OJAI : School District Adopts Crisis Plan

The Ojai Unified School District board adopted a crisis intervention plan this week to prepare teachers and administrators to cope with campus crises such as threatened suicide, death, terminal illness and gang activity, as well as earthquakes and other natural disasters.

The crisis intervention plan emphasizes helping students cope with their emotions in such situations.

The new program represents the first time mental health has been incorporated into disaster planning, said Steve Olson, dean of students. He said each school in the district will have a crisis intervention team trained to recognize potentially dangerous situations and take appropriate action, as well as deal with student reactions afterward.

For example, team members will learn how children react to disasters and what symptoms appear in various age groups after a traumatic experience. They will be taught how to handle confrontations, threatened assaults and suicide-prevention techniques. In the event of an earthquake, they will be prepared to allay children’s fears.

Students in need of professional counseling will be referred to outside services and parents will be involved in team decisions and strategies.