How schools can prepare for trauma response amid California wildfires

As the wildfires in Southern California continue to ravage communities, organizations looking to support students and staff are primarily focused on basic recovery efforts, ensuring that people have access to emergency shelters, food and water. 

But amid one of the worst natural disasters in the state’s history, the need for another crucial support has also risen to the forefront: trauma response.

Jeff Freitas, president of the California Federation of Teachers, said the statewide teacher’s union has been working to contact as many members as possible. The union has talked with a sizable number of members who have evacuated or lost their homes due to the wildfires, he said. 

A lot of those members are still in the “stunned phase” as they navigate the early stages of grief, Freitas said.

Please help put parents in charge of their child’s education by forwarding this article to other parents, family, friends and voters.