Before, During and After: Rethinking Crisis Response with Ben Fernandez
About this episode
Ben Fernandez discusses the importance of comprehensive crisis intervention in schools, emphasizing preparation before, response during, and recovery after a crisis.
When a crisis happens at school, most people focus on the response in the moment. But as school psychologist, public speaker and national crisis-response leader Ben Fernandez reminds us, effective school safety begins long before an incident — and continues long after. In this episode, Michele and Ben unpack the before, during, and after of crisis intervention: how schools can strengthen psychological safety, prepare multidisciplinary teams, and understand the evolving needs of today’s students. Ben shares what he’s learned from decades of leading crisis teams, empowering school-based responders, and helping districts navigate some of their hardest days. Together, they explore what it really takes to support students, staff, and families through acute events — and how communities can build systems that care for the people who care for others. In this conversation: Why physical and psychological safety are “two sides of the same coin” How shifting student needs and trauma histories impact crisis response today What crisis intervention teams do — and where they fit in ICS and EOPs Empowering school mental health staff during acute events Supporting special populations and planning…
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- Leading School Safety Together, Not Alone with Katey McPherson
- What Cafeterias Can Teach Us About School Safety with Patti Montague and Liz Campbell
- The Power of Options-Based Crisis Response with Jason Cornwell & Ben Thompson
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