How to Prepare a School Crisis Intervention Curriculum

School personnel can effectively implement a school crisis intervention curriculum.

Episodes of violence in institutions of learning over the past decade clearly illustrates that schools are vulnerable to the same problems that occur in other sectors of a community. This vulnerability is evident with the increased incidence of school violence experienced by students, school personnel and families of students. Knowledge gained from tragic experiences has led to comprehensive planning and curriculum programs intended to address crisis intervention in schools. A well-trained and properly prepared school staff can provide children with the support and assistance necessary in the prevention of and aftermath of a crisis. School personnel can effectively coordinate a successful crisis intervention program.

Instructions

Develop A School Crisis Plan

1. Establish guidelines to address unique situations that may necessitate the implementation of a school crisis intervention plan. These guidelines must be clear and specific to the particular school or school district. This plan must include the selection of a crisis response team that will be responsible for delivering crisis intervention services. The plan must delineate which crisis areas must be addressed such as how accurate information will be relayed to team members, staff, students and parents. The plan must also take into account the emotional and psychological needs of all concerned. The purpose of an organized plan is to eliminate confusion and possible tragic outcomes in the event of a crisis situation.

2. Select a school-based crisis intervention team chosen from faculty members, office staff and administration. The principal should always be a part of the crisis team. Each team should consist of a crisis team chairperson, an assistant chairperson, a counselor, a staff coordinator, a news coordinator and security personnel. These duties and roles should be adjusted to meet the needs of the school and the community. If the school district is small, one district-wide team might be more applicable, but both might be preferable since the building-level teams are more familiar with students and staff.

3. Organize and develop a crowd management plan with the assistance of the local police and fire departments. Discuss the need to address several different possible scenarios that may occur depending on the type of crisis experienced. Plans must be made that include how to block off certain roads or areas if necessary for the safety and security of students and school personnel. Students must be the top priority and a safety evacuation plan must be in place. Crowd management must include designating an organized method of moving students if necessary and having a chosen destination for transfer. A way to manage traffic and preserve physical evidence must be pre-determined.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose team members who are familiar with the students and staff. The experts in a school are those who work with students on a day-to-day basis and can relate to them. Practice active listening.

• Try not to be judgmental or prejudiced. Avoid accusations.

References

• Richmond Behavorial Health Authority: School Based Services Crisis Intervention
• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development: School Crisis Response - Expecting the Unexpected
• Clearinghouse on Educational Policy and Management: Crisis Prevention and Response - Is Your School Prepared?
• Office for Victims of Crimes: A Model for School-based Crisis Preparedness and Response
• National Association for Continuing Education: School Based Crisis Intervention

Resources

• Conway High West: Crisis Intervention Plan