Christ-centered intervention strategies for helping students through school tragedies Stephanie Warner CRISIS INTERVENTION WITH CHILDREN/YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL VIOLENCE

PSALM 121 I lift my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

WHAT IS CRISIS?

CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS School-based Crisis Intervention Team District Level Crisis Intervention Team Regional Resource Groups

WHAT CONSTITUTES A CRISIS IN A SCHOOL? Loss of life Disease Automobile accidents Home fires Natural disaster Home and community-based violence Violence and homicide in the school setting

SCHOOL CRISIS TEAMS Crisis Team Members Crisis team chair Assistant team chair Coordinator of counseling services Media coordinator Communication coordinator Crowd management coordinator

CRISIS RESPONSE PROTOCOL

STEPS OF INTERVENTION IN RESPONSE TO THE AFTERMATH OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE

STEP 1 Plan and conduct a through psychosocial and lethality assessment

STEP 2 Make psychological contact and rapidly establish the relationship

STEP 3 Examine the dimensions of the problem in order to define it.

STEP 4 Encourage an exploration of feelings and emotions

STEP 5 Explore and assess past coping attempts

STEP 6 Restore cognitive functioning through implementation of an action plan

STEP 7 Follow up

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Downloadable Crisis Documents from the National Center for Crisis Management Mass Violence Responses & Individualized Guidelines for Key School Personnel

REFERENCES Roberts, A., & Yeager, K. (2009). Pocket guide to crisis invervention. New York: Oxford University Press