Benefits and challenges of school-based crisis response teams.
Given the increasing prevalence of schoolchildren's experience with crises and resulting loss through sudden or violent death, adoption of a school-based crisis prevention and response plan becomes crucial. This article reviews a model of regional, district, and school-based levels of response designed collaboratively by four school districts and consultants from Yale University. The team approach on which the model is based is examined through benefits it affords students, staff, parents, and the community. Obstacles that can impede full implementation of the model are identified, and strategies for overcoming logistical and systemic resistances are offered. This proactive design helps promote individual and organizational resiliency to traumatic events by promoting communication, collaboration, and service provision in an efficient and comprehensive manner.
Kline
M
M
Dept. of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
Schonfeld
D J
DJ
Lichtenstein
R
R
D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003419:Crisis Intervention / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*