School Counseling

Supporting Students in Troubling Times

MCPS Resources After a Shooting

MCPS Be Well 365

MCPS Office of Family Support & Engagement

Helping Children Manage Aftermath of Gun Violence

How to Help in an Emotional Crisis

Age Related Reactions to Traumatic Events

Conversations About Race

Resources After a School Shooting

MCPS: Important Support Crisis Phone Lines

Montgomery County Crisis Hotline

301-738-2255

Maryland Safe Schools Tip Line 833-MD-B-SAFE
Montgomery County Crisis Center

240-777-4000

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for MCPS Staff 240-401-6498

The Breaking News Read Aloud

Scared Kids | How to Deal with Fear | Getting Over Fear | Child Mind InstituteWhat parents can do to aid kids in processing grief and fear in a healthy way. Helping children cope with frightening news.

School Safety and CrisisNASP has made these 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.

Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and TeachersHigh profile acts of violence, particularly in schools, can confuse and frighten children who may feel in danger or worry that their friends or loved-ones are at risk. They will look to adults for inf...

Empowering Young People in the Aftermath of Hate (In English and Español)

How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and WarExposure to graphic images, distressing information, and horrific headlines can affect kids' overall well-being. Advice from Common Sense Media editors.

Tips for Engaging and Disengaging on Social MediaSocial media is a hotbed of antisemitism, anti-Israel hate, Holocaust denial and distortion and other conspiracy theories. Check out our tips on how to engage and disengage in the fight against antisemitism, anti-Israel bias, and hate on social media.

Helping Students Make Sense of News Stories about Bias and Injustice

Antisemitism Today (en Español)

MCPS Resources

Elementary Inauguration Day_2021

Ways Schools Can Help Students Feel Safe in Challenging Times

11 Ways Schools Can Help Students Feel Safe in Challenging Times (en Español)In recent years, we have seen alarming images and biased language in schools and universities: name-calling, hate-filled taunts, vandalism, racial slurs…

Protests, Racism and Our Children: Helping Kids Cope

Protests, Racism and Our Children: Helping Kids CopeImages of the murder of Black Americans, discussions about systemic racism, sirens blaring, crowds protesting, curfews, fires. It’s tough for adults to make sense of the hurt in the world right now, but how do we help our children and teens with it?

When Bad Things Are Happening

When Bad Things Are HappeningWhen news breaks of disaster or violence, your students may want to discuss a crisis as it unfolds. Here’s how.

To Sustain the Tough Conversations, Active Listening Must Be the NormWe have to prepare students—and ourselves—to communicate, question and work our way through a disconnect when the outside world spills into the classroom.

How to Educate your Children on Riots & ProtestsWhat's on the news can be scary to kids but not talking to them about it can be even scarier. Mom, educational psychologist and parenting expert Reena B. Patel weighs in.

Resources for teachers on the days after the attack on the U.S. Capitol.Two people wave Blue Trump 2020 flags in front of the U.S. Capitol as night falls on 1/6/2021. Photo Credit: CNN We welcome this guest post from Dr. Alyssa Hadley-Dunn, Associate Professor of Teach…

Peaceful Transfer of Power InfographicPeaceful Transfer of Power Infographic lesson plan template and teaching resources. For over two centuries, American political offices have peacefully transferred power after every election.

How To Support Your Child’s Mental Health During Protests, A Pandemic, And MoreAlready we were facing a growing mental health crisis due to Coronavirus. Now we're also confronting systemic racism and widespread protests. A teacher and a counselor offer expert suggestions for helping your children cope by supporting their mental health during this incredibly challenging time.

Dismantling Islamophobia

Questions, Complexities and Context: Insights into Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

10 Ways to Have Conscientious Conversations on the Israeli-Palestinian ConflictLearn tips on how to have conscientious discussion about this complex issue, and how to avoid common pitfalls that could invoke antisemitism, bias or bigotry.

Antisemitic Incidents: Being an Ally, Advocate and Activist

Foundations of Democracy and GovernmentWe have updated these resources as of January 6, 2021, to help facilitate meaningful discussions with students and communities about the attempt of a mob to infiltrate the capital and impede election certification in Washington, DC, and to put a focus on how crucial the foundations of democracy are to the preservation of a functional government. #8 Collection of 2018

Child psychologist provides advice on how to discuss protests and riots with kidsDENVER (KDVR) — Some of the sights, sounds and stories coming out of Denver are difficult for adults to understand, let alone children and teens. FOX31 spoke to a child psychologist about the…

Talking to Kids about War

Promoting Religious Inclusion in Schools

Resilience in War

Preventing and Addressing Islamophobia in Schools

Combating Islamophobia

Attacks on Israel

Islamophobia and Public Health

Kidnuz: Kid Friendly News Podcast

Islamophobia: A Challenge for All of Us

Nearpod Civil Action and Change

Courage and Bravery Books for Kids

Helping Students in Troubling Times

Help for the Helpers

ADL: Antisemitism

Think - Plan -Act

Resources for Middle School Students

Let Your Voice Be Heard

Let Your Voice Be Heard

Brain Bop: Social Studies Unit U.S. Government

Fostering Civil Discourse

Think. Plan. Act.ADL has developed resources to help college students respond to antisemitic incidents, and anti-Israel bias. Explore these tools to learn how to navigate challenging situations you might face on your college campus.

Books about Civics, Democracy, Courage, and Bravery for Kids

Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights

A is for Activist

Let the Children March

The Breaking News

What Can a Citizen Do?

If You Are Going to A March

Boycott Blues

What if Everybody Did That?

The Breathtaking Courage of Harriet Tubman

Kid President: For the Heroes

The Thing that Lou Couldn't Do

A Little Spot of Courage

T-Rex Vs. Edna

Jabari Jumps

Tomorrow I'll Be Brave

The Dark

Kindness is My Superpower

The Day You Begin

Bravery & Courage

Page updated

Report abuse