The Crisis Response Team (CRT) consists of Central Rivers AEA staff members who are trained
to help others cope with traumatic events in school. When tragedy strikes, such as the death of a
student or school employee, we are prepared to guide administrators, staff and students through
the process of responding to the emotional aftermath. A traumatic event is a major incident or
emergency that disrupts the normal functioning of a school and poses a threat to the safety and
well-being of students and staff.
The purpose of the Crisis Response Team is to provide emergency planning and support for
school personnel immediately following a school crisis. Support is provided for a brief period of
time by Central Rivers AEA staff specially trained in evidence-based school mental health crisis
interventions. Services may include logistical planning, assistance with communications, and
crisis interventions to students and staff at school.
Crisis Resources
Crisis Manual for School Administrators
This manual is designed to assist schools in developing a crisis management plan and in
helping schools restore emotional health at the time of a crisis event. The manual includes
step-by-step guidance for administrators, sample notifications and scripts, and handouts to
share with teachers, students, and families.
Contact
School administrators may request services from the Crisis Response Team by contacting the
Central Rivers AEA Crisis Team Coordinator, Jody Albertson (641) 430-6483 or Hannah
Hanson (605) 670-9693
What We Do
Central Rivers AEA Crisis Response Team can help with:
- Consultation and coaching around best practices for crisis response
situations (i.e. memorials, anniversary of crisis event, staff or student
deaths, student re-entry after a crisis, communicating with the school
community) - Development of communication for staff, students, and community
- Providing handouts to support wellbeing and resilience following a
crisis event - Group Crisis Intervention
- Individual Crisis Intervention
- Risk Assessment
- Caregiver Trainings
- Classroom Meetings
- Preparing for a traumatic event
- Serving as a resource to teachers/staff (e.g. coaches) who may need
assistance in conducting their classroom discussions or have questions
of their own - Facilitating a debriefing for staff
Other Resources
- The Suicide Prevention Resource Center publishes a toolkit designed to assist schools in the aftermath of a suicide.