Saturday Oct 27:
Dana and Jordan at the JCC all day (family support, community support)
Sandy at JCC and with Ellen (family support)
Leslie at the JCC (family support, community support)
Week of Oct 28-Nov 3:
Coordinated volunteer therapists for crisis counseling drop-in center at the JCC all week, all day as well as onsite at the South Hills JCC
Coordinated alternative therapies to be available to the community onsite at the JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry through the help of PATHS and Acupuncturists without Borders
Worked with the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) to train in-house staff as well as staff from DHS Office of Behavioral Health and Pittsburgh Public Schools
Coordinated the ITC to attend different locations for support including Hillel Academy, JCC After School program, private homes of survivors, rabbis, staff of different community agencies
Coordinated United Hatzalah to JCC early childhood staff and After School Program as well as connections to other local schools and centers.
Coordinated “Nimi The Clown,” medical clown from Dream Doctors in Israel to local schools, Children’s Hospital and Children’s Institute.
Arranged for JFCS School consultation staff to be an on-site resource to the students and staff they already know as a further support
Established a warmline through PAAR to be available to all and any who need it.
Arranged for massage therapists for staff at the Jewish Federation.
Made contact with each survivor and connected each to a JFCS staff member to act as concierge for services or resources needed
Arranged for counselors to be onsite at the Squirrel Hill Health Center, The Immigration and Refugee Workforce Program, Literacy Pittsburgh, Diller Teen Fellows, JCC Senior Center, Hillel Jewish University Center (JUC), PlaySpace at the Carnegie Library, Beth El Men’s Club, Beth El’s Sunday School staff, and Repair The World.
Week of Nov 4-Nov 10:
Coordinated volunteer therapists for crisis counseling drop-in center at the JCC all week, all day as well as onsite at the South Hills JCC
Assisted in coordinating onsite counselors at the Hillel JUC
Arranged for counselors to be onsite at the Squirrel Hill Health Center, BBYO Youth Convention, Turtle Creek Senior Center, Tree of Life board meeting, Ralph Schugar funeral home, and Jewish Chronicle, ONBOARD Legacy Heritage program, Tree of Life Shabbat Services, and Americorps.
Connected survivors and community helpers to one-on-one counseling
Making contact with each victim’s families and connected each to a JFCS staff member to act as concierge for services or resources needed
Week of Nov 11-17:
In midst of coordinating volunteer therapists for crisis counseling drop-in center at the JCC all week, afternoons and evenings
In midst of setting up debriefing for Chevra Kadisha (ritual burial societies) in connection with Center for Victims
In midst of developing and coordinating support groups for different “circles of grief”: community members; people who just missed it/on way to services; survivors; families; etc. in connection with Center for Victims
Working with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Volunteer Center to provide volunteers to victims’ families and survivors in whatever capacity is needed.
Future:
Provide psychoeducational groups from experts for community members, survivors etc
Provide trainings to professionals on trauma treatment and triage (mental health) – IChill app
Have ITC return for further needs and provide training and support in connection with Squirrel Hill Health Center
Arrange for AGH Center for Traumatic Stress to provide informational sessions and support to families as well as groups for teens such as wellness groups and processing groups
Survey family members and survivors to see what they need, what they want, etc
Work with the MUSC National Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center to provide best practices and resources to the community
Look into establishing (with other agencies) a weekly assistance center/resiliency center at the JCC to provide support and resources to families and community members