Crisis response in the public schools: A survey of school psychologists' experiences and perceptions

• Published in: Psychology in the schools 2007-11, Vol.44 (8), p.749-764
• Main Authors: Adamson, Austin D., Peacock, Gretchen Gimpel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitude Measures; Biological and medical sciences; Crisis Intervention; Crisis Management; Debriefing; Educational psychology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Medical sciences; Mental health; Miscellaneous; Organization of mental health. Health systems; Perceptions; Planning; Professional attitudes; Professional Training; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public Schools; School Counseling; School Personnel; School Psychologists; Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry; Surveys; Teamwork
• ISSN: 0033-3085; 1520-6807
• DOI: 10.1002/pits.20263

In this study, 228 school psychologists completed a survey regarding crisis intervention teams and plans. The majority of respondents indicated their schools had crisis plans (95.1%) and teams (83.6%). The most common team activities endorsed by participants involved providing direct assistance and services to students, staff, and the media. The majority of participants (93%) reported that their schools had experienced and responded to serious crises. Respondents indicated that psychological debriefing was frequently used (generic 49.1% and standardized 17.9%). Less than half of the participants (44.3%) reported that meetings were conducted with parents and community members following a crisis. Nearly all of the participants (98.2%) reported that they had some type of crisis intervention training. However, many participants suggested that additional training and practice with crisis intervention would improve schools' crisis responses. Results are discussed with implications for school psychologists to improve their schools' crisis intervention plans and teams' responses. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 749–764, 2007.