School Crisis & Bereavement Resources

Please click below for great resources:

Talking with Children - Learn practical suggestions for how school professionals can initiate a conversation with students who have recently experienced the death of a close family member or friend. This information is relevant whether you are a school leader who will be reaching out to a student or family member to express condolences and offer supportive services on behalf of the school, a teacher welcoming a student back to class after a loss, or another school professional offering condolences or support.

Supporting Our Students - Children may not have experienced a loss before. They may not understand what the loss or their reaction means. They may be unsure how to act or respond. Even children who have had prior losses will still be deeply affected. This handout offers advice to educators and other school personnel about how to support students who are grieving and how their classmates can help.

Supporting Your Child - Children may not have experienced a loss before. They may not understand what the loss or their reaction means. They may be unsure how to act or respond. Even children who have had prior losses will still be deeply affected. This handout offers advice to parents and other caregivers about how to support children who are grieving.

CRD Bereavement Booklet – (I will also send a Spanish version) This booklet provides valuable guidance to parents and other caregivers who are helping children cope with their grief and fear following a death in the family. Prepared with the assistance of some of the nation’s most respected authorities on this important topic.

Coping with Loss– This is an article written by Dr. Schonfeld that gives educators practical advice on what to look for in students that may be grieving after the loss of a loved one.

Coping with the Death of a Student or Staff Member – This is an article that provides leadership advice on topics following the death of student or staff member such as: what information should and should not be shared, how to work with the family to honor their wishes on the details of a sensitive death, examples for teachers/administrators of things that are appropriate to say to students, including siblings and words that could be potentially harmful, FERPA guidelines, guidance on attending funerals, memorial services, and commemorating the student.

Guidelines for Responding to the Death of a Student or School Staff - These guidelines are designed to help school administrators, teachers, and crisis team members respond to the needs of students and staff after a loss has impacted the school environment, such as after the death of a student or staff member or when deaths occur that affect many people in the community. These guidelines are not intended to provide guidance on clinical care or bereavement counseling and are not intended to address personal losses that impact only one or a few members of the school community.