Statement ​of ​Purpose 

In the State of Missouri, accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers, and suicide remains the second leading cause of death.  The death of a student and/or faculty member, especially in these circumstances, creates a crisis situation for a school district.  As schools are committed to providing for the emotional well-being of students, it is imperative that a plan and a crisis team be in place to provide support and a return to stability.

During a crisis, a team can further the emotional well-being of students in several ways:

1. The ​crisis ​team ​members ​work ​within ​the ​framework ​of ​that ​school’s ​crisis ​plan. 

2. A ​crisis ​team ​member ​can ​serve ​as ​a ​consultant ​to ​an ​administrator ​or ​counselor, rather ​than ​having ​an ​entire ​team ​travel ​to ​the ​school. 

3. A ​crisis ​team ​member ​can ​provide ​support ​to ​local ​staff ​members ​during ​and ​after ​a crisis. 

It ​will ​be ​the ​goal ​of ​the ​crisis ​team ​to ​help ​schools ​return ​to ​stability/normal ​while ​caring ​for ​the emotional ​needs ​of ​the ​school ​community.