As I compose this message, our region is experiencing a sunny and cool weekend which feels like autumn.  Many of us have returned to work, including myself, where I was pleased to greet so many children who were excited to return to school.  Last week was also the return to school for the staff and students of the Oyster River Cooperative School District.  Heartbreakingly, they returned without our colleague Ryan Long and his two school-aged children Parker and Ryan.  Remembrances of Ryan were recently collected from his professional community, and you can view or download them on our website here.  For me, the Long family tragedy was another reminder that as a professional, my most urgent responsibility is to protect children from harm, and to help them heal when they experience it. 

Hyperlinks to resources from the National Association of School Psychologists are provided below.  These informational resources are available for free, and I hope that you and your collaborators might find them valuable.  The resources address a range of relevant topics including systems-level considerations for trauma prevention and intervention, screening procedures to identify traumatized children, key principles in minimizing the effects of trauma, and relatively recent statistics and recommendations regarding children and gun violence.

Preventing Childhood Trauma: Guidelines for Administrators and Crisis Teams

Guidance for Trauma Screening in Schools

The Role of Schools in Supporting Traumatized Students

Gun Violence and Youth 2019

I wish you a healthy and productive start to the 2025-26 academic year.  As we continue our mission on behalf of children, NHASP has many opportunities for connection and professional development which are starting up (see the Professional Development page of our website).  And as always, your school psychology community is here to support you.  If NHASP can help, please reach out to current NHASP President, Joe Mahoney at jmahoneynhasp@gmail.com.  And if you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis, you can call and speak to trained and caring clinical staff.  Call the NH Rapid Response Access Point at 833-710-6477, or call or text 988. 

Sincerely, 

Joe Mahoney, President 

New Hampshire Association of School Psychologists