Today's teachers are faced with unprecedented challenges. Students arrive with critical family and personal problems. School-wide emergencies such as shutdowns, campus violence and loss bring unanticipated stress. Community events impact the classroom, and there are threats of disaster, terror and war.

Today's teachers are faced with unprecedented challenges. Students arrive with critical family and personal problems. School-wide emergencies such as shutdowns, campus violence and loss bring unanticipated stress. Community events impact the classroom, and there are threats of disaster, terror and war.

"Of major importance to everyone involved in education. This quick-reference guide will help educators plan for a crisis before it happens." —Sharon Roemer, Principal Ocean View Elementary School, Arroyo Grande, CA "The author is an experienced crisis intervener and has a refreshing, conversational tone." —Michael Pines, School Mental Health/Crisis Intervention Consultant Los Angeles County Office of Education, CA Before tragedy strikes, make sure your intervention team is prepared. Despite their best and frequently heroic efforts, school crisis intervention teams often find themselves unprepared for the many types of tragedies they face. This timely text prompts crisis intervention team members to reevaluate their beliefs and practices and consider a new approach to dealing with school crises. Author Charles M. Jaksec III, a longtime school social worker and crisis intervention team member, draws upon his extensive experience in discussing nine critical issues. Rather than serving as a step–by–step plan for responding to a crisis, these nine topics encourage readers to examine their approach to crises before they happen. An ideal book study for those involved in crisis prevention and intervention, this concise guide demonstrates how to meet the needs of all school member—students, educators, and noninstructional staff—and offers: Illustrative vignettes with every chapter Helpful tips for team members Discussion questions to guide reflection and action Arm your team with the knowledge it needs to proactively and effectively prepare for a school crisis.

In the latest edition of School Crisis Prevention & Intervention, Mary Margaret Kerr, a nationally recognized expert in school crisis response and a leading urban educator, along with new coauthor, Garry King, a specialist in youth welfare, synthesizes and assembles the best current practices of law enforcement, threat assessment, psychology, and communications in a single, streamlined volume. Such a valuable guide prepares school personnel, including counselors and administrators, with the requisite skills at all crisis stages—from preparation and prevention to intervention and recovery. Dozens of actual cases illustrate key concepts and procedures, while allowing readers to assess their preparedness. Helpful forms and checklists can be used to set priorities and ensure accountability. Interactive features inspire critical reflection and aid in developing problem-solving skills. Outstanding features include . . . • Latest federal guidelines and policies dealing with all phases of crises • Comprehensive agenda for initial crisis team training • Practical and sensitive methods to facilitate recovery and provide support • Recommendations for collaborating with community-based emergency response services • Proficient ways to communicate with staff, students, parents, community, and media

This definitive illustrated guide helps schools develop contingency plans and train on-site response teams in crisis management. Updated with new information on the impact of crisis on children, detailed strategies and procedures teach how to manage any emergency that may hit a school. 100 charts can be reproduced as overheads or copied for training sessions.

School Crisis Response introduces a unique educational approach that provides compelling scenarios for the development of school crisis responders. There are many books describing the how-to of school crisis response, but few describe the thoughts and emotions to help guide the application of skills learned. This book provides narratives about traumatic events to supplement concepts with lessons from actual crises. The author documents the perspective of a team leader, vividly illustrating real events to confront the challenges, decisions, and problem-solving demanded to effectively stabilize emotional reactions, ameliorate trauma, and support resilience and recovery. While encouraging reflection, educating, and strengthening new and experienced responders, this book celebrates the vital work of school psychologists, counselors, administrators, teachers, social workers, and nurses who provide extraordinary service under the most difficult circumstances. It combines an intellectual, evidence-based "in the head" understanding of how to do crisis response with an emotional, empathetic "in the heart" understanding of how it feels to do it.