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.