Central to trauma-informed care is the principle of meeting people where they are, acknowledging the individuality of each survivor’s journey. In the context of gun violence, it is important to recognize that this path can be non-linear, and is a natural and expected progression shaped by unique experiences and responses. For example, a survivor may initially make significant progress in coping with their trauma, only to experience setbacks activated by reminders of the event, such as remembrance dates, loud noises, or news of similar incidents. These setbacks can feel like a regression in their healing journey, despite previous progress. Trauma also often involves navigating a range of emotions, including anger, sadness, fear, and numbness. Survivors may cycle through various coping mechanisms, ranging from avoidance and numbing to hyperarousal and hypervigilance. These patterns may shift in response to a change in their environment, relationships, or internal cues, leading to fluctuations in their overall well-being.

This non-linear path means that, in recognizing this, it becomes evident that support efforts must extend beyond immediate responses to encompass long-term and ongoing care. By acknowledging the fluctuations, setbacks, and unpredictability inherent in this process, our recommendations underscore the necessity of sustained support systems that adapt to survivors’ evolving needs and ongoing journey to healing.

1. Immediate Crisis Response for Survivors and Families (Within the First Two Weeks)

Immediately following an incident, the main priority should be ensuring survivors have access to the support they need. This includes:

• • Immediate access to emergency mental health services: For example, dispatching mental health professionals to the scene or providing a hotline for survivors to call for immediate counseling.
  • On-site crisis counseling and support: For example, deploying trained counselors (e.g., local Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DART)) to provide emotional support and coping strategies directly at the location of the incident.
  • Financial assistance for immediate needs: For example, providing vouchers for temporary accommodation, food, or transportation for survivors who may have been displaced or are facing financial hardships as a result of the incident.

2. Long-Term Mental Health Support for Survivors and Families (Two Weeks and Later)

Long-term mental health support is essential for gun violence survivors to navigate the complex and evolving challenges they may face in the aftermath of trauma. From trauma-focused therapy to community support initiatives, providing ongoing care is vital for promoting healing and resilience.

• • Offering a continuum of mental health care services: Offering access to psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers who specialize in trauma-informed care, ensuring survivors receive consistent and personalized support over time.
  • Trauma-focused therapy and counseling: Providing evidence-based therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to help survivors process traumatic memories and develop coping skills.
  • Support groups for ongoing emotional support: Facilitating regular support group meetings where survivors can share their stories, exchange coping strategies, and find solidarity in their journey of healing. For example, creating local or virtual support groups facilitated by trained professionals to provide a supportive community for survivors to lean on each other for emotional support and understanding.
  • Offering grief kits to families (age-appropriate): Providing families with age-appropriate resources such as books, journals, and self-care items to help them navigate the grieving process and honor their loved ones’ memories.
  • Setting up Regional Resiliency Centers: Establishing dedicated centers staffed with mental health professionals, social workers, and support personnel to provide a range of services, including counseling, advocacy, and resource referrals.
  • Acknowledging the need for preparedness: Developing contingency plans at local, state, and national levels to ensure timely and effective support for survivors in the event of a gun violence incident, including allocation of funding for mental health services, community resources, and prevention efforts. Specifically for mass violence incidents, contacting the Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime for grant funding eligibility to support these centers.

3. Support for Care Teams

In the aftermath of gun violence incidents, the focus often rightly shifts towards the direct survivors and their families. However, it’s also crucial to acknowledge and support the care teams involved in the recovery and ongoing support of these individuals. Care workers, including first responders, medical personnel, counselors, and support staff, play a pivotal role in providing compassionate care and assistance during these challenging times. Recognizing the invaluable contribution of care teams and investing in their well-being not only enhances the quality of care provided but also fosters a culture of resilience within the caregiving community. Having established support mechanisms in place, such as peer support programs or required mental health appointments, ensures that care team members have access to resources and assistance when needed. Peer support programs allow care workers to connect with colleagues who understand their experiences and provide mutual support, while required mental health appointments prioritize proactive care and early intervention. Providing ongoing access to these services, including debriefing sessions, can help care workers process their experiences and also mitigate the risk of burnout or secondary trauma.

