CRISIS RESOURCES

NATIONAL CRISIS RESOURCES

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Tips For Handling This National Crisis With Students

Many children face crises on a daily basis, some more serious than others. With the national crisis affecting so many North Carolinians, our school children may be experiencing acute and significant stress and fear. A crisis that involves so many Americans, relatives and acquaintances may be one of the greatest traumas that many students have experienced. School administrators, teachers, and other school staff members should keep in mind some of the following ideas for working with children and youth.

Provide structure and routine - Children experiencing a significant crisis often feel a loss of control, stability, and security. Providing routine and structure is one of the best ways for them to feel safe.  Encourage staff and students to stay involved in normal school, work, leisure and social activities, while remaining sensitive to their own emotional needs.

Provide opportunities and permission for children to express their feelings - Being able to express their feelings enables children to better cope with crises. Discussions of their experiences in classrooms or in small counseling groups are particularly important among adolescents. They may need assurance that even extreme emotions and "crazy thoughts" are normal in a disaster. It is important to end such discussions on a positive note (e.g. what heroic acts were observed? How could we be more prepared for a disaster? ) Younger children will also need opportunities to vent as well as to normalize their emotions.

Provide information - Children often lack information regarding a crisis. Honest, factual information is needed to counter fear, speculation, and rumor.

Initiate and check out - Children and adults who are traumatized may not reach out for assistance. A person may not recognize all of his/her behaviors or feelings connected with the crisis. In addition, students may be afraid to burden others with their fears. Counselors and other support personnel should initiate small group discussions for those students needing support.

Provide opportunities for children to commemorate - Teachers can informally invite students to discuss the crisis. Formal school and classroom activities, such as planting of trees, writing of papers, paintings, and other actions can acknowledge the importance of what was lost as well as affirm the strength of the bonds and values that remain.

Adults' personal awareness and care - Individuals who are teaching or counseling must be aware of his/her own feelings about the crisis, and how it is affecting them. Adults should remember to deal with their own feelings associated with the crisis and with their own fears and concerns. Administrators are encouraged to debrief with staff members each day and establish strategies for the future.

School should utilize the services and expertise of school counselors, school psychologists and school social workers to assist students and staff. Schools should also review their Crisis Intervention Plans and activate their Crisis Intervention Team. LEAs are encouraged to collaborate with the Area Directors or Disaster Coordinators at the local mental health centers or other appropriate agencies.

Additional information about helping students and staff deal with crises may be obtained by contacting the Safe and Alternative Schools/Instructional Support Section, Division of School Improvement, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 919.8073939.

Articles

• Biological Weapons/Anthrax Precautions
• The Psychological Response to Terrorism as an Extraordinary Stressful and Traumatic Life-Event: Coping with the Traumatic Stressors
• Bomb Threat Penalty Materials for Schools
  (pdf, 52kb)
• Letters from First Lady Laura Bush to U. S. School Children
  Distributed by:  CHIEFLINE an e-mail newsletter of the Council of Chief State School Officers
• Wording for Moment of Silence
  Courtesy of Wayzata Public Schools, Minnesota
• Tips and Resources in the Face of Disasters
  From UCLA Mental Health Email List
• Talking with Children When the Talking Gets Tough
  Distributed by: Judith A. Myers-Walls, Extension Specialist, Purdue University

Web Resources

Helpful sites by the National Association of School Psychologists:

• Children and Responding to National Disaster Information for Children (for  educators)
• Helping Children Cope with Tuesday's Act of Terrorism

Terror Touches Schools Education Week Web Special

Schools and crisis: selected resources:

• Resources to help schools assist their students in this time of crisis.
• The National Education Association has a Crisis Communication Guide
• The National Association of School Psychologists has a coping guide
• Children and Violence (Current Topics in Psychology: Adolescence)
  Has several links and resources that should lend a hand to parents and educators wishing to help their children understand and cope with the tragedy:
• Helping Children Understand Crisis and Trauma
• Helping Your Kids Feel Safe
• Dealing with a Terrorist Tragedy
• Terrorism and the Classroom
• Disaster Intervention Materials

Other Resources

• Crisis Management
• Terrorism & School Safety:  School Safety Issues Related to the Terrorist Attacks on the United States
• Bomb Threat Information
• The Educators Reference Desk
  Has compiled a list of resources for educators and parents to help students cope with and discuss this tragedy.
• American School Counselor Association
• CNN's resources for parents
• Coping with Death and Grief
• MidLink Magazine's Resources for Helping Students Deal with Violence
  (From Caroline McCullen/SAS)
• Helping Children Understand the Terrorist Attacks News Release
• Colorado To Reduce Bullying At Schools
  A Colorado initiative is forcing the state's public schools to establish programs to reduce or stop bullying by year's end. Bullying is seen as an important factor in at least nine school shootings in recent years. Other states, including Kentucky, Florida, Massachusetts and California, have launched similar initiatives.
• Author Aims to Help Children Manage Anger - Author Laura Fox's book, I Am So Angry I Could Scream: Helping Children Deal With Anger, shows how to help children make a list of what makes them angry,  why those things make them angry, and how to use anger in positive ways:
  • I Am So Angry, I Could Scream - Helping Children Deal With Anger by Laura Fox, M.A.
  • Author Aims to Help Children Manage Anger
  • Special Book Review on Children's Book: "I Am So Angry, I Could SCREAM"