During this national emergency, there are new challenges for organizations and advocates who serve survivors of domestic/sexual violence and trauma, as well as increased barriers for survivors themselves to access services. The resources here aim to support:
- Domestic violence organizations and program leaders
- Domestic violence advocates
- Domestic violence survivors and their families
- Mental health and substance use service providers
We will update this page as new resources become available; please check back frequently.
Support for Domestic and Sexual Violence Organizations and Program Leaders |
Leading While in Crisis
Leadership During COVID-19: Strategies to Support Yourself and Your Team
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The impact of COVID-19 is immense and ever evolving, challenging our day-to-day work as leaders within the field of domestic violence and sexual assault. This guide offers support and considerations to sustain you as you lead staff and serve survivors.
Download tip sheet here.
Face Mask Requirements Within an Accessible, Culturally Responsive, and Trauma-Informed (ACRTI) Approach
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The new reality of COVID-19 has required the use of face masks as a core strategy in protecting public health. This tip sheet highlights best practices for navigating face mask requirements within an ACRTI approach.
Download tip sheet here.
Grief Leadership During COVID-19
The Uniformed Services University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress outlines best practices for leading and communicating effectively in crisis situations, including how to support your team and promote cohesion.
Supporting Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence |
Parenting and Caregiving
Supporting Parents, Caregivers and Their Children During COVID-19: Resources for Advocates Serving Families Affected by Domestic Violence
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Guidance for families on navigating:
Self Care for Parents and Caregivers
Talking with Children about COVID-19
Staying Healthy
Maintaining Routines
Playing and Learning
Download full guide here.
PBS Kids: How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus
Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence at Home: Online Resources
The Kennedy Center curated this list of streamable art activities and read aloud stories for young kids.
Resources for Advocates
Supporting Survivors’ Access to Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services During the COVID-19 Emergency
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Substance use disorder treatment and mental health services can be difficult to access under regular circumstances. During this national emergency, there are new kinds of barriers to accessing treatment. This tip sheet outlines key steps in advocating for survivors’ continued access to mental health and substance use services and medication.
Download tip sheet here.
Shelter from the Storm Inside: Supporting Recovery, Safety, and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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NCDVTMH Director of Policy & Practice for Domestic Violence & Substance Use, Gabriela Zapata-Alma, leads this webinar for advocates and counselors to:
- Become familiar with how the current pandemic can increase risk factors and decrease access to protective factors for people experiencing concerns related to mental health, substance use, as well as intimate partner and other family-based violence
- Identify strategies for supporting survivors, teammates, and ourselves
- Become familiar with local resources that can aid in responding to the current pandemic
View captioned recording here.
NDVH: Staying Safe During COVID-19
National Domestic Violence Hotline summarizes how COVID-19 can uniquely impact survivors of intimate partner violence.
COVID-19 Exercise: Enhancing Compassion in the Face of Comparative Suffering
This worksheet, written by Erin Wheeler of Inner Resource Counseling, was created for therapists to use in session; mental health providers and advocates may find it helpful for their own self-care as well.
Mental Health and Well-Being |
General
Pebble Meditation
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This introductory meditation practice connects children and adults with their breath, bodies, and the natural world around them.
Download meditation guide here.
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NCDVTMH’s YouTube channel features relaxing, rejuvenating playlists, including:
Breathing & Meditation
Yoga & Stretching
Virtual Room of Refuge
Truman Medical Centers’ Center for Trauma-Informed Innovation provides relaxation, mindfulness, and self-care resources.
COVID Coach Mobile App
The US Department of Veterans Affairs created an app for everyone–not limited to veterans and service members–to support self-care and overall mental health.
Box Breathing
Breathing exercise with easy to follow visualization
Advocates and Service Providers
Managing Your Wellness During the COVID-19 Outbreak
University of Illinois at Chicago’s Center on Integrated Health Care & Self-Directed Recovery offers resources for maintaining and improving mental health, especially for behavioral healthcare providers.
Helping doesn’t have to hurt: Managing compassion fatigue in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic
This essay by Sharise Nance, LCSW helps medical providers and other essential workers in care professions identify and navigate compassion fatigue.
Grief and Loss |
Sitting with Grief – Tips for Supporting Loved Ones Who Are Grieving
The Wendt Center for Loss and Healing offers guidances for supporting friends, loved ones, and colleagues as they move through the grief of someone they love dying.
Responding to Change & Loss – In Support of Children, Teens & Families
This toolkit from the National Alliance for Grieving Children offers strategies for children and families to create space for and process emotions.