As we continue to evolve and improve the way we support survivors of gun violence, the Commission has mapped out an example of how local counties may approach an immediate response using a comprehensive approach. These recommendations stem from a range of feedback and experience. Based on expertise from emergency response teams, county prosecutors, and community members, the following approach should be taken:

• • • Using a “FEMA” or “natural disaster” approach in incidents of mass violence:
      • Identifying an initial point of contact and/or liaison for each of the survivors through law enforcement.
      • Providing a Call-In Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) for mass casualty.
      • Staffing Victim Advocates from the Prosecutor’s Office, becoming involved when criminal charges are issued, and providing support before and throughout trial.
    • Offering Psychological First Aid and on-going mental health support.
      • Have a plan in place and initial resources already identified. These will be vetted by and come through local health networks.
    • Having trained staff to help survivors and families navigate systems (i.e., criminal justice, healthcare) to ensure access to treatments and therapies. Anticipate the need for long-term mental health services for individuals as symptoms may wax and wane for months to years.

Survivor Support Groups

Connecting with others who have experienced similar traumas can provide a unique form of understanding, empathy, and shared strength. In the journey towards healing, these connections can offer solace, encouragement, and a sense of community. But it is also important to consider that some survivors may prefer support groups with others they do not know, especially for privacy considerations. The following resources aim to facilitate group support and networking, offering a space where survivors can exchange experiences, support one another, and find collective strength on the path to recovery.

• Common Ground is a nationally recognized community organization that has been serving Michigan for more than 50 years. They are considered one of the most comprehensive crisis service agencies in the country to help support individuals to find hope. Common Ground hosts a range of different support groups including “Survivors of Homicide Loss Support Groups.”
• SurvivorsConnect is an Everytown Survivor Network program that matches gun violence survivors with trained SurvivorsConnect Leaders who, themselves, are also survivors of gun violence. These individuals provide peer support to share what they have learned with survivors who are seeking support, mentorship, and referrals to external services.

1. Post-Incident Reviews – Transparency and Accountability

Every act of gun violence represents a failure, and it usually represents a series of failures. A failure to address the causes of gun violence upstream, a failure to recognize a person in crisis, a failure to recognize the threat that person posed, and/or a failure to prevent such person from obtaining or using a gun. And even a textbook tactical response still won’t be perfect. When we start by acknowledging that gun violence can be prevented, and that an incident of gun violence is, by definition, a failure, it allows us to view our post-incident response as an opportunity to learn from each incident and to do better in the future. To take advantage of that opportunity, we must start by engaging an independent investigator to review events leading up to the incident, the incident itself, and the response to the incident, and then making that investigation public. We owe that transparency to victims and the community, and it allows us to hold the right people and entities accountable. Most importantly, it allows us to learn from our mistakes and save future lives.

The independent review commissioned by the Oxford Community Schools Board of Education came late, but it is an excellent example of what an independent review should look like. The review was truly independent, and the report was released to victims and the public at the same time it was released to the School Board.

There are also excellent protocols for post-incident review of the tactical response to a shooting. For example, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) within the U.S. Department of Justice in conjunction with the National Police Foundation published a guide in 2020 that provides a detailed step-by-step guide for law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders engaged in such efforts. This guide, titled How to Conduct an After-Action Review can be accessed and downloaded using the link in the Additional Resources list below.

Finally, the families of the victims of the Oxford shooting developed their own recommendations that make transparency and accountability mandatory, calling for:

• • • The creation of a state agency focused on firearm violence prevention and statewide task forces and commissions responsible for:
      • Investigating the response to the shooting;
      • Developing the framework for fully-funded, mandatory statewide threat assessment;
      • Policies and procedures that include the structure and resources to oversee and hold schools accountable for implementation;
      • Supporting legislation requiring independent investigations and after-action reports immediately following any mass shootings; and
      • Reviewing and revising the terms of governmental immunity in the State of Michigan.

2. Victim Advocates

Victim Advocates play a crucial role in providing support and assistance to individuals affected by gun violence, particularly in cases involving fatalities. Their involvement begins when law enforcement completes their investigation and presents the case to the Prosecutor’s Office for a charging determination. At this stage, Victim Advocates initiate contact with the next-of-kin to offer guidance, support, and resources during what is often an emotionally overwhelming and complex process.

