The Path to Healing Following the Waukesha Christmas Tragedy

On November 21, 2021, a driver plowed his SUV into the annual Christmas parade in Waukesha, WI, killing six people and injuring 62 others. The parade's theme was "Comfort and Joy." Seventeen children were among the wounded and four of the dead were members of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies. In this workshop, panelists will discuss the psychological effects of the tragedy on first responders, including those at the command staff level. They will also share their multi-agency approach to providing support in the following months, as Waukesha grappled with the aftermath of the tragedy. This collaborative effort involved mental health professionals and law enforcement at the state, local, and Federal levels working hand in hand to promote healing and resilience.