ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the importance of ongoing skill development and implementation of supports to help all impacted by a crisis. It aims to directions in crisis response, prevention and trauma mitigation strategies including the role of technology and social media, school-wide supports such as social-emotional learning, creating trauma-informed environments and effective reunification procedures, and ensuring care for caregivers, are areas that need further attention. Technology teams can manage social media networks to share crisis-related information, control rumors, and identify and monitor students at risk. Technology teams and school mental health professionals can stay abreast of new, beneficial apps for students to build resiliency, mitigate risk, and promote wellness. The Every Student Succeeds Act includes language that encourages schools to provide staff development and programming that enhances school safety, ensures educational equity, and includes social-emotional programming. Toxic stress is strong, frequent, prolonged activation of stress mechanisms that can negatively impact physical and psychological wellbeing.