Understanding the role of Victim Advocates requires insight into the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA), which outlines the rights of crime victims in the federal criminal justice system. Victim Advocates serve as advocates for these rights, ensuring that survivors and their families are informed, heard, and supported throughout the legal proceedings. By partnering with Victim Advocates, families impacted by gun violence can access the support and resources they need to navigate the legal process with dignity and understanding. Victim Advocates serve as compassionate allies, ensuring that survivors and their families are empowered to assert their rights and seek justice. This includes the right to be treated with fairness and respect, the right to be heard during court proceedings, and the right to receive notification of key developments in the case. However, it is important to note that Victim Advocates primarily offer support within the legal system and do not serve as therapists, counselors, or other provide social services.

Every county within Michigan has a Victim Advocate that is tasked with reaching out to survivors, and at the very least can provide them a packet that informs individuals of their rights.

We encourage individuals to determine if there are similar programs available within their own state.

• • • National Advocate Counseling Program (NACP) was developed through the cooperative effort of multiple national and state victim assistance organizations, and launched in 2003 as the first voluntary credentialing program available to crime victim advocates nationwide. NACP is designed to promote a minimum of forty hours of pre-service training for advocates, recognizes the advocate’s years of experience, whether volunteer or paid, and requires continuing education for all advocates credentialed under the program. For more information on this program and to sign up, please visit the link in the Additional Resources list below.
    • Victim Compensation Programs advocate for and strengthen victim compensation programs at the national and state levels, ensuring financial support for medical expenses and recovery. In August 2023, Michigan’s Crime Victim Rights Act was amended and expanded to provide financial reimbursement to victims who suffered emotional harm from a crime, eliminating the earlier requirement of physical injury. This program reimburses for short and long-term mental health treatment, lost wages, home modifications (i.e., wheelchair ramps, etc.), funeral benefits, and more. Victims apply through the MI Crime Victim Compensation Commission, and Victim Advocates can assist with the application process.

3. Trauma-Informed Policies

Core principles of trauma-informed care include prioritizing a survivor’s sense of safety, both physical and emotional, and ensuring that care providers understand and respect the individual’s autonomy and choices. It also involves promoting collaboration and open communication, recognizing the potential activators associated with gun violence, and actively working to avoid re-traumatization. Cultivating a culture of sensitivity and compassion is fundamental, as is recognizing the resilience and strengths of survivors. Trauma-informed care extends beyond immediate interventions, emphasizing long-term support and understanding the interconnectedness of physical and mental health.

• • • Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Oriented Schools is an evidence-based framework designed to support every student to account for trauma. This is especially important for students returning to school after a mass shooting. All classrooms should have access to calming materials, such as spaces and tools to support emotion regulation. Taking movement breaks, accessing sensory materials, and practicing emotion regulation skills such as mindfulness should be encouraged and part of the classroom environment. Classroom environments should be predictable, inclusive, and safe for all students and allow each child to feel they are a member of the classroom community. Classrooms should take into account seating, lighting, access to materials, signage, sound, temperature, visual presentation, and organization when creating a supportive classroom environment. This practice is recommended for schools to complete on an annual basis. In the Oakland County school district (Michigan), there is a Recovery Coordinator and staff that assist with county-wide policy implementation.
      And while schools are one specific area where these policies have grown significantly in the last year in response to mass school shootings, there is a major opportunity to translate these principles across a variety of settings including healthcare systems and trainings for response teams (e.g., Victim Advocates). For example, the Department of Justice Mass Terrorism Division presented trauma response training in July 2022 that the Oxford Victim Advocates attended.

4. Responsible Media and Public Discourse.

Responsible media coverage and public discourse are vital components in supporting survivors and fostering healing within affected communities. Media outlets are urged to report on such incidents with accuracy and sensitivity, steering clear of sensationalism and graphic imagery that may retraumatize survivors and their families. There is evidence suggesting that sensational coverage focused on perpetrators rather than victims can incentivize future attackers, particularly in the immediate two-week period after a mass shooting, in what is sometimes referred to as the contagion effect (2, 3, 4). Encouraging narratives of hope, resilience, and community support can serve as powerful tools in amplifying survivors’ voices and promoting a sense of solidarity amidst adversity. Collaborative efforts between media outlets, community organizations, and mental health professionals are instrumental in ensuring that coverage is conducted with the utmost sensitivity and respect for survivors’ experiences. Initiatives like the “No Notoriety” movement advocate for refraining from publicizing the names and images of perpetrators in mass shootings, redirecting the focus towards survivors and victims’ families. By embracing responsible media practices and prioritizing narratives of healing and recovery, we can contribute to a more compassionate and supportive public discourse surrounding gun violence, ultimately fostering healing and resilience within affected communities. Furthermore, we can work to prevent future shooters and save lives. Here are some resources on this topic:

