TIERED SUPPORTS
Applying whole-child design to a school's tiered system of supports
Responding to Students’ Urgent Needs
As a society, we know that when we have an urgent health need or crisis, there are places, such as an emergency room or urgent care center, ready with the infrastructure, processes, resources and personnel to immediately address our needs. Much like an emergency room is ready and waiting for any individuals with urgent and timely needs, the crisis component of a Tiered System of Supports can be proactively constructed so that it is immediately available when urgent support is needed for an individual student or even a school community.
Rather than a progression from Tier 1 universal supports to more increasingly more intensive and customized supports at Tier 2 and Tier 3, the crisis component of a tiered system of supports handles direct referrals to Tier 3, when the nature of the need is significant enough that it requires an urgent and immediate response. Thus, students who are experiencing disruptions in their health, mood, behavior and/or skill development are able to receive support immediately.
The graphic above depicts a crisis referral from Tier 1 directly to Tier 3.
It is important to note that while the emphasis of the guidance here is about how to respond to the urgent needs of students, it cannot be designed or implemented outside of the context of whole-child design. All aspects of tiered supports (universal to Tier 3) are grounded in the principles of the science of learning and development, support an equitable supportive learning environment, acknowledge student assets, and emphasize collaboration.
Turnaround for Children has drawn upon cutting-edge research and 19 years of partnering with schools to bring to you a set of tools to support your school specifically in planning, resourcing, implementing