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The Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES Regional Crisis Intervention Team
is composed of representatives from all 18 of our component districts,
community and private agencies and groups and hospitals. It is coordinated
by Jeanne B. Gold, Ph. D., Coordinator of the Guidance & Child Study
Center, P/NW BOCES. We have representation from Four Winds Hospital, Arms
Acres, The Mental Health Association of Westchester County, Family Service
of Westchester, The Emergency Crisis Team of Putnam County, The Red Cross,
The Bereavement Center, and BCL Solutions. Our goal is to provide: direct
counseling to staff and students from our list of school and agency personnel
(psychologists, social workers, counselors), and/or consultation and support
for district staff as they plan and carry out their district’s crisis
response.
Meetings of the group are held on a regular basis. Participants develop
skills needed for regional crisis response such as Critical Incident Stress
Debriefing, Grief Counseling and Emergency Team Training. Members share
experiences and are of great support for each other. This year our BOCES
has been awarded Emergency Response and Crisis Grant from the federal
government in the amount of $480,000. The grant is directed at improving
safety plans in school districts, providing safety assessments, providing
emergency response training, staff safety-related trainings, coordinating
drill opportunities. Through this grant we arranged for members of our
Regional Crisis Intervention Team to participate in a weeklong Basic Crisis
Response Training. through NOVA, the National Organization for Victim
Assistance from June 28-July 2, 2004
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