Responsive services include activities to meet students’ immediate needs and concerns. Responsive services involve a range of services from managing urgent crises (school safety, student death, school or natural disasters) to activities designed to prevent problems from occurring (consultation with staff or agencies; developing peer mediation programs; making referrals for vulnerable youth). School counselors need a range of skills to effectively handle the myriad of duties involved in responsive services. Skills may include:
Crisis Planning Resources
Virginia school crisis management plans
Texas school crisis management plans
Washington State ESD 189 Crisis Response Plan
North Thurston School District, Lacey, WA Homeless Youth Shelter
Crisis Intervention Plan- Conway, Arkansas
School Safety Resources
OSPI School Safety Center Provides resources to schools and parents on a broad spectrum of safety related topics such as bullying, internet safety, substance abuse prevention, gangs, suicide prevention, discipline and truancy.
OSPI School Safety and Crisis Planning Center Each school in Washington is required by RCW 28A.320.125 to have a comprehensive safe school plan that addresses foreseeable emergencies and disasters. Although schools have been required to have emergency plans since 2002, Senate Bill 5097 required schools to develop updated plans meeting new standards by September 1, 2008. This same legislation also requires schools to conduct emergency drills, inventory hazardous materials, report annually on safety planning, and train principals in the incident command system.
Comprehensive safe school plans have four stages of the crisis planning cycle: prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. On this Web site, all four stages are explained and links to resources are included.
Public Health Resources
Washington Department of Health—Emergency Preparedness and Response This site offers key emergency phone numbers and covers a long list of emergencies from infectious diseases and floods to poisoned water and methamphetamine labs.
Suicide Prevention Resources
Washington Dept of Health: Injury and Violence Prevention
Washington Dept of Health: Suicide Fact Sheet
Youth Suicide Prevention Program