Crisis Intervention Training for the Death of a

Crisis Intervention Training for the Death of a Student and/or School Faculty Member Candice Sears School Counselor Your Role as Principal Ø Communicate with Superintendent Ø Delegate Duties Ø Be notified of the details of the for decisions about the crisis protocol process, and contacting any other outside resources. . Ø Proactively create a crisis support team, a phone tree, and identify “safe” for grieving students. Ø Hold an initial meeting with the staff and a brief scheduled meeting at the end of the day Your Role as Counselor Ø Collaborate with the school social worker, school psychologist, or clergy that may attend the school Ø Attend the school wide crisis meeting to hear the principals recommendations. Ø Provide additional support to the students and faculty as they deal with their grief. Ø Follow up with the list of high risk students Ø Attend any memorial services that are held if possible. My Grief Rights I have the right to…. Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø The death of a student or faculty/staff member can be difficult for the students and employees within the school. Due to the emotional strain that this can cause it is imperative that a plan of action including assigned duties be In place prior to the event. Your Role as Teacher Ø Be present a the initial crisis meeting and any follow up meetings. Ø Attend the memorial service when possible Ø Seek advice on how to handle classroom discussion and ways to help their students cope. Ø Let their students talk about their feelings. Ø Permit their students to visit the safe room if they feel that they need to speak to someone. Ø Communicate student concerns to the school counselor. Ø Work with the principal and/or school counselor about how to arrange their classroom if one of their students has died. “Everybody experiences loss and grief differently and uniquely. We need to start from people’s unique experience of loss and grief rather than applying universal templates. ” -Karen Humphrey, Author of Counseling Strategies for Loss and Grief My own unique feelings about the death To talk about my grief whenever I feel like talking To show my feelings of grief in my own way To need other people to help me with my grief, especially grownups who care about me To get upset about normal, everyday problems To “Griefburst” To use my beliefs about God to help me with my grief To try to figure out why the person I loved died To think and talk about my memories of the person who died To move toward and feel my grief and, over time, to heal Student Behaviors to look for Ø Anxiety, fear and excessive worry Ø Discussing the event over and over again Ø Over-reacting to bells, sounds, physical contact, loud noises or sudden movements Ø High risk for drug abuse Ø Nightmares Ø Bad memories Ø Insomnia Ø Avoidance Behaviors Ø Irritability Ø Anger and Aggression Ø Poor academic performance Ø Poor attendance at school Ø Risk taking behavior