• • • Don’t Name Them campaign is a coordinated effort by the ALERRT Center at Texas State University, the I Love U Guys Foundation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Don’t Name Them encourages media, law enforcement, and public information officers to move their focus from the shooters and attackers and more towards the victims and heroes. By encouraging the media to focus less on the suspects and more on victims, it is the hope that future events can be prevented. For more information or ways to get involved with this campaign, you can find more information at their website in the Additional Resources list below.
    • No Notoriety is a similar campaign that was launched by the family members of the victims of the Aurora Colorado movie theater shooting. The goal of this campaign is to reduce acts of mass violence due to media-inspired fame. As part of their ongoing effort, they provide a protocol that can be used as a resource for journalists, public information officers, and others that includes the following elements:
      • Adhere to the journalistic principle of “Minimize Harm,” keeping in mind the responsibility of balancing the public’s need for information vs. potential harm.
      • Recognize that the prospect of infamy serves as a motivating factor for other individuals to kill and inspires copycat crimes.
      • Report the facts surrounding the mindset, demographic and motivational profile, without adding complimentary color to the individual or their actions, and downplay the individual’s name and likeness, unless the alleged assailant is at large.
      • Limit the name to once per piece as a reference point, never in the headlines and no photo above the fold. Refuse to broadcast/publish self-serving statements, photos, videos and/or manifestos made by the individual. After initial identification, limit the name and likeness of the individual in reporting, except when the alleged assailant is still at large and, in doing so, would aid in the assailant’s capture.
      • Elevate the names and likenesses of all victims killed and/or injured to send the message their lives are more important than the killer’s actions.
      • Agree to promote data and analysis from experts in mental health, public safety, and other relevant professions to support further steps to eliminate the motivation behind mass murder.

5. Engage Survivors in Advocacy Efforts

Involving gun violence survivors in advocacy efforts is also a powerful and healing component of trauma-informed care. Empowering survivors to share their experiences and actively participate in advocacy not only lends to a critical human perspective that drives policy discussions but also fosters a sense of agency and control over their narrative. Engaging in advocacy allows survivors to transform their trauma into a catalyst for change, promoting healing through action and contributing to a sense of purpose.

1. Jones, Kamaal A. ‘A Seat at the Table: Centering the Voices of Gun Violence Survivors.’ Pediatrics, vol. 146, no. 4, 15 Sept. 2020, p. e2020015974, https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-015974.
2. Towers, Sherry, et al. ‘Contagion in Mass Killings and School Shootings.’ PLOS ONE, vol. 10, no. 7, 2 July 2015, p. e0117259, journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0117259&utm_source=fbia, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117259.
3. Towers, Sherry, et al. ‘Detecting the Contagion Effect in Mass Killings; a Constructive Example of the Statistical Advantages of Unbinned Likelihood Methods.’ PLOS ONE, vol. 13, no. 5, 9 May 2018, p. e0196863, journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0196863, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196863.
4. Jetter, Michael, and Jay K. Walker. ‘News Coverage and Mass Shootings in the US.’ European Economic Review, vol. 148, Sept. 2022, p. 104221, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2022.104221.

• Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime: https://ovc.ojp.gov/
• Common Ground: https://commongroundhelps.org/
• SurvivorsConnect: https://forms.everytown.org/a/welcome-survivorsconnect
• Trauma Survivors Network: https://www.traumasurvivorsnetwork.org/pages/home
• Directory of Crime Victim Services : https://ovc.ojp.gov/directory-crime-victim-services
• Survivors Empowered: https://www.survivorsempowered.org/
• The Rebels Project: https://www.therebelsproject.org/
• National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence: https://www.newtownfoundation.org/national-vigil-for-all-victims-of-gun-violence/
• Henry Ford SandCastles: https://aboutsandcastles.org/
• The independent review commissioned by the Oxford Community Schools Board of Education: https://guidepostsolutions.com/oxford-community-schools-board-of-education-independent-investigation/
• How to Conduct an After-Action Review guide: https://portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/Home.aspx?item=cops-w0878

Additional Examples of Post-Incident Reviews:

• Mass Shootings at Virginia Tech: Report of the Review Panel Presented to Timothy M. Kaine, Governor Commonwealth of Virginia (Virginia Tech): scholar.lib.vt.edu/prevail/docs/VTReviewPanelReport.pdf
• Rescue, Response, and Resilience: A Critical Incident Review of the Orlando Public Safety Response to the Attack on the Pulse Nightclub (Pulse Nightclub shooting): portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/Home.aspx?item=cops-w0857
• Connecticut State Police After Action Report: Newtown Shooting Incident (Newton - Sandy Hook Elementary School): www.policinginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/csp_aar.pdf
• Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission: Report Submitted to the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Senate (Parkland – Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting): www.fdle.state.fl.us/MSDHS/MSD-Report-2-Public-Version.pdf
• Aurora Century 16 Theater Shooting: After Action Report for the City of Aurora (Aurora Movie Theater shooting)’: justiceclearinghouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/C16-AAR.pdf
• 1 October After-Action Report (Las Vegas Route 91 shooting): https://www.policinginstitute.org/uncategorized/las-vegas-route-91-harvest-music-festival-shooting-after-action-report/
• For information about CVRA in Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/ag/initiatives/crime-victim-rights
• For information about the CVRA at the federal level: https://ovc.ojp.gov/topics/victim-rights-and-services
• National Advocate Counseling Program: https://www.trynova.org/credentialing/nacp-civilian/
• Victim Compensation Programs: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/publicsafety/crimevictims/crime-victim-compensation/applying-for-compensation
• Trauma Informed Resilience Oriented Schools Toolkit: https://www.nc2s.org/resource/trauma-informed-resilience-oriented-schools-toolkit/
• University of Michigan TIPPS Program Guide: https://tipps.ssw.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TIPPS-Main-Guide-4_15_FINAL.pdf
• Oakland County ACEs Data: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Adult-and-Childrens-Services/Children-and-Families/TTS/ACEs_Oakland_County_Data_Profile.pdf
• MDHHS Trauma & Toxic Stress: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv/childrenfamilies/tts
• I Love U Guys Foundation: https://iloveuguys.org/
• Don’t Name Them campaign: https://www.dontnamethem.org/
• No Notoriety: https://nonotoriety.com/

For Immediate Release:

Mar 18, 2024

Contact: Angel@momentstrategies.com

Oxford Families Say Accountability Still Lacking in the Oxford High School Shooting

Guilty Verdict for James and Jennifer Crumbley is a step toward justice but more accountability and change is needed

The parents of Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre, Madisyn Baldwin and Justin Shilling are united in their efforts to drive lasting change and true accountability in the wake of the mass shooting that ended their children’s lives and changed their families forever. They stand together and are speaking with one voice as “The Families For Change.”

“While we are grateful that James and Jennifer Crumbley were found guilty, we want to be very clear that this is just the beginning of our quest for justice and true accountability,” The Families for Change said. “There is so much more that needs to be done to ensure other families in Michigan and across the country don’t experience the pain that we feel and we will not stop until real change is made.”

Over the last year, Oxford families have worked closely with Michigan leaders, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, on a list of common- sense reforms that will lead to accountability and change.

The Families for Change recommendations include the creation of a state agency focused on firearm violence prevention and statewide task forces and commissions responsible for:

• Investigating the response to the shooting
• Developing the framework for fully-funded, mandatory statewide threat assessment policies and procedures that include the structure and resources to oversee and hold schools accountable for implementation
• Supporting legislation requiring independent investigations and after-action reports immediately following any mass shootings
• Reviewing and revising the terms of governmental immunity in the State of Michigan

“We cannot allow districts like Oxford Community Schools to hide behind immunity where the facts are clear that gross negligence exists,” the group