Crisis Management

Crisis Management is a central component of comprehensive School Safety. The most important consideration in both Crisis Management and Safe Schools efforts is the health, safety, and welfare of the students and staff.

Wayne RESA is committed to supporting all constituent districts with the development, implementation, and execution of a comprehensive Safe Schools Plan emphasizing preventive strategies ranging from building design to discipline policies and programs which improve school climate.

The purpose of this site is to provide up-to-date resources for district superintendents, school administrators, teachers, and staff members to access when dealing with crises impacting the school community.

Crisis Management

Key Terms

  • Crisis Management  is that part of a school division’s approach to school safety which focuses more narrowly on a time-limited, problem-focused intervention to identify, confront and resolve the crisis, restore equilibrium, and support appropriate adaptive responses.
  • Crises shall include but not be limited to situations involving the death of a student, staff member, or a member of a student’s immediate family by suicide, substance abuse, illness, or accident.
  • Critical incidents shall include situations involving threats of harm to students, personnel, or facilities. Critical incidents include but are not limited to natural disasters, fire, use of weapons/explosives, and the taking of hostages. Such incidents require an interagency response involving law enforcement and/or emergency services agencies.

(Source: Virginia Department of Education)

School Safety

Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event - National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

  • Also available in Arabic, Dari, German, Japanese, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian

After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal - National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

  • Also available in Arabic, Dari, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Pashto, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian

Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Traumas - National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

Helping School Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers - National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

  • Also available in Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian

Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers - National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

  • Also available in Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian

Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting - American Psychological Association (APA)

How to Talk to Kids about School Shootings - Child Mind Institute

Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After the Recent Shooting - National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

  • Also available in Spanish

Recommended Books for Children Coping with Loss or Trauma (PDF) - National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Families and Teachers - National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

  • Also available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, French, Korean, Kurdish, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese

  • Resources on Violence and Trauma for Younger Children - Sesame Street in Communities

Coping with a Disaster of Traumatic Event - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Mental Health Resources for Schools, Parents, Children and Families - Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN)

Quick Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Child Mind Institute

Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Recommended Books for Children Coping with Loss or Trauma - National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

National Child Traumatic Stress Network Resources

School Mental Health Resources - Michigan Department of Education (MDE)

Addressing Grief: Tips for Teachers and Administrators - National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event: What Teachers Can Do to Help Students - Child Mind Institute

  • Also available in Spanish

Helping Students After a School Shooting - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

Helping Youth After Community Trauma: Tips for Educators - National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

  • Also available in Hebrew, Mandarin, Spanish

Resources for Coping with School Tragedies - Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC)

Returning to School After an Emergency or Disaster: Tips to Help Your Students Cope - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Families and Teachers - National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

  • Also available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, French, Korean, Kurdish, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese

The Teacher's Role When Tragedy Strikes - Child Mind Institute

  • Resources on Violence and Trauma for Younger Children - Sesame Street in Communities



Michigan has many agency programs and contacts that can help your school build a school safety plan. Check out schoolsafety.gov as you develop your plan.

School Threats / School Safety Videos


24-Hour Crisis Lines

Text from anywhere in the United States, anytime. Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.

Text HOME to 741741
Crisis Text Line

SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.

Call or text 1-800-985-5990 (para Español, oprima "2")
 SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline


The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) is Here to Talk. Here to Help. Our trained clinicians are standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you.

Call 1-800-241-4949

Ok2Say

OK2SAY Confidential Tip Line

OK2SAY is the student safety program that allows students to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees, and schools.

Report online at OK2SAY

Text: 652-729 (OK2SAY)

Call: 8-555-OK2SAY

Email: OK2SAY@mi.gov


Contact Information

School Health/Social Work Consultant

Danielle Tagai
School Health/Social Work Consultant