This web training series highlights the importance of communities, states, and regions planning a response to incidents of mass violence and terrorism using the OVC resource Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism: Planning, Response, Recovery, and Resources Toolkit (OVC's Mass Violence Toolkit). Planning is a critical component that will allow the community to respond appropriately and effectively to a mass violence incident. We highly recommend viewing the recordings in the order listed below as each will build on and reinforce different areas of the Mass Violence Toolkit.
Victim Assistance Response to Mass Violence: 48 Hours and Beyond
Date: September 30, 2025Length: 1.5 hours
Summary:
The second webinar in the Victim Assistance Response to Mass Violence Webinar Series highlights the importance of victim service providers responding to incidents of mass violence and terrorism 48 hours and beyond.
This session builds on the concepts discussed in "Victim Assistance Response to Mass Violence: The First 48 Hours," and provides an overview of:
- The transition from short- to long-term assistance,
- Strategies for implementing productive outreach,
- Considerations for setting up a family assistance center,
- Understanding immediate, transitional, and long-term needs of survivors, and
- Approaches to honoring victims and survivors.
Materials:
- Listen/View Webinar
- View PowerPoint (PDF 5.5 MB)
Victim Assistance Response to Mass Violence: The First 48 Hours
Date: September 16, 2025Length: 1.5 hours
Summary:
The first webinar in the Victim Assistance Response to Mass Violence Webinar Series highlights the importance of victim service providers responding to incidents of mass violence and terrorism within the first 48 hours.
This session focuses on:
- The steps to implementing a response,
- Communication strategies during a response,
- Considerations for setting up a family assistance center,
- Challenges with victim identification and death notification, and
- The key elements of volunteer and donation management.
Materials:
- Listen/View Webinar
- View PowerPoint (PDF 5.2 MB)
Responding to Mass Violence: Essential Skills for Victim Assistance
Date: June 18, 2025Length: 1.5 hours
Summary:
This Vital Subjects webinar is designed to empower victim assistance providers with the best practices for trauma-informed care in the wake of mass violence incidents. Participants learn how trauma may affect a survivor’s reactions and learn effective strategies to enhance trauma-informed responses for survivors and families. Information is also shared about the different types of resource centers that may be established to support recovery after an incident of mass violence and the role of victim assistance in this type of program. After participating in this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify three ways trauma impacts a survivor’s reactions and responses to a traumatic event.
- Describe three types of resource centers that may be established in response to a mass violence incident.
Materials:
- Listen/View Webinar
- View PowerPoint (PDF 5.9 MB)