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Technical Assistance in Developing the
WV School Mental Health Crisis Plan
Krystal Stollings, M.A., Ed.S., NCSP Director of School Psychological Services
Boone County Schools
Jodie AkersDirector of Student ServicesUpshur County Schools
Jeffery Harvey, MSSLPreparedness Division Manager (JH Consulting)
on behalf of Upshur County Schools
Importance of Planning for an Emergency or Crisis
Emergencies of all shapes and sizes occur in schools daily
Emergencies or crises have significant impact on students, faculty, parents and community: Physical
Emotional
Educational
Effective planning will reduce the level of chaos that occurs during an emergency and will enable students to return to normalcy quicker 7 P’s: “Prior Proper Planning Prevents Pitifully Poor
Performance”
Slide information provided by Dr. Barbara Brady, WVDE
Impact of Trauma on Learning
By ignoring the emotional impact of trauma or if practices are inappropriate in crisis response a system can actually re-traumatize students and school staff (secondary trauma).
Slide information provided by Dr. Barbara Brady, WVDE
Code and Policy Requirements
WVBE Policy 2315: Comprehensive School Counseling Programs
5.1.c. Responsive Services (Crisis Prevention and Response)The school counselor collaborates with stakeholders to create a school-wide, prevention-based approach to individual and school crises and has a crisis plan in place to address the mental health component of common school-wide crises.
Outline responsibilities and best practices to address school-wide crisis
Preparedness Prevention Intervention Response
Slide information provided by Dr. Barbara Brady, WVDE
Slide information provided by Dr. Barbara Brady, WVDE
Crisis Planning considerations…
4 Phases:PreparednessPreventionResponseRecovery
Slide information provided by Dr. Barbara Brady, WVDE
PREPAREDNESS
A continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping,
exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action in an effort to ensure effective coordination during incident
response.
Source: USDHS. (December, 2008). National Incident Management System. Washington, D.C.
PREPAREDNESS Preparing in case there is a crisis
Consist of several steps Creating a mental health crisis team
Each county and school will appoint 1-2 school staff (usually the school counselor) to form and coordinate a mental health crisis planning team (MHCPT) as a subcommittee of the school crisis team.
Regular meetings
Developing protocols and guidelines for Prevention
Response
Recovery
Scheduling exercises and drills Considerations for vulnerable populations
Training (crisis team and staff members)Slide information provided by Dr. Barbara Brady, WVDE
PREPAREDNESS
Action Steps Identify and involve stakeholders Consider existing efforts Determine what crises the plan will
address Define roles and responsibilities Develop methods for communicating
with the staff, students, families and the media
Practice
Slide information provided by Dr. Barbara Brady, WVDE
PREVENTION
Prevent, avoid or stop an imminent, threatened or
actual act.
Definition adapted from www.fema.gov/national-preparedness-goal
PREVENTION
Reducing incidents and managing behaviors before they escalate
Providing a safe and nurturing environment
Prevent problems (4373) – Teach/model expected behaviors (2315) Prevention –based programs
Respond as soon as problems are identified
Slide information provided by Dr. Barbara Brady, WVDE
PREVENTION
School-wide, tiered model approach Positive Behavior Support Programs
Expanded School Mental Health
Comprehensive School Counseling Programs
Bullying Prevention Programs
Collaborative Delivery of the Student Success Standards (healthy student development)
Staff Development(PBIS, ESMH, Mental Health First Aid, Suicide prevention anger management, bullying prevention, trauma-informed schools, stages of grief, etc.)
Slide information provided by Dr. Barbara Brady, WVDE
RESPONSE
Respond quickly to save lives, protect property and the
environment, and meet basic human needs in the aftermath of
an incident.
Definition adapted from www.fema.gov/national-preparedness-goal
RESPONSE Protect safety
Address immediate and short-term needs
Support students, staff, and parents (calm/nurture)
Reduce distress and foster adaptive coping
Assist with short-term decision making
Restoring equilibrium
Identify students and staff who need follow-up during the recovery phase
Connect students, staff and families with resources
Each county and school should have a School Mental Health Crisis Response Team (WVSMHCRT) ready to respond in the event of a crisis that is trained in crisis triage and mental health interventions.
Slide information provided by Dr. Barbara Brady, WVDE
RESPONSE
Incident response process can be broken down into three stages: 1. Triage: The main objective during triage is to
reaffirm physical health and ensure perception of safety.
2. Evaluation is a process used through the entire event of crisis response. The SMHCRT constantly evaluates victims and responders’ level of psychological risk (low, moderate, high) and appropriate interventions chosen by the individual school.
