School Crisis Response: Reflections of a Team Leader

Description

School Crisis Response introduces a unique educational approach that provides compelling scenarios for the development of school crisis responders. There are many books describing the how-to of school crisis response, but few describe the thoughts and emotions to help guide the application of skills learned. This book provides narratives about traumatic events to supplement concepts with lessons from actual crises. The author documents the perspective of a team leader, vividly illustrating real events to confront the challenges, decisions, and problem-solving demanded to effectively stabilize emotional reactions, ameliorate trauma, and support resilience and recovery. While encouraging reflection, educating, and strengthening new and experienced responders, this book celebrates the vital work of school psychologists, counselors, administrators, teachers, social workers, and nurses who provide extraordinary service under the most difficult circumstances. It combines an intellectual, evidence-based "in the head" understanding of how to do crisis response with an emotional, empathetic "in the heart" understanding of how it feels to do it. Cover Endorsements Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents About the Author Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction The Appreciation and the Bond Purpose of the Book Mistakes as Opportunities for Learning Confidentiality Organization of the Book Narratives as an Educational Tool References SECTION I: Team Planning and Advocacy: Establishing a Crisis Response Team 1. Accidental Death of a Student Crisis Counseling with Alienated Students Impact on Students with Special Needs What We Accomplished Minimal Administrative Support References 2. Death of a Colleague: Responding Alone The Kids Always Come First Magical Thinking and Guilt Cultural Sensitivity: Funeral 3. Homicide of an Elementary School Student Reaffirming Safety and Security 4. Establishing a Crisis Response Team Need for School Crisis Response Teams Phases of Crisis Team Development Roles of Team Members PREPaRE Incident Command System (ICS) Leadership Functions and Reciprocal Support Multiple Roles of School Counselors Models for Forming a District Team An Ongoing Challenge References SECTION II: Team Formation: Implementing the Team and Establishing Credibility 5. Training and Team Building Training to Respond to Emotional Trauma Risk Assessment and Intervention Training Educate the Team, Educate Others A District Training Event A Training Model for Schools Drills and Practice Team Building Activities References 6. House Fire Introduction Prevention/Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery References 7. Essential Elements of Crisis Response The Usefulness of a Framework Proactive Safety Measures Evacuation and Lockdown Procedures Communication Capacity Reunification with Primary Caregivers Elements of Response to a School Crisis Summary: Essential reminders for crisis response References 8. Coping with a Drowning Introduction Prevention/Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery References 9. Triage: Casting a Broad Net The Complexity of Psychological Triage A Model of Psychological Triage References 10. Death of a Kindergarten Teacher Introduction Prevention/Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery References 11. Engaging Children to Work Through Grief Promoting Engagement and Resilience Through Children’s Eyes A Model of Interventions Support After a Traumatic Event References 12. Cultural Responsiveness When a Teacher Dies Introduction Prevention/Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery References SECTION III: Team Development: Building Skills, Caring for Clients and Ourselves 13. Media Message: Mutual Benefit or More Trauma? Managing the Impact of Words and Images Planning for Media Collaboration Impact of Social Media and Technology References 14. Death in the Classroom: Severe Emotional Trauma Introduction Prevention/Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery References 15. Memorials and Funerals Death and Grief Preparing Schools for Funerals and Memorials References 16. Being Present: In the Skin of the Responder The Quality of Being Present The Art of Listening Being Present in the Presence of Suffering References 17. Betrayal of Trust Introduction Prevention/Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery References 18. Care for the Caregiver: In the Eye of the Storm The Need for Caregiver Care Risk to Crisis Responders Strategies for Finding the Eye of the Storm Moving Forward After the Storm References 19. Death of an English Teacher Introduction Prevention/Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery References SECTION IV: Team Maintenance: Sharing Leadership, Expanding Knowledge, Ongoing Challenges 20. Disengagement and Demobilization The Imperative of Disengagement Tertiary Triage and Ongoing Support Systems The Right Time to Leave Examining Outcomes for Effectiveness Debriefing for Crisis Team Closure References 21. Leadership and Teamwork Leadership Styles Adapted to Crisis Response PREPaRE’s Incident Command System School Principal and Response Team Sharing Leadership: Partnerships and Collaboration Crisis Leadership and Teamwork: Essential Qualities Leadership Makes a Difference References 22. Homicide of a High School Student Introduction Prevention/Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery References 23. Systems Thinking The Systems Work of Kurt Lewin and Salvador Minuchin School Crisis Response and Systems Thinking Basic Emotional and Existential Issues References Appendices A Powerful Lesson Sample Survey of School Crisis Responders Bibliotherapy Index