Crisis Tool Kit- Part 11: Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

Establish a process for evaluating the effectiveness of the school's policies and procedures for handling death within the school community. This process should include feedback from students, staff, and families, and should be used to make improvements and revisions as needed.

Strategies for evaluating the effectiveness of the school's grief support efforts.

How to use feedback from students, staff, and families to improve future response to grief and loss

Ongoing review and refinement of policies and protocols to ensure the school is best able to support grieving students and families

Debriefing following crisis:

1. Acknowledge the loss and allow space for staff members to share their reactions and emotions.

2. Review the school's crisis response plan and discuss how it was implemented during the crisis. Identify any strengths and weaknesses in the response.

3. Discuss communication with students, families, and the wider school community. Identify any areas for improvement, such as the timing or frequency of updates, the clarity of information provided, or the mode of communication used.

4. Review any support provided to students and staff during the crisis. Identify any gaps in the support and discuss ways to address them.

5. Discuss the impact of the crisis on the school community, including students, staff, and families. Identify any ongoing needs or concerns and develop a plan for addressing them.

6. Review any lessons learned from the crisis and identify ways to improve the school's crisis response plan for the future.

7. Discuss self-care strategies for staff members and encourage them to prioritize their own well-being during this difficult time.

8. Identify any follow-up actions that need to be taken, such as additional support for students or families, or further training for staff members.

9. Provide an opportunity for staff members to ask questions and share any additional concerns or feedback.

10. End the meeting by expressing gratitude for the support and teamwork demonstrated during the crisis, and reiterating the importance of continued communication and support in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The school will regularly evaluate the effectiveness of its policies and procedures related to death within the school community.

The evaluation will include feedback from students, staff, and families.

The school will use the feedback to make improvements and revisions to the policies and procedures as needed.

Example: The school will regularly evaluate the effectiveness of its policies and procedures related to death within the school community. This evaluation will include feedback from students, staff, and families, and may include surveys or focus groups. The school will use the feedback to improve and revise the policies and procedures as needed. The school will communicate any changes to the policies and procedures to all stakeholders and will provide ongoing training and support to staff to ensure that they can implement the policies and procedures effectively.

In addition to the steps mentioned above, there are several other ways that schools can support individuals who are grieving:

Be prepared for a crisis: Schools should have a plan in place for responding to a crisis or tragedy, such as the sudden loss of a student or staff member. This plan should include steps for providing emotional support and counseling to those who are affected, as well as communication strategies for keeping everyone informed.

Foster a culture of empathy and support: Schools can create a culture that encourages empathy and support for those who are grieving. This can be done by organizing events or activities that bring the community together to show support, such as a memorial service or a fundraising event for a cause related to the loss.

Foster resilience and coping skills: Schools can help individuals build resilience and coping skills to help them navigate difficult times. This can be done by providing training on mindfulness, stress management, other coping techniques, and encouraging healthy habits, such as exercise and self-care.

Normalize grief as a natural process: Schools can help destigmatize grief by acknowledging that it is normal and natural. This can be done by providing education about grief and by recognizing that everyone experiences grief in their own way.

Provide ongoing support: Grief is a process that takes time, and individuals may need ongoing support and resources to help them cope. Schools can provide ongoing counseling services or support groups and check-ins with individuals to see how they are coping.

Partner with community resources: Schools can partner with community resources, such as local grief support groups or mental health clinics, to provide additional resources and support to those who are grieving.

Provide ongoing support: Grief is a process that takes time, and individuals may need ongoing support and resources to help them cope. Schools can provide ongoing counseling services or support groups and check-ins with individuals to see how they are coping.

Implement grief and loss into the curriculum throughout the school grades so children are more knowledgeable about grief and loss. Use current grief theories and models such as the Dual Process Model and Worden's Tasks of Grief.

Schools should reconsider teaching the stages of grief as described by Elizabeth Kubler Ross in Health and other classes. While her work has been influential, the concept of the stages of grief has been found to be oversimplified, lacking in empirical evidence, and not applicable to all individuals or cultures. Instead, schools should prioritize teaching a more diverse and nuanced understanding of grief and loss that acknowledges the complexity and individuality of the grieving process.

Train staff to recognize and respond to grief and become more grief informed: Schools can train staff members to help them recognize the signs of grief and provide appropriate support. This training can help staff members become more empathetic and understanding and provide grieving students with the right resources and support.

Schools can play an important role in supporting individuals who are grieving. By creating a supportive environment, fostering a culture of empathy and understanding, and providing ongoing resources and support, schools can help individuals navigate the grieving process and continue to thrive in their academic and personal lives.