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Crisis Response Plans
Why are schools responsible for Crisis
Response Planning?
What components already exist in your
district/school?
What parts of this legislation cause you
heartburn?
Most Common Crises Schools Experience
Student death due to accident or illnessStudent death by suicideStudent death due to homicideStaff death due to accident or illnessStaff death by suicideCatastrophic events involving students or
staffNatural disasters
Expectations of Training
Understand the legislation & essential components of crisis response plan
Be able to construct a district plan for implementation
Identify pertinent members of a teamProvide current research and resources
for school districts interested in further information.
Crisis Response Planning Legislation
District constructs modelSchools construct specific plans/teamsDistrict annually review/update and
postTraining annually for all district
employeesDistrict: July 1, 2000School: December 31, 2000
Each school shall have a crisis response team
Minimum Team Membership the principal. One certified member. One classified member One parent.
Basic Plan Requirements
Identification of person in charge and a substitute
Identification of team members and specific crisis team job functions
A communication plan Crisis response protocols Emergency procedures Evacuation and lock down plans
Crisis response policies.
The district and each school within the district shall consult with local social services agencies and local law enforcement authorities when developing the school crisis response plan.
Crisis Definition
The legislation defines crisis to include a
traumatic event or emergency condition
that creates distress, hardship, fear or
grief.
Changes?
Trauma
Working in the Aftermath
Grief and Trauma are Different
Trauma is unlike any other psychological response.Traditional counseling techniques are not helpful.
Grief
An emotional response to loss of something loved.A heart centered experience characterized by sadness, anger, guilt and other emotions.
Trauma
A reaction to exposure to events beyond the realm of every day experience.
A brain based biochemical response.
Reactions to Trauma
Leaves people feeling collectively helpless
Out of control
Children’s responses are dependent upon that of the adults around them.
Trauma survivors need to cope with the trauma before they can begin to grieve
The victim of trauma does not need to know the injured or deceased to suffer trauma
Trauma victims are triggered into high anxiety by being too close to those who are highly emotional or are grieving.
The Continuum of Trauma
Hyperarousal
Intrusion
Constriction
Untreated Trauma may lead to:
use of drugs and alcoholloss of sleepincrease in high risk behaviorincrease in violenceloss of viable and long-term relationshipswithdrawn and isolated behaviorinability to access their old emotional selflife no longer feels the same
Factors That Increase the Likelihood of Trauma
Incidents within closely knit communities
Incidents with multiple eye witnesses
When the victims have a special significance
When a community is exposed to carnage or misery
Incidents that call for numerous rescue workers
Incidents that attract a great deal of media attention
Stages of Crises Planning
Pre-CrisisCrisisPost Crisis
Crisis Management is that part of a school’s approach to school safety which focuses more narrowly on a time-limited, problem-focused intervention to identify, confront and resolve the crisis, restore equilibrium and support appropriate adaptive responses.
School-wide Management after the Crisis
Calm leadership and consistency in disciplineRumor controlTake positive actionCreate a safe environmentPredict and prepareNormalize the usual reactions to traumaCreate opportunities to talkAllow for personal action
There is a sense of security
in knowing we have a plan
for crisis intervention.
Knowing what to do and
when to do it, keeps crisis
from becoming chaos.
A Typical Plan May Include:
A working definition of crisis
Team members and team jobs
Communication plan (includes all phone numbers)
Protocols and Procedures to follow during crisis
Crisis policies
What the Plan Makes Clear
What each team member will do
How the chain of command operates
Who is in charge of what
How to approach problems that may
come up
Why Do You Need A Team?
A crisis response team is a collection of representatives from all facets of school life. A team provides collaborative leadership when crisis occurs and assumes an educational role
with teachers, staff, parents, other school personnel and students. When crisis occurs,
the team shares in decision-making and delegates the tasks of the specific incident.
A Crisis Response Team:
Assesses and provides structurePromotes CommunityPrepares for the crisisResponds during the crisisEvaluates effectiveness
Possible Team Members
PrincipalAssistant Principal
or designeeCounselorFaculty MemberSecurity PersonnelSchool PsychologistSchool Nurse
School Social WorkerParentSocial Service
Agency Representative
Law EnforcementStudentSecretaryCustodian
Specific Jobs During Crisis
Media LiaisonAgency LiaisonLaw Enforcement
LiaisonRoamersSafe Room
AttendantKeeper of the
Ready Bag
Home Visit Designee
CounselingLog AttendantAttendanceCommunicationParent RelationsForms Attendant
One of the most important parts of a plan is
COMMUNICATION.Who tells what to whom and when…
incomplete information only fuels rumors.
COMMUNICATION must be ongoing and should be closely followed up. This can build trust and credibility
with the school and the community.
The Most Important Thing
VERIFY THE FACTSThe principal or designee should
contact law enforcement, medical
authorities or family to verify if indeed
a crisis did occur and the magnitude of
it.
Rumor Control
Identify & notify internal groups.Designate staff to answer the phone.Identify & notify key communicators
in the community.Provide accurate & timely information
to the mediaAfter the immediate crisis have a
public meeting
Telephone Tree
The goal is to give staff time to become emotionally prepared to meet the day. Should include all staff including secretary, custodian, cooks, bus drivers, etc.
• Give only the facts
• Give the time and place of a before school meeting
• Request that callers not go into conjecture or surmising
Communication Technology
TelephonesCellular PhonesIntercom SystemBullhorns &
megaphonesWalkie-Talkies
Fax MachinesPanic ButtonsAlarm Systems
Computer telecommunications
Announcing the Crisis
Announce as soon as facts are verified
Make the announcement for all students at the same time
Make the announcement from a formal written statement
Make the announcement to small groups of students (in a classroom)
Do not use the PA system.
