This catalog of crisis response resources and case studies from NEA affiliates across the nation illustrates how the association can help in a broad range of crises. Each has grown out of best practices and lessons learned in recent events where NEA local and state affiliates as well as NEA national headquarters and NEA-HIN have provided support, resources and expertise. These case studies demonstrate how the association can help all types of districts, from urban to rural, from large to small.
If a crisis, natural disaster or other emergency hits your school, remember that you are not alone. Your colleagues across the country have done an amazing job handling crises, and their support is just a phone call away. NEA-HIN can put you in touch with national experts as well as experienced colleagues in the field to provide the help and resources you need. Contact us:
NEA-HIN
1201 16th St., NW, Suite 216
Washington, DC 20036
202-822-7570
www.neahin.org
NEA STATE AFFILIATE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS
Several NEA state affiliates have organized crisis response teams that are dispatched to help members within their states deal with a traumatic events or emergencies. These teams may be dispatched to assist other state affiliates who experience a crisis.
The teams can assist in various ways including managing the media, ensuring that members have mental health support, providing direct intervention and mental health support, developing member advocacy programs, accessing community resources, and more.
Three states — California, Ohio and Minnesota — have the most established crisis response teams. These teams are made up of state affiliate staff (mostly UniServ Representatives) who, in most instances, volunteer to be a part of the team. While each team shares the same goal of assisting and advocating for members and locals in crisis, each team does so using different models and response approaches.
Teams vary according to their type of approach (member advocacy, organizing, community, first-responder); the training they receive (NOVA certification or crisis management); types of assistance they provide; request for assistance protocols (in state and out of state); and how they are funded.
Team members often have expertise in the following areas:
- Law and legal issues
- Communication, media and public relations
- Mental health intervention
- Disaster recovery
While most state affiliates do not have organized crisis response teams, several provide assistance with crisis response and other school safety issues through different types of programs.
Existing NEA State Affiliate Crisis Response Teams
California Teachers Association
CTA Traumatic Events Assistance and Management Cadre (TEAM CADRE)
Dom Summa, Assistant Executive Director
www.cta.org
650-697-1400
Ohio Education Association
OEA Crisis Response Team and Safe Schools Cadre
Kim Lane, Labor Relations Consultant
www.ohea.org
614-228-4526
Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota Crisis Response Team
www.educationminnesota.org
651-227-9541
CASE STUDIES
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