Resource Letter:
For Judges and Attorneys Handling Child Protective Services Cases
March 4, 2021
Resources and Upcoming Training in the Aftermath of Winter Storm Uri
Winter Storm Uri presented extreme challenges to many Texans and caused great interruption and damage to infrastructure across the state. As our state continues to address the aftermath of this storm, please see below for a few resources and a training that may be useful for court professionals, child welfare professionals and stakeholders, as well as children and families:

  • National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) – Recently Compiled Resources for Winter Storms
  • National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) – Large-Scale Natural Disasters: Helping Children Cope
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Call or text 1-800-985-5990 (for Spanish, press “2”) to connect with a trained crisis counselor. 
  • Texas Health and Human Services Commission 24/7 Mental Health Support Line: 1-833-986-1919 (Both English and Spanish)
  • Texas Psychological Association – Disaster Response/Resources

Additionally, here is a related, upcoming webinar opportunity from Community Resource Coordination Groups (CRCG):

State Level Crisis Counseling Program and Self-Care Training
NEW DATE: March 12, 2021 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CST

Join HHSC’s Disaster Behavioral Health Services team for an overview of the phases of disaster, resiliency, the Crisis Counseling Program (CCP), and youth-related program initiatives. The CCP uses the phases of disaster to illustrate the common emotional highs and lows during disasters. Understanding these phases can help behavioral health providers provide the appropriate support to survivors by helping them to better understand their situation, reactions, and coping strategies as they move into recovery. This webinar will also cover evidence-based practices in psychology that address the areas of cumulative stress and pandemic grief. Practical cognitive behavioral skills for self-care will be presented.


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For a complete list of Resource Letters, please visit the Children's Commission web page. Information provided by the Children’s Commission should not be read as a commentary by the Supreme Court of Texas or any other court. The Children’s Commission website is not equipped to facilitate dialogue or conversation about matters related to the information in this communique. For more information about the Children’s Commission, please visit our website.
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