3. Response Interventions: appropriate interventions are used for each level of risk for psychological trauma.
**pg. 6 of Addressing Mental Health in Crisis Prevention & Response: A Resource Guide for WV Schools
RESPONSE
Level of Risks:
a. Low Risk interventions are used to re-establish social support which includes psycho-education (caregiver training).
b. Moderate Risk interventions to re-establish social support, include caregiver training and psycho-education groups, and immediate Psychological First Aid (PFA) or other mental health intervention chosen by the individual school.
c. High Risk interventions to re-establish social support, include caregiver training and psycho-education groups, immediate Psychological First Aid (PFA) or other mental health intervention chosen by the individual school, and referrals to long-term psychotherapy.
**pg. 6 of Addressing Mental Health in Crisis Prevention & Response: A Resource Guide for WV Schools
RESPONSE
High risk or at risk populations include those who:
Had direct exposure or extreme life threat;
Were injured
Experienced death or serious injury of a love one;
Had close personal relationship with any victim(s);
Have history of depression or suicidal thoughts or attempts;
Have history of shyness or low self-confidence;
Have a history of risk-taking behavior; and
Have experienced prior traumatic events are at current risk, including-those exposed to community violence of domestic violence; those with a history of abuse and/or neglect; war or other refugees; those from economically disadvantaged groups; medically vulnerable individuals; those from disaster prone regions.
**pg. 7 of Addressing Mental Health in Crisis Prevention & Response: A Resource Guide for WV Schools
RESPONSE
Special Considerations-Crisis response interventions may need to be adapted for students with disabilities or other impairments. Different disabilities that may need special considerations:
Autism, Learning Disabilities, Speech Impairment, Cognitive Impairment, Emotional Disturbance, Orthopedic Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Other Health Impairment (diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, etc.)
**pg. 7 of Addressing Mental Health in Crisis Prevention & Response: A Resource Guide for WV Schools
RESPONSE What types of trauma do you want to consider and address in your School
Mental Health Response Plan?
Community Violence
Medical Trauma
Refugee and War Zone Trauma
Complex Trauma
Natural Disaster
School Violence
Domestic Violence
Neglect
Sexual Abuse
Early Childhood Trauma
Physical Abuse
Terrorism
Traumatic Grief
RESPONSE
**pg. 11 of Addressing Mental Health in Crisis Prevention & Response: A Resource Guide for WV Schools
RECOVERY
Recover through a focus on timely restoration, strengthening and revitalization of infrastructure,
housing and a sustainable economy, as well as the health, social,
cultural, historic and environmental fabric of communities affected by an
incident.
Definition adapted from www.fema.gov/national-preparedness-goal
RECOVERY
Restoring the social and emotional equilibrium of the school community
Promote positive coping skills and resilience
It is essential to understand recovery at two levels: immediate and ongoing.
Recovery support needed will vary Age/gender,
degree of direct exposure to violence,
death or injury of a friend or family member,
previous traumatic life experiences,
and pre-existing history of anxiety and depression.
Work to maintain routines and social activitySlide information provided by Dr. Barbara Brady, WVDE
RECOVERY Involve local resources (law enforcement, emergency service personnel, faith-based
organizations, community service organizations)
Referrals to mental health and other agencies
Post-event planning … i.e. event anniversary
Schools need to keep students, families, and the media informed.
Let families and other community members know what support services the schools are providing or what other community resources are available.
Provide ongoing assessment of emotional needs of staff, students, and families.
Arrange for appropriate interventions by school or community-based service providers.**pg. 13 of Addressing Mental Health in Crisis Prevention & Response: A Resource Guide for WV Schools
RECOVERY Available services need to be identified for families,
who may want to seek treatment for their children or themselves.
Remember anniversaries of crises. Many occasions will remind staff, students, and families about crises.
Trauma experts discourage memorials to suicide victims to avoid glorification and sensationalization of these deaths.
Conduct daily debriefings for staff and others assisting in recovery.
Debriefings help staff cope with their own feelings of vulnerability.
**pg. 13-14 of Addressing Mental Health in Crisis Prevention & Response: A Resource Guide for WV Schools
Establishing a School Mental Health Crisis Team
The School Mental Health Crisis team (SMHCT) is a subgroup of each WV school’s primary school crisis team.
WVBE Policy 2315: Comprehensive School Counseling Programs sets forth requirements for a SMHCT and identifies the School Counselor as the primary coordinator for SMHCT.
