Crisis Response Flight Teams Coordinating Response to Tragedy Impacting Schools

Purpose of Flight Team To assist in establishing equilibrium and calm in a school following a tragic event. To support Building Administrator and staff with information dissemination with regard to confidentiality and sensitivity to student and family affected by tragic event.

What is a Tragic Event ? Some examples are: Accidental Death or Injury Suicide Murder Missing Child Natural Disaster High Coverage Media Event Terminal Illness

Sensitive Issues Family affected by event must give permission before information about event is disseminated at school Student’s or students’ belongings, lockers, desks should remain untouched until family has been involved in disposition of belongings or has given permission for disposition of belongings Memorials to student(s) – sensitivity to family as well as ritual for students

What Are the Roles of the Flight Team ? Team Leader Safe Room Coordinator Safe Room Staff Building Coordinator District Administration Staff Office Staff Other Local Agency Involvement: Police, TIP Program

Team Leader Oversees Flight Team activities. Verifies facts about the event, Determines building needs with building administrator Is aware of school schedule and the order of the day Supports and coordinates response with building administrator including schedule for dissemination of information about the event and memorial activities to students, staff, teachers and parents Maintains crisis manual including team members and their contact information, appropriate forms Assist Flight Team members when arriving at school for nondisclosure statement, sign-in, orientation to the building

Building Coordinator Arranges phone tree information dissemination Works with building administrator to coordinate the building response involving letters and announcements about the event, including plans for in-class announcements to students Assists in coordinating staff meetings in a.m. about event Assists in coordinating staff meeting afterschool for debrief and updates Routes media contact to district administrator – informs teachers and students about media contact protocol Coordinates with Building Administrator and District Administration if roaming substitutes are needed for teachers

Safe Room Coordinator Setting up and running the Safe or Support Room (Support Room name preferred by older students) Liaison with Flight Team Leader and Principal to let teachers and staff know about safe/support room and its location Is aware of master schedule, location of classrooms, transition times to assist students coming to and leaving safe room. Is aware of student who isolates or does not return to class from Support Room Has appropriate supplies for safe/support rooms Manages sign-in, sign-out list and transitions of students from safe room back to class Provides art supplies for memorial mural, cards and pictures to families. Screens with team artwork, cards done by students before memorial work is given to family Assess whether elementary students may benefit more from being together in their classroom than in Safe Room Let Administrator know of students who may appear to be at risk and may need parent contact

Safe Room Supplies - Elementary Check-in, Check-out sheet, master schedule, map of school Blankets, stuffed animals Art supplies – crayons, colored pencils, markers – no paint or clay – construction paper for cards, large paper for wall mural Snacks – milk, string cheese, crackers, cookies, water Age appropriate books about death and loss

Support Room Supplies - Secondary Check-in, Check-out sheet, master schedule, map of school Art supplies – colored pencils, markers, pencils, crayons, paper for wall mural and cards Water, snacks – crackers, cheese, fruit, milk

School Staff Support Safe/Support room for staff members Employee Assistance Program material available Roaming substitutes for teachers if needed Teacher may need flight team member in classroom for support in disseminating information Teacher(s) may need release time

Debrief Flight Team Leader assists building administrator in arranging a debrief meeting with school personnel at the end of day for any updated information or referral for assistance Debrief with Flight Team members and administrator to assess further needs of school or unfinished business Review what worked and what did not Allow for team members to talk about the experience and their personal reactions Assess whether support for team members or teacher(s)/staff members is necessary Plan for any at-risk student follow-up