What the Announcement Will Say
Validate feelings
What happened
Who was involved
What is happening now
What information do I need
What will happen next
Keep in Mind:
A regular day may be too hard
for grieving students.
Offer choices of activities.
Media Guidelines
Assign a media liaison personDo not allow press on campusCall them before they call youIdentify a time & a neutral place to
meet with themHave an official statement preparedGive honest answers
Scenario
A severe earthquake occurs during school hours. There is structural damage to the school building and several students and staff members are hurt. Power has gone out all over town limiting communication.
Protocols
A Crisis is in progress on school grounds
The Crisis hasalready occurred
• If a criminal activity call 911
• Implement lock-down or evacuation procedures
• Convene the crisis-response team
• Verify facts
• Initiate the phone tree
• Convene the crisis-response team
Evacuation Procedures
Call 911Alert bus systemBuddy school or alternative locationAttendanceCommunity notificationAlternate routesPractice drillsAttend to students with special needs
Lock Down Preparation
Determine signals and procedures for lockdowns.
Conduct drills.
Lock Downs
Detention of students in classroomsChecking of hallways by teachersKeep students calmClose shades & blinds, lock windows
& doorsWait for the all clear signal
Ready Bag Contents
Responsibility checklist Phone number list School map Blueprints Keys to all doors Student roster including
parents phone numbers Master schedule Name tags
Pens & magic markers Bullhorn Batteries First Aid Kit Sample forms Communication
electronics Legal Pads
Post Crisis
Notify Superintendent Convene Crisis Team Assign team members
specific jobs Prepare formal statement Plan staff meeting Identify students & staff
most affected Determine if additional
resources are needed in community
Call subs Provide guidelines to staff Setup & staff safe room Assign staff to follow
deceased students schedule
Make school announcement
Remove deceased student from attendance rolls
Crisis Response at Building Level
Introduce the crisis team Review facts Summarize the
assignments Announce safe room Designate staff
gathering place Discuss/validate feelings Discuss impact of the
event
Announce press protocols
Offer coverage of classes for teachers who need a break
Hand out pertinent forms Suggest possible
beginning thoughts/phrases
Give time/place of after school or next meeting
Respecting Cultures
Dress appropriately Greet and say good-bye to survivors in their own
language Allow survivors to direct you through cultural
protocols and follow their direction Participate in defined rituals, as allowed or requested Apologize when you do something wrong Find out, and use, appropriate body language Be aware of spiritual beliefs in the culture
Safe Rooms
A space that is set aside for people to
gather in the aftermath of tragedies.
Most often this is in the school library
or some other comfortable space.
It is not whether the Safe Room
is used by a large number of kids
that makes it useful. Whether
kids go into it or not, they know
they can! This builds a bridge to
safety for them.
Safe Room Guidelines
Listen, observe, validate, reflectSign in and outList students who may need follow-up
servicesAllow students to choose the length of
the Safe Room stayRefer students to counselors if
needed
Safe Room Checklist
Name tags for staff Chairs Tables Big pillows Healthy food & drink Sign in & out sheet Fact sheet Kleenex Self-care handouts
Writing materials Art materials Stuffed animals Age appropriate
books Tape player &
relaxing music Community
Resource List
Safe Room Activities
TalkingSittingWritingColoringWalkingListening to musicQuiet time
Working on assignments
Drinking hot chocolate
Just a time to feel “safe enough to feel”
Give Sorrow words; the
grief that does not
speak knits up the o’er
wrought heart and bids
it break--
--Shakespeare’s
Macbeth
Safe Room Handouts to Have Ready
Helping a grieving friend Helping grieving parents Helping your child after
a disaster Funerals & memorial
activities Post-traumatic stress
reactions Stages of grief
Guidelines for classroom discussion
Classroom activities
Phone tree directions
Needs of students
Warning signs of suicide
Stress reducers
Forms or Templates to Have Ready
Student checkoutLetter template for parentsInitial announcement of crisis event Orientation information for teamSafe room sign inStudent referral slipsEvaluation forms
Scenario
You are notified at 5:30 a.m. that a 12th grade boy who was on the basketball team committed suicide by gunshot during the night. He was out the evening before with his girlfriend and some friends. The friends witnessed a loud fight between him and his girlfriend. He also has a brother in 8th grade and a sister in 4th grade.
Crisis During Non-school Time
Institute the phone tree to inform Crisis Response Team members
Coordinate with community agencies Identify & make a list of students & staff most likely to be
affected Notify remaining staff with information by letter or
telephone Schedule faculty meeting for an update before affected
students return to school When school reconvenes, monitor students & staff
previously identified Make referrals
Policy provides both a
foundation and a
framework for action. The
chances of effectively
managing a crisis are
increased with consistent
district policies.
Possible Policies
Funeral AttendanceAbsenceMake-up workMemorialsEvacuation vs. LockdownTransportation for Early Dismissal
Maintaining Preparedness
Conducting drills and establishing a
procedure for periodically reviewing
and updating the Crisis Response Plan
are two essential elements of
maintaining preparedness.
Drill Activities
For team members: respond to hypothetical scenarios.
Practice drills that involve moving staff & students to a safe location.
Practice lock down procedures with staff and students.
Avoid using dramatic props.
A coordinated district-wide
crisis response is no
accident. It reflects
prevention, intervention and
rehearsed reaction.
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