When a tragedy strikes, your first step is for an administrator to reach out to the regional crisis team. Below are examples of intake questions you may receive when you initially contact the regional crisis response team.

Having answers to these questions is not a requirement.

• What happened? Where?

• What other agencies are assisting?

• Who was injured or died?

• Are there any rumors to consider?

• Is there a need for a crisis management briefing?

• When is your team planning meeting?

After the initial phone call, an intake planning document will be shared with you. The regional crisis team lead will ask you to complete certain sections of the document.

In collaboration with your district planning team, roles and responsibilities can be tailored to align with your needs and the current supports in place. Select a dropdown tab below to learn more.

Family Liaison
Responsibility:

• Main communicator for the school and family to stay connected at a time of need.

• Send condolences.

• Relay the plan to honor the student - such as the honor board.

• Ask if they would like to stop by the school after hours to gather belonging from the locker/desk/etc. or if they prefer to have the district gather them.

• Keep regional crisis response team lead updated with family wishes/services/cultural preferences.

Assignment:

• Principal

• Counselor

• Other

Crisis Response Team Lead
Responsibility:

• Spokesperson for the team at the crisis management briefing (if held).

• Intoduce the team and the plan at the staff meeting.

• Liaison between the team and the school.

• Check in with school leaders to see how they're doing.

Assignment:

• Regional crisis team member

Crisis Response Administrative Support
Responsibility:

• Be a float for office staff at the school and help with the possible influx of need.

Assignment:

• School administrative support/paraprofessional

Command Center Support
Responsibility:

• Help manage the care lists.

• Assign 1:1's.

• Ensure team members are taking breaks, including lunch.

• Provide and coordinate support for crisis team members as needed.

• Post updates and communicate them to the crisis team members as/if the invesitgation evolves.

• Frequently check the self/anonymous nomination for worry list support.

Assignment:

• Regional crisis team member

Worry List Lead
Responsibility:

• Create and manage a worry list for personalized support to help staff and student process the tragedy.

Assignment:

• Regional crisis response team member(s)

• Counselor

• Other

Comfort Room Support
Responsibility:

• Support people who come to the space as needed

• Replenish supplies

• Talk through available resources

• Add to the worry list as appropriate

Assignment:

• Regional crisis team member(s)

Letters and Announcements
Make a copy of the selected document to personalize.

• Sample Announcement to Staff

• Sample Parent Letter

• Sample Parent Letter (Staff Death)

• Sample Parent Letter (Death by Suicide)

• Sample Parent Letter (Follow Up)

Crisis Management Briefing
Sample Crisis Management Briefing (make a copy to personalize)

Scripts
Make a copy of the selected document to personalize.

• Sample Student Scripts

• Sample Death by Suicide Script

National Alliance for Children's Grief - Grief Support Resource Library

National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement - Helping schools support their students through crisis and loss.

National Association of School Psychologists - School Safety and Crisis Resources

Recovering Emotionally From Disaster

Trauma- Reaction + Recovery

Guidance for Responding to Student Distress Following a Tragedy or Crisis

Dougy Center

Talking to Children about Violence - Tips for Families and Educators from the National Association of School Psychologists

Talking to Children When Scary Things Happen from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event from the Child Mind Institute