violence_%26_Terrorism-Communications_10302017.mp4&folder=migrate-ac
- An overview of the importance of communication in responding to incidents of mass violence and terrorism. Communication itself is an intervention tool, so it is important to consider how you are sharing information.
- Link to Webinar PowerPoint: https://www.ovcttac.gov/ovcttac_assets/webinars/MV_Communications_webinar_Revised1030_508c_05142018_JA.pdf
NOVA (National Organization for Victim Assistance):
- https://www.trynova.org/crisis-response-program/crtregistration/
- Crisis Response Team (CRT) Training – 16 hours of online instruction (4 Hours/4 days), 5 hours of Guided Learning and 3 hours of group work.
- Crisis management specified towards mass-casualty critical incidents
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association)
- https://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/webinars-podcasts
- DTAC (Disaster Technical Assistance Center Webinars and Podcasts Page)
- Extensive lists of audio and visual training resources
Video Content
United States Office of Justice Programs: Helping Victims of Mass Violence and Terrorism
- Planning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSkbHOHu3kY
- Response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pNslcbJdP0&t=31s
- Recovery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRaczE68Zqc
Federal Bureau of Investigation: In the Aftermath
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sKyH68L7OE
- The documentary focuses on best practices after school shooting tragedies, including family reunification, dealing with accompanying trauma, and crisis planning. It highlights the difficult journey of recovery while also giving hope to survivors.
Mental Health Resources
National Child Traumatic Stress Network:
- https://www.nctsn.org/about-us/who-we-are
- Raises the standard of care and increases access to services for children and families who experience or witness traumatic events.
National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center: Trauma Cues Related to Mass Violence:
- https://www.nmvvrc.org/media/hkunrpxh/trauma-cues-related-to-mass-violence-incidents.pdf
- A trauma cue is a reminder of a previous potentially traumatic experience, such as a mass violence
incident (MVI). Trauma cues can cause you to feel strong reactions like fear or anxiety, which can seem
to come out of the blue and sometimes can be frightening.
David Baldwin’s Trauma Information Pages:
- http://www.trauma-pages.com/disaster.php
- Mental health handouts as well as links to external disaster websites, disaster mental health guides, and other informative materials useful in assisting disaster victims.
Mental Health Response to Mass Violence and Terrorism: A Training Manual
- https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Mental-Health-Response-to-Mass-Violence-and-Terrorism-A-Training-Manual/sma04-3959
- This manual helps mental health professionals build an emergency preparedness program in response to mass violence and terrorism. It includes background information, key concepts in mental health intervention, and guidance for setting up a training course.
United States Office of Justice Programs: Handbook for Coping After Terrorism – A Guide to Healing and Recovery
- https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/publications/infores/cat_hndbk/NCJ190249.pdf
- Provides victims of terrorism with information based on the expertise of mental health, crisis counseling, and victim assistance professionals and is intended to help these victims understand their reactions to an act of terrorism or mass violence.