Virtual National Town Halls on Mass Violence
15th Virtual National Town Hall
The Impact of MVIs on Family Survivors of Homicide Victims & Resources to Assist Them
(National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims)
Thursday, September 25, 2025
3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
ASL interpreters will be available during this National Town Hall.
As a result of participating in this National Town Hall, participants will be able to:
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- Describe the scope of homicide traumatic loss and its mental health outcomes, and models of grief that can be complicated by trauma.
- Identify the critical role of funeral directors and morticians in providing support and services to surviving family members, in coordination with hospitals, morgues and victim/survivor services.
- Describe victim/survivor services that are needed by surviving family members, including sensitive trauma notification.
Identify effective strategies to “honor the legacy” of those killed in mass violence incidents, in collaboration with and support for family members.
#KnowBeforeYouNeedTo
The National Town Hall on Mass Violence is sponsored by the NMVC with support from the Office for Victims of Crime. This quarterly series provides the best evidence-based mass violence readiness, response and resiliency/recovery resources and practices for:
- Mass violence victims and survivors
- Victim/ survivor assistance professionals
- Mental and behavioral health professionals
- Law enforcement and criminal justice officials
- Allied professionals
This event is an ongoing exchange of ideas discussing experiences, lessons learned, and best practices to improve community response to mass violence incidents.
Recordings and resources for previous Town Halls.
The Continuum of Mass Violence Behavioral and Mental Health Services from Preparedness Through Response and Resiliency (July 8, 2025)
Mass violence incidents can be very traumatic for victims, survivors, first responders, and community members. Some people may experience a variety of temporary reactions that will dissipate over a period of several weeks to a couple of months; while others will experience a range of longer-term reactions that include depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, anger, and challenges in stress management. Communities must be prepared with quality behavioral and mental health services and support that identify and address these needs, and provide evidence-based services across the immediate, short-term and long-term continuum of mass violence preparedness, response, recovery and resilience.
Open
Overview of the Three Centers Often Created in the Aftermath of Mass Violence Incidents (March 27, 2025)
An overview and guide to planning for the three Centers frequently established in a community after a mass violence incident, including specific services provided by each, potential funding sources, and strategies for effective case management and service delivery across the continuum of Centers.
Open
Report Out from the First National Summit on Mass Violence Victims and Survivors (September 5, 2024)
Findings from the Summit include gaps in programs and services for MVI victims, survivors, first responders and impacted communities; takeaways to improve victim/survivor and community access to services and support; and a compilation of resources from our partner organizations.
Open
How to Create a Coordinated, Survivor-centric Community Response Plan for Mass Violence Incidents (May 14, 2024)
Effective mass violence recovery and response activities require comprehensive and coordinated advance planning. This town hall covers the importance of creating a coordinated MVI response plan; the agencies, organizations and professionals necessary for effective planning/response; best practices for emergency response; and the technical assistance resources available from NMVC and our partners to help create a plan.
Open
Trauma Across the Lifespan of Mass Violence Survivors & Impacted Communities (February 22, 2024)
This town hall discusses the range of traumatic reactions, how they vary across age groups, and evidence-based strategies and modalities to help those impacted by mass violence to cope with their trauma and build personal resilience.
Open
Helping the Helpers: Addressing Needs of First Responders Following MVIs (November 30, 2023)
This town hall addresses the perspectives of first responders who have experienced mass violence incidents, the scope of various support services to help first responders' resilience in the aftermath of MVIs, and important resilience skills and strategies needed for first responders.
Open
Road to Recovery for Mass Violence Survivors (August 24, 2023)
This town hall addresses the long-term trauma and trauma cues affecting mass violence survivors and mass violence impacted communities including strategies for both, particularly with regard to annual commemorations and permanent memorials. It also discusses unexpected challenges that may arise in the long-term aftermath of a mass violence incident, and strategies to address them.
Open
School-based Mass Violence Incidents: Addressing Student, Caregiver, and School Personnel Impact (May 25, 2023)
This Town Hall addresses preparedness strategies for mental health response for students and staff in the aftermath of a mass violence incident, the role of victim service professionals in preparing and responding to school shootings, long-term strategies, interventions, and resources to promote resilience, and lessons learned from previous responses to school shootings.
Open
Recovery and Resilience (Oct. 13, 2022)
Presenters for this Town Hall describe long-term impact of mass violence crimes, discussed mission and scope of services of a Resiliency Center, describe effective resiliency strategies to support individuals and communities, as well as offer several lessons learned from the NMVVRC Resiliency Center Directors Forum.
Open
Response (July 14, 2022)
This Town Hall describes roles of the FBI and other government agencies in response to mass violence as well as review of initial response centers and Family Assistance Centers, effective strategies to address needs of victims, and early intervention approaches. Note: This Town Hall was not recorded due to restrictions of several presenters. An abbreviated slide deck is provided as well.
Open
Readiness (May 5, 2022)
This Town Hall describes services and resources available from the Office of Victims of Crime related to mass violence readiness, response and resilience.
Open
Overview of Mass Violence Resources (Jan. 27, 2022)
This Town Hall describes services and resources available from the Office of Victims of Crime related to mass violence readiness, response and resilience.
Open