Fostering community and care at a time of crisis on college campuses

1. Fostering community and care at a time of crisis on college campuses A PRESENTATION BY OHIO UNIVERSITY’S POST CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM (PCRT) OCPA/OASPA Conference Columbus, Ohio January 30, 2009

2. PRESENTERS • Sheila Y. WilliamsClinical Mental Health Counselor, Counseling and Psychological Services • Paul Castelino Psychologist, Counseling and Psychological Services • Jill Harris Emergency Services Coordinator, Environmental Health • Ryan Lombardi Dean, Dean of Students Office

3. Why Team? Crises • occur on all campuses • vary in nature • require different responses • affected entities may be neglected in aftermath CaseExample faculty/student off campus incident

4. Incident • Faculty member murdered by son • Son a graduate student • Faculty member well liked • Department shocked needed response • Eventually contacted EAP program • EAP contacted local provider - didn’t think he should take money for providing service • Went as courtesy provider from counseling center • Depth of gratitude pointed to need for coordinated campus response • Recognized no offer of assistance provided to son’s department

5. Forming a Team • Invite persons/departments possibly needed post-crisis • Proposed roster: • Campus Safety- OUPD • Environmental Health • Human Resources • Dean of Students • Counseling & Psych. Services • Legal Affairs • Provost’s Office • Institutional Equity • Ombuds Office

6. Tell me again Why PCRT? • Response to students’ needs during and after crises was addressed by Dean of Students’ Office • What was lacking was coordination of response to general campus needs --post crises

7. Initial Tasks Explore how we differ from CERT team Identify and recognize the likelihood of a particular need Identify and prepare strategies and needed resources Decide on most appropriate offices to be involved continuously

8. Evolving Tasks Create policies / protocol to respond to variety of needs e.g. phone tree Coordinate the post-crisis response Tailor responses to meet the diverse needs post crisis e.g. process interventions for survivor(s) following death - appropriate and helpful strategies for parental engagement Be the responders in certain situations Identify resources beyond the campus community

9. Ongoing Tasks Information communicated about the event Brainstorm most supportive response Provide access to support Provide safe environment Monitor individuals/group affected Plan attendance at memorial services Coordinate services to families Review response

10. OU Post Crisis Response Team Call Tree

11. OU Case Examples Situation #1: An employee after work hours collapses during recreational activity. Coordinated Outreach: • To direct supervisor, who initially refused help but after thinking about it accepted counseling services • To the student who witnessed the incident • To family members through IMPACT – EAP program

12. OU Case Examples • Situation #2: Off-campus house fire during Halloween weekend. Outreach: • Counseling personnel were able to be on scene quickly • Student Affairs personnel were able to arrange essential needs • EHS personnel coordinated with fire/police personnel

13. OU Case Examples • Situation #3: On-campus incident during winter break demonstrated need for additional work Outreach: • Difficult to coordinate over break due to lack of planning to accommodate reduced availability of resources • Counseling services offered

14. Lessons Learned Clarification of role (crisis vs. post crisis) Communication flexibility Constituent need/benefit to singular point of contact Understanding of scope of impact Institutional support

15. Lessons Learned, con’t • Budgetary implications • Discretionary spending • Spending authorization • Emergency fund • Internal support network