Back to top

Families and Caregivers

Parents and caregivers play an essential role in helping children and teenagers recover from traumatic events. These resources are for parents, adoptive parents, resource/foster parents, grandparents, caregivers, and all others who care for children and teens. The more caregivers learn about how traumatic events affect their children (whether toddler, school-age, teen, youth, or adult), the more they understand the reasons for their children’s behaviors and emotions, and the better prepared they are to help them cope. When children know that caring adults are working to keep them safe and support them in understanding their reactions to trauma, most can recover and go on to live healthy and productive lives.

NCTSN Resource

Recognizing Drug Use in Adolescents: A Quick Guide for Caregivers and Adults

Type: Resource Guide

Summarizes the signs of intoxication, substance use, and abuse commonly reported by substance users. This guide for parents and caregivers describes different substances teens use, how a teen may look when on that substance, how they may act, and how the substance may make them feel.

NCTSN Resource

Parenting in a Challenging World

Type: Resource Guide

Looks at parenting concerns, with the help of scenes from the documentary film Surviving September 11th: The story of One New York Family. The guide and film address a terrorist attack.

NCTSN Resource

Family Preparedness: Thinking Ahead

Type: Tip Sheet

Accompanies the Family Preparedness Wallet Card. This guide helps families develop a safety plan so that they may be prepared in the event of disasters.

Partner-In Resource

I Don't Know How to Talk to My Child About Being Safe Online

Type: Video

Includes discussions from providers who work with families on vulnerabilities to exploitation and staying safe online as well as personal experiences faced by those who struggle to talk to their children about being safe.

Partner-In Resource

I Don't Know How to Address Worries About My Child's Safety at School

Type: Video

Includes discussion from providers who work with families, communities, and schools before, during, and after violent events as well as parents and school staff, to explore personal experiences faced by those who have struggled to deal with and address their child’s safety at school.

Partner-In Resource

I Don't Know How to Have a Happy Holiday

Type: Video

Hear from providers who are working with bereaved parents and caregivers as well as a parent advocate to explore personal experiences faced by parents whose families are struggling with grief and loss this holiday season and talk with providers who help youth and families cope with those feelings

Partner-In Resource

I Don't Know How To: Parent Series

Type: Video

Explores difficult topics to help equip parents with the tools to navigate and provide support for various mental health conditions.

Partner-In Resource

My Child is Suicidal and I Don't Know How to Help

Type: Video

Explores personal experiences faced by parents who learn that their child is struggling with suicidal thoughts, teachers who support youth struggling with suicidal thoughts in school, and providers who help youth and families negotiate recovery...

Pages