*We recommend downloading the Watch Duty app for updates on fires in the area, and check out this spreadsheet of active available resources created by Mutual Aid LA Network if you’ve been impacted by the fires, or would like to volunteer/donate supplies.

During the current LA County wildfire crisis, community is a vital resource for supporting one another. At Turnaround Arts: California, we believe in the potency of creativity as a source of community-building, care, and necessary processing in the face of trauma. Exercising creativity has the power to support mental health, foster mindfulness, and connect us during times of crisis.

To help you and our youth navigate the complexities of trauma, we’ve compiled a list of essential resources. These tools for parents, teachers, and caregivers offer guidance on discussing and processing trauma, fostering creative expression, and prioritizing self-care:

1. Helping Children After a Wildfire: Tips for Caregivers and Teachers
“Trauma often results when overwhelming emotions are not fully processed, leaving the nervous system ‘stuck’ in a state of fear, fight, flight or freeze. By allowing emotions to flow naturally and providing tools to regulate the body’s stress response, we can prevent trauma from becoming embedded.” From the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), this guide provides actionable advice for supporting children in the aftermath of wildfires. It includes:

• Communication strategies to create a safe environment for children to share their feelings, and have those feelings validated.
• Behavioral observations to watch for signs of stress or trauma.
• Steps for caregivers and educators to foster emotional safety and stability.

These tips are invaluable for helping children process their experiences.

2. Crisis Intervention for Mental Health: In Case of a Fire

This guide offers practical strategies for supporting mental health during and after the instance of a fire. Key highlights include:

• Tips for creating a safe environment for open dialogue and emotional support.
• Tools for approaching your young one with empathy while taking care of yourself

This document is a crucial resource for anyone seeking to support mental health in times of crisis.

3. Arts Resources to Relieve Stress and Support Mindfulness & Connection
Creativity can be a transformative outlet for processing emotions and finding calm. This resource created by Turnaround Arts offers:

• Art activities designed to relieve stress and encourage self-expression.
• Mindfulness exercises to promote relaxation and focus on the present.
• Group and individual projects to strengthen bonds and build a sense of community.

Science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin said, “The most powerful tool we have as human beings is our imagination, which allows us to envision a world beyond the present and thus work to create it.” Imagination is not only a tool to envision a different reality that challenges the infrastructures we currently live in as a collective but also a tool to nourish ourselves as individuals, our families, and our young ones. By engaging with the arts, individuals and families can nurture their mental well-being and create meaningful connections.

We hope these resources inspire and empower you to care for yourself and your loved ones during challenging times. Remember, imagination and creativity are not only tools for envisioning a brighter future but also for sustaining us in the present.