Abstract: Today, school personnel and students are exposed to an increasing number of tragic events. Psychologists have the opportunity to become the architect, initiator, trainer, service provider, and principal's advisor for crisis situations in the schools. For psychologists to become indispensable in the schools their roles can no longer be limited to assessment and identification of students in need of special education services, helping teachers manage the behavior problems of students, and supporting student's self-esteem. To become indispensable, school psychologists' role must be expanded to include planning and implementing interventions to address crises that impact school staff and students. Psychologists need to educate themselves about crisis intervention and then be ready to become involved in crisis prevention, intervention, postvention, education, training, and support services. Psychologists should advocate steps in the direction of prevention as well as intervention and should be a proactive force to use each crisis experience as a learning experience. Four school related crisis skills arenas on which school psychologists should focus and four steps outlined by the National Institute of Mental Health are provided. (JBJ)

Title: Making Psychology in the Schools Indispensable: Our Role in Crisis Intervention.
Author: Young, Karen A.; And Others
Note: 7p.; In: Making Psychologists in Schools Indispensable: Critical Questions and Emerging Perspectives. Greensboro, NC. ERIC Counseling and Student Services Clearinghouse, 1996. p 147-52; see CG 027 464.
Publication Year: 1996
Document Type: Review Literature (070); Position Paper (120)
Target Audience: Parents and Practitioners and Teachers
ERIC Identifier: ED406616
Clearinghouse Identifier: CG027489
This document is available from the ERIC Document Reproduction Service.

Descriptors: * Crisis Intervention; Educational Planning; Elementary Secondary Education; Health Promotion; Policy Formation; * Prevention; * Professional Development; Pupil Personnel Services; Pupil Personnel Workers; School Counseling; * School Psychologists; Strategic Planning