How To Help

YOU CAN HELP TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN & YOUTH

Do you want to lend a helping hand to traumatized children & youth (i.e. the victims of Hurricane Katrina) but don't have the extra financial resources to donate? Would you like to volunteer but you don't necessarily have the free time? We realize that many people may not have the extra income or free time required to help in a disaster.

Here's where you come in. We are currently taking suggestions for interventions or activities to include in the pamphlets. The suggestion could be as simple as a game that children could play to take their minds off their distressful situation. We are especially appreciative of ideas suitable for children and teens with special needs.

Here are two quick examples from one of our handouts:

• Help children identify their own coping skills. "You always find a way to make your little brother laugh. That is a good way to help him." "Talking seems to help you figure out what to do when things are confusing and scary." " You have a special gift for figuring out how other people might be feeling."
• Smile. Children who do not know you may "read into" your facial expressions, think you are worried, and then become more distressed.

At the bottom of this page you will find a link to our online suggestion form. Or you can e-mail your suggestion to reassure@pitt.edu. If you need more help from us in order to participate (for example, if you need to call us with your suggestion instead of using e-mail), just call 412-648-7205. Let us know for what age group your suggestion is appropriate:

• Young children
• Elementary-school aged children
• Teens

We are especially in need of suggestions for children and teens with disabilities. If your suggestions would help youth with special needs, please let us know that in your e-mail.

Some Writing Tips:

1. Please try to write in a simple, conversational style. You can do a simple check for readability in your word processing program. In Microsoft Word, for example:
• Go to Tools
• Spelling and Grammar
• Under Options, check show readability statistics
• After the spelling and grammar check is completed, you will see a box with the readability statistics.
Aim for:
• -Flesch Reading Ease: above 65%
• -Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: at or below 7th grade


2. If you don't achieve these targets for readability, don't worry. Send them anyway! We have volunteer editors who will help us with writing style.
3. Remember that what you write will be read by the adult or volunteer, not a child, so don't write directly to the child. Write for an adult to understand.
4. Try to limit each suggestion to one paragraph, unless you need more words to explain it. If you want to include quotes or special things to say to explain what you mean, that is fine. Here is an example:
   Offer a stuffed animal, blanket, or anything familiar that gives comfort and is safe (avoid small items for those under age 3). Ask the child to tell you about this possession. For example, "What is your teddy bear's name?" or "Tell me about your eyeglasses. Have you had them a long time?"
5. Try to avoid suggestions that would remind the youth of the disaster. For example, songs and games about rain or water may not be so good after a hurricane or flood.
6. Our website has some general resources that might help you, if you have not worked with children in disasters before. These readings will give you some background and help to explain our handouts and how to use them.
7. Don't hesitate to make a suggestion just because you are not a professional or a great writer. Many of our best ideas came from people who are not pros or great writers Children in stress benefit from interested, caring adults. If you like kids and can write a few sentences, your contribution is valuable to Project Reassure!

We are eager to hear from you. Your suggestion could find its way into the shipped pamphlets or e-mail distributions to needy states and in turn, into the heart of a traumatized child. We hope you can help!
Click here to fill out an online suggestion form.