**pg. 22 of Addressing Mental Health in Crisis Prevention & Response: A Resource Guide for WV Schools
Boone CountySchool Mental Health Crisis
Response Information
Boone County Schools Collaborative Approach
to the WVSMHC Template
Monthly School Counselor Meetings 2nd Monday of every month Secondary School Counselors 9:00-11:00 am Elementary School Counselors 1:00-3:00 pm
November: Draft copy of WV School Mental Health Crisis Plan Template was created using resources previously available and those mentioned in the Addressing Mental Health in Crisis Prevention & Response: A Resource guide for WV Schools guidance document. School Counselors and psychologists decided which crises
to prepare for. Please see available documents that played an integral role
for development.
Boone County Schools Collaborative Approach
to the WVSMHC Template
December: WV School Mental Health Crisis Plan Template reviewed with school counselors for revisions, amendments, and suggestions.
January-June: Ongoing reviews, updates, meetings, enhancements, improvements, etc.
Recommended that school counselors conduct the WV School Mental Health Planning Team meeting following the schools Crisis Response Team meeting to review information. The schools’ Crisis Reponses Team is expected to meet once every nine weeks. Additionally, School Counselors to create a sign-in sheet to document team member attendance.
Let’s Review an Example…..
Please refer to handouts.
Boone County SchoolsWV Mental Health Crisis Plan:
Resources
Boone County Schools: Emergency Management Resource Guide
WV School Mental Health Crisis Template and Addressing Mental Health in Crisis Prevention & Response: A Resource guide for WV Schools document.
Annually Updated School Counselor and Psychologist contact list.
Annually Updated Crisis Counseling Intervention Team Assignment Schedule
Crisis Counseling Kit
Crisis Counseling Response Team Resource Guide
Crisis Counseling Kit
Other items included inCrisis Counseling Resource Guide
Disclosure Scripts
Sample Parent Communication Letter
Fill-in-the-Blank or Canned/Scripted Messages
Copy of WV School Mental Health Crisis Plan
Copy of Respective School Crisis Plan
HANDOUTS for school staff and parents regarding the following issues:
Death and Grief
Suicide: Postvention Strategies for School Personnel
Memorial Activities and Traumatic Events: Guidelines for Educators
Crisis: Helping Children Cope with Grief and Loss
http://www.samhsa.gov/
Is a wonderful place for free resources!!!!
Proposed Enhancements and Improvements:
Create Methodical Reunification procedures
Document: Standard reunification Method from the “I Love U Guys” foundation
Conduct and offer more Psychological First Aid trainings
Update annually utilizing a county-wide collaborative model
WV Mental Health Crisis Plan is always a working and living document!
Update and audit Crisis Counseling Kits
Proposed Enhancements and Improvements:
Include and add more crisis-specific information to Crisis Counseling Kit
Network with neighboring school systems to see if and how we can access their counselors/psychologists in case a large-scale crisis occurs requiring the response of more professionals
Conduct county-wide Crisis Mental Health forum inviting community stakeholders for a more systematic approach
WVDHHR Local Mental Health Providers WV Disaster Behavioral Health Response Coordinator American Red Cross Law Enforcement EMT
Upshur CountySchool Mental Health
Crisis Response Information
Upshur County Schools Collaborative Approach
to the WVSMHC Template
Mental Health Inclusions in Overall Crisis Response Planning Counselors included as chain of command members at schools. Counselors, psychologists, and community service providers invited to
participate in bi-annual countywide emergency planning committee workshops.
Counselors included as members of crisis response planning teams at schools; these committees meet monthly.
November: Counselors and psychologists started with the existing F.A.C.T.S. manual; began revising manual for consistency with WVSMHC template. Existing manual identified the existing mental planning team and was
comprised of call trees and operational resources. School counselors and psychologists provided operational resources for
addition as appendices.
December: Upshur County’s SMHCP reviewed and submitted to WVDE.
On-Going: Counselor participation in drills and trainings.
Summer Months: All crisis response plans (including mental health plans) collected and updated. Plans are re-distributed at the start of the next school year.
Upshur County SchoolsF.A.C.T.S. Plan
Contents
Upshur County SchoolsMental Health Crisis Plan Resources
Identifying Severely Traumatized Children: Tips for Parents and Educators
Memorials: Special Considerations When Memorializing an Incident
Preventing Suicide in Troubled Children and Youth
Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
Responding to Natural Disasters: Helping Children and Families (Information for School Crisis Teams)
Youth Gun Violence Fact Sheet
Responsible Media Coverage of Crisis Events Impacting Children
Questions?
Suggestions?
Feedback?
Krystal Stollings
(304) 369-8278