Psychological First Aid (PFA)

"Listen, Protect, and Connect" is a psychological first aid model for teachers and parents created in collaboration by Dr. Merritt Schreiber, Robin Gurwitch, and Dr. Marleen Wong. The following centers participated in the creation of this PFA model; University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health and Health and Media Research Group and The National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement.

This model provides steps of psychological first aid for students after a disaster, school crisis, or emergency. The steps found in each brochure can help students bounce back more quickly; assisting students return to school, stay in school, continue to learn, and return to their usual school-based actvities after such an event.

Ready is a national public service advertising campaign produced by the Advertisisng Council, in partnership with the the US Department of Homeland Security. The Ready campaign is designed to educate and empower Amreicans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including national disasters and potential terrorist attacks. The website can be found at ready.gov and is geared towards children, parents, teachers, and general community stakeholders.

The Psychological First Aid (PFA) kit is in the "Coping" section and consists of two PFA guides entitled "Listen Protect and Connect." One guide is for parents and the second is for teachers and schools. These guides provide ways to support children's emotional well being before, during and after emergencies. They build on ideas, strengths, and practices parents, teachers and schools naturally use with children and provide additional ideas and tools they can call upon in times of disaster or terrorism. Click the links above to browse the website, click below to download the PDF documents.

Downloadable brochures:

Resources for Students and Teachers: Listen,Protect, and Connect, click here.

Resources for Children and Parents: Listen, Protect, and Connect, click here.

A Psychological First Aid presentation by Marleen Wong, Ph.D. is also available: 

  Psychological First Aid 2007 pdf