As members of the Distribution Committee of the Sandy Hook School Support Fund, members of The Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation have the responsibility to solicit input from the public as to the ongoing needs of all of those who have been affected by the 12/14 tragedy.

Foundation members include Chairman Chris McDonnell, Vice Chair Joeline Wruck, Gavin Arneth, Dr Robert Bazuro, Jennifer Clark, Kevin Cragin, the Reverend Rob Morris, Scott Ruszczyk, Addie Sandler, Bob Schmidt, and Connie Sullivan.

According to Foundation Executive Director Jennifer D. Barahona, LCSW, this input is necessary in order to make well informed funding recommendations.

“We conducted a similar survey this time last year and the results of that were used by our committee to fund several initiatives including becoming the primary funder in the community of out-of-pocket costs for mental health and wellness services associated with the tragedy,” Ms Baharona said.

Funds were additionally used to support training for all staff in the school district on youth mental health first aid and to sponsor community events and workshops on trauma and grief with those most impacted by the tragedy and the community at large, the letter states.

In an effort to continue to solicit feedback from as many people impacted as possible, the committee has launched a brief online survey to help assess ongoing needs, challenges, and strengths in the community.

“So that we may measure against the benchmark data from the first survey conducted last year, we have kept those questions the same,” the letter explains. “New questions have been added through our collaborative work with other groups in the community, including the Recovery & Resiliency Team.”

Residents taking the survey should expect to spend about ten minutes. The foundation committee hopes to close the survey on February 6.

The survey is completely voluntary and anonymous, with a goal to reach as many people as possible.

“Each of us are members of this community,” the letter concludes. “While we share perspectives from victims, survivors, teachers, police officers, firefighters, parents, clergy, and the community in general, we are relying on your input as well.”

For more detail on funding to date visit nshcf.org.