CRISIS
POLICY & PROCEDURE
1.
2.
Crises include but are not limited to:
a. Any threats or statements of the
following nature, regardless of their tone or manner (including threats made in
a “joking” manner), and regardless of how the threats are communicated
(including reports of such statements):
i.
any threat to harm or kill oneself;
ii.
any expressed desire to die, whether verbal, written, or drawn, such as
suicidal ideation;
iii. references indicating the possibility
of self harm, (e.g. self-mutilating behaviors);
iv.
reports of a student’s threat to run away from home;
v.
any threat to harm or kill another person (e.g. murder, assault, or
other physical harm) or property (e.g. arson).
b. The student is a minor
(under age 18) and reports suspected child neglect or abuse, including but not
limited to physical, sexual, or emotional neglect or abuse.
c. The student reports
suspected neglect, abuse, or exploitation of an incapacitated adult.
d. The student reports that he
or she is the victim of a criminal act, covered under the Safe School Reporting laws.
e. The student is unable to
function in a school setting (not including “common discipline” problems).
f.
The student is unable to function in a school setting due to some
substance use or abuse.
3.
Limits of Confidentiality: In the event that any of
the above-stated crises are communicated, the counselor must notify the
appropriate party (parent/guardian, an administrator, DCYF, police, etc.). The
court may subpoena the counselor and/or written notes. As with other school
records, parents retain the right to access any records resulting from a crisis
intervention. The limits of confidentiality listed herein are for the benefit
and protection of the students at
4. Crises should be immediately referred
to a counselor in the Guidance or Special Education Department, or if the
student is in need of immediate medical attention, to the Health Office so that
immediate follow-up can begin. The referral should be done in person and not by
message whether by voicemail or otherwise.
5. Under
no circumstances are faculty and staff to provide counseling or risk assessment
services. If a student references suicide or is in crisis, the said faculty or
staff member will remain with the student until an appropriate counselor,
nurse, or administrator arrives. Never send a student who is in crisis to
the Guidance or Special Education office alone or with another student. Also,
never leave a student in crisis alone.
6. If a crisis should arise in a unique circumstance (during a sporting event, field trip, or after school), the supervising faculty member must contact a parent/guardian and an administrator and, if appropriate, have the student evaluated at the nearest emergency room or report the matter to the police. The administrator must notify the student’s counselor and the Health Office upon return to school.
7.
It is never
appropriate for a faculty or staff member to provide refuge to a student. The
police in the town where the child resides are required by law to provide
protective custody to a minor.
8. If a member of the staff/faculty becomes aware of suicidal ideation or attempt that may have occurred off campus or after school hours, a member of the Guidance or Special Education staff should be advised immediately. The counselor will contact a parent/guardian to require that a risk assessment, acceptable to the school, be completed to determine whether it is safe and appropriate for the student to return to school. (If this has already been done, the parent/guardian will be asked to provide some form of verification.)
9. After a crisis is reported, a parent/guardian will be notified as soon as is reasonably possible. The back-up contact should be notified when the parent/guardian is unavailable.
10. The parent/guardian should
be provided with information of community resources for crisis intervention. If
a parent/guardian is intending to bring the student to the Center for Life
Management (CLM), the counselor will notify the “on call” clinician at the
facility.
11. Psychological
Emergencies: When
a student is threatening to harm or kill oneself or others, expresses a desire to die, or gestures the possibility
to harm oneself, this will be reported to the parent/guardian immediately.
Parents/guardians will be required to have the student evaluated by a qualified
clinician or medical professional immediately, at which point, a risk
assessment will be done to determine the level of care appropriate, which could
include outpatient treatment or inpatient hospitalization. The student’s
counselor will contact the Health Office and the student’s Attendance Office of
the need to be evaluated. A letter will be sent with the student to the
evaluator, which will be returned to the counselor upon the student’s
return to school. (A copy of that letter will be sent to the Health Office and
student’s Attendance Office.) The
student will not be allowed to return to school without clearance from a
qualified counselor or medical professional acceptable to the school. The
referring counselor will contact the student’s first period teacher and
administrator if the letter is not returned.
12.
If a student discloses neglect or abuse (verbal, physical, or sexual),
the counselor or administrator will make a referral to the Health Office. One
of the nurses will file a report to the Division of Child, Youth and Families,
when necessary. A counselor or administrator will escort the student to the
Health Office when appropriate.
13. If a student threatens to harm another
person, the student’s administrator should be contacted immediately and the
threat will be immediately reported to the resource officer and local police
department. The administrator will also contact the student’s parent/guardian
and confirm that the police have notified the potential victim, if and when
appropriate.
14. Any crisis related to a current medical
or mental health issue should be immediately reported to the Health Office.
Some examples are, but not limited, to eating disorders, recent medical
procedures, pregnancy, and being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
15. Crisis Policy will be followed even if a student is 18 years
of age.
16. If a parent refuses to comply with the request for evaluation, the parent will be informed that a refusal to comply will result in a report to DCYF for possible medical neglect and a determination will be made whether to have the student evaluated for an involuntary emergency admission (IEA).
17. If a student 18 years of age or older
refuses to comply with the request for evaluation, the administrator and
resource officer should be contacted and provided with the student’s emergency
contact information. They should make a determination as to what, if any,
additional steps should be taken to protect the student or others, such as an
evaluation for an IEA.
18. Self-mutilating
behavior by non-lethal means that are determined not to constitute a
psychological emergency should be reported to the parent/guardian and to the
nursing staff immediately.
19. When possible, it is recommended that counselors consult with
another counselor, the Guidance Director, or a member of the nursing staff when
dealing with crises. Bilateral decisions are a more effective means of serving
the student who may be in a psychological emergency or crisis.