Crisis Response Team  

Crisis Response Team services provide Critical Incident Stress Management, a mental health service, primarily to area schools in response to a traumatic event or crisis that affects students and staff. The aim of this service is to mitigate the effects of a crisis such as a death or violent event on the secondary victims such as family, friends, fellow students, teachers, or staff. The service provides guidance and support to those affected in a comprehensive and time-appropriate manner and does so through:

    • Information giving;
    • Open discussion of the incident;
    • Sharing of resources;
    • Assessing the need for further intervention;
    • And assistance to regain functioning.

The Crisis Response Team utilizes informal discussion, more structured meetings and/or debriefings, individual crisis support, and follow up psychological services as needed. This approach also helps to dispel rumors, lessen confusion, and reduce anxiety for those affected by the traumatic event. 

The overall goals of the CISM team are as follows:

    • Reduce possible post-traumatic effects on the lives of the members of the organization;
    • Enable staff and/or students to return to optimal functioning as soon as possible;
    • Assist in developing a recovery plan which involves all affected members of the organization;
    • Model for participants how to care for themselves and their friends in the wake of a critical incident, in ways that build a stronger community;
    • Assist in the recovery process.

To access Critical Incident Stress Management Services for your school or organization, call HelpLine at 740-369-3316 or 419-947-2520 anytime, 24 hours a day. 

Important Links

International Critical Incident Stress Foundation www.icisf.org