November BHECN/UNO school crisis event draws large crowd
Marisa Nowitz, MSW, LCSW, of the Trauma and Grief Center at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute addresses attendees at the Nov. 13 “Supporting Youth in the Aftermath of Crisis, Trauma, and Loss: A Clinician’s Guide” event in Omaha.
BHECN partnered with the University of Nebraska-Omaha Department of Counseling to sponsor a free continuing education event on Nov. 13 titled, “Supporting Youth in the Aftermath of Crisis, Trauma, and Loss: A Clinician’s Guide.”
The event featured a presentation by Marisa Nowitz, MSW, LCSW, of the Trauma and Grief Center at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in Houston on how to help students and others following crises such as school shootings. More than 100 behavioral health providers and others attended the event at UNO’s Thompson Alumni Center.
Below, Thang Tran, PhD, Assistant Professor in UNO’s Department of Counseling, who worked with BHECN to organize the event, talks more about the training and the next session, which will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at the Thompson Alumni Center. Registration for the second event is closed.
Why did you want to offer these trainings?
My team has collaborated with Drs. Kati Cordts and Erin Schneider at BHECN over the past year and a half on a grant we have together. In one of our meetings back in the middle of September, we were discussing possible ways we could help the Omaha community after the school shooting that took place at Omaha Northwest High School. Overall, Omaha Public Schools responded extremely well to that very difficult situation. I know several of the amazing school counselors at that school and I had a personal connection to the student who was shot, Jamarion Fant, who used to hang out in my neighborhood. We also talked about past traumatic events like the shootings that happened at Millard South High School in 2011 and at Von Maur in 2007. The sad reality is that these catastrophic events severely impact all communities, even ours. We recognized an urgent need to equip our educators and mental health professionals with effective crisis response tools. Marisa Nowitz and David Schonfeld (the Dec. 12 presenter) bring extensive experience in school crisis response and can help communities, like ours, respond to, heal from, and build resilience.
What were your biggest personal takeaways following the first training?
The overwhelming response to the first training reinforced how deeply our community needs these resources and support systems. It highlighted the importance of having a coordinated, trauma-informed approach to crisis response as a mental health clinician or helping professional. Marisa provided crucial insights into trauma-, grief-, and bereavement-informed frameworks that strengthen our ability to support youth through crisis. Her and her team's experience in Santa Fe, Texas in 2018 and Uvalde, Texas in 2022 and working with their communities was particularly relevant. The training deepened our understanding of distinguishing between trauma and grief responses, while offering practical strategies for supporting youth after traumatic events. Her emphasis on recognizing and managing secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue was especially valuable for ensuring sustainable care practices. I know I learned a lot.
Registration for the first event filled almost immediately. What message did that send to you?
The immediate registration response showcased the exceptional dedication of Omaha's mental health professionals, school counselors and educators to supporting our community's healing and preparation for crises impacting our youth. Within days, we had a full list of professionals eager to enhance their crisis response training and skills. This response reflects not just the urgency of our current situation, but also the deep commitment of Omaha's helping professionals to serve our youth and families during difficult times. The speed at which registrations filled up - even with limited advertising - demonstrates both the pressing need for these resources and the proactive nature of our local mental health community in seeking ways to better serve those affected by crisis and loss.
What would you want potential attendees of the Dec. 12 event to know before they attend?
Dr. Schonfeld brings over 35 years of experience supporting schools through various crises nationwide and internationally. He and his team have entered into and strengthened communities during some of the worse times in their lives. Come prepared to learn practical, evidence-based strategies that you can implement immediately in your role to support our students, families, and broader community.
Learn more about the Dec. 12 event here.
See more pictures from the Nov. 13 event in this Instagram post.