Responding to Crisis

Violence can happen at any time, anywhere. Effective and safe schools are well prepared for any potential crisis or violent act.

Crisis response is an important component of a violence prevention and response plan. Two components that should be addressed in that plan are:

• Intervening during a crisis to ensure safety.
• Responding in the aftermath of tragedy.

• Training for teachers and staff in a range of skills-from dealing with escalating classroom situations to responding to a serious crisis.
• Reference to district or state procedures. Many states now have recommended crisis intervention manuals available to their local education agencies and schools. 
• Involvement of community agencies, including police, fire, and rescue, as well as hospital, health, social welfare, and mental health services. The faith community, juvenile justice, and related family support systems also have been successfully included in such team plans.    
• Provision for the core team to meet regularly to identify potentially troubled or violent students and situations that may be dangerous.

• Evacuation procedures and other procedures to protect students and staff from harm. It is critical that schools identify safe areas where students and staff should go in a crisis. It also is important that schools practice having staff and students evacuate the premises in an orderly manner.
• An effective, fool-proof communication system. Individuals must have designated roles and responsibilities to prevent confusion.
• A process for securing immediate external support from law enforcement officials and other relevant community agencies.

• Provide inservice training for all faculty and staff to explain the plan and exactly what to do in a crisis. Where appropriate, include community police, youth workers, and other community members.
• Produce a written manual or small pamphlet or flip chart to remind teachers and staff of their duties.
• Practice responding to the imminent warning signs of violence. Make sure all adults in the building have an understanding of what they might do to prevent violence (e.g., being observant, knowing when to get help, and modeling good problem solving, anger management, and/or conflict resolution skills) and how they can safely support each other.

Responding in the Aftermath of Crisis

Members of the crisis team should understand natural stress reactions. They also should be familiar with how different individuals might respond to death and loss, including developmental considerations, religious beliefs, and cultural values.

Effective schools ensure a coordinated community response. Professionals both within the school district and within the greater community should be involved to assist individuals who are at risk for severe stress reactions.

Schools that have experienced tragedy have included the following provisions in their response plans:

• Help parents understand children's reactions to violence. In the aftermath of tragedy, children may experience unrealistic fears of the future, have difficulty sleeping, become physically ill, and be easily distracted-to name a few of the common symptoms.
• Help teachers and other staff deal with their reactions to the crisis. Debriefing and grief counseling is just as important for adults as it is for students.
• Help students and faculty adjust after the crisis. Provide both short-term and long-term mental health counseling following a crisis.
• Help victims and family members of victims re-enter the school environment. Often, school friends need guidance in how to act. The school community should work with students and parents to design a plan that makes it easier for victims and their classmates to adjust.
• Help students and teachers address the return of a previously removed student to the school community. Whether the student is returning from a juvenile detention facility or a mental health facility, schools need to coordinate with staff from that facility to explore how to make the transition as uneventful as possible.

"Early intervention and quick response from our school district team resulted in no one getting hurt." Pamela Cain, Superintendent, Wirt County, WV

Crisis Procedure Checklist

A crisis plan must address many complex contingencies. There should be a step-by-step procedure to use when a crisis occurs. An example follows: