Statement & Resources from BPS Regarding the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Boston Public Schools stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian community in Boston and abroad. Our thoughts and support are with you during this difficult time. 

Please find below resources to assist conversations about the Russian-Ukrainian conflict with your students and children:

EdWeek's five tips on "How to Talk With Students About Ukraine":

1. Consider the development and age level of your students.
2. Encourage students to identify ways in which they can make a difference.
3. Explain why it is important to pay attention to what is happening in other parts of the world.
4. Pose nuanced, objective questions to high school students about the crisis.
5. Share stories of what regular people are experiencing.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network's Resources in Response to the War on Ukraine

The recent attack on Ukraine has impacted many families in the United States, especially our military and veteran families and those who have family living in the region. The NCTSN and our partners have resources for those families who may need support during this time:

Military and Veteran Family Resources

• Working Effectively with Military Families: 10 Key Concepts All Providers Should Know
• Understanding Child Trauma & Resilience: For Military Parents and Caregivers
• Honoring Our Babies and Toddlers: Supporting Young Children Affected by a Military Parent’s Deployment, Injury, or Death (Zero to Three)
• Sesame Street for Military Families (website)
• Community Support for Military Children and Families Throughout the Deployment Cycle (Center for Study of Traumatic Stress, CSTS)
• Strengthening Military Families to Support Children’s Well-Being (CSTS)
• Helping Children Cope During Deployment (CSTS)
• Military Children and Families: Supporting Health and Managing Risk (webinar)
• Impact of the Military Mission & Combat Deployment on the Service Members (webinar)
• Understanding Deployment Related Stressors & Long-term Health in Military Service Members & Veterans: The Millennium Cohort Study (webinar)
• An Overview of the Military Family Experience and Culture (webinar)

General Child Trauma Resources

• Talking to Children about War
• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
• Psychological First Aid for Displaced Children and Families
• Traumatic Separation and Refugee and Immigrant Children: Tips for Current Caregivers
• Understanding Refugee Trauma: For School Personnel, For Mental Health Professionals, and For Primary Care Providers
• Coping in Hard Times: Fact Sheet for Parents, Youth, and School Personnel
• Helping Children with Traumatic Grief: Young Children, School-Age Children, and Teens

Additional Helpline Resources

• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline – call or text 1-800-985-5990 (for Spanish, press “2”) to be connected to a trained counselor 24/7/365.
• Military OneSource – call 1-800-342-9647 for eligible DOD service members and their families.
• Veterans Crisis Line – call 1-800-273-8255, press “1” or text 838255 for all service members.
• PTSD Consultation Program – for providers who treat Veterans. Ask a question by calling 866-948-7880 or emailing PTSDconsult@va.gov. 

For those that are needing technical assistance or additional resources, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Greg Leskin gleskin@mednet.ucla.edu for Military and Veteran Family resource questions and Dr. Melissa Brymer at mbrymer@mednet.ucla.edu for all other questions.

Resources from Jess Madden-Fuoco

• "How to talk to kids about the Ukraine invasion" - Deborah Farmer Kris shares excellent ideas in this article for parents and educators about how to talk with children about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and help them understand challenging concepts like war, sanctions, and refugees. 
• "Head, heart, conscience" - Sarae Pacetta Decoster shared this "Head, Heart, Conscience" activity from Facing History and Ourselves, which could be used with resources, such as: "Three minute overview of the Ukraine invasion; "What does Putin want?; and "How to think about Ukraine, in Maps and Charts" (source: Ms. Otty).
• Teaching about Ukraine at the secondary level - Kati Delahanty shared this choice board created by professors at UMass Amherst, which gives students options of media literacy activities focused on the invasion of Ukraine. Kati also shared this Google Doc full of resources curated by Rachel Otty. 
• Newsela Ukraine Resources - Newsela has Social Studies and ELA lessons about the Russian invasion of Ukraine for elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as SEL supports. Teachers may access full lessons, as well as graphic organizers and SEL supports in Newsela or by downloading the attached packet: Ukraine Conflict Lessons and Resources. EHS Teacher Emily Silas recently shared a great Google Add-On  and directions for how to use Newsela content directly in Google Slides/Nearpod/Peardeck.