With the beginning of the trial of the Boston Marathon Bombing suspect, memories of the tragic and disturbing events of April of 2013 could come up – especially in children. The Watertown Public Schools will host a forum for parents to help them deal with situations that may arise.
On Wednesday, Jan. 14, a licensed clinical psychologist will speak at Watertown High School from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to talk about emotions and reactions children may have as the Bombings, and shootout and manhunt in Watertown come up with the start of the trial.
The event was organized and provided by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA).
The event includes:
- A discussion of how such events impact the lives of our children.
- Likely reactions in children will be reviewed.
- Ideas for parents of how to best support their children and improve resilience will be covered.
- An overview of MOVA programs for the entire community will be provided.
The session will be lead by Robin Gurwitch, PhD, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. She is a faculty member at Duke University Medical Center and the Center for Child and Family Health. Since the bombing in Oklahoma City in 1995, Dr. Gurwitch has devoted much of her professional career to understanding the impact of disasters and other crisis events on children.
She is also a member of the American Psychological Association’s Disaster Response Network. She is actively involved in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, helping to develop materials including how to talk to children after shootings. She has responded to events in the United States, including tragedies of 9/11 and Sandy Hook and the tornadoes in Moore, OK, Joplin, Mo. and Alabama, as well as disasters abroad.
Dr. Gurwitch has helped to develop materials related to terrorism and disaster for use in schools and for disaster mental health training; she has authored a school intervention program for use with children after a trauma. She was recently appointed to the HHS National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters.
Dr. Gurwitch is known nationally as one of the preeminent experts in understanding the impact of trauma on children and working with them in its aftermath to increase resilience.
The same day, MOVA will have a speaker who will meet with district staff, Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said.
To access the above resources, please call: 1-844-STRONG1 (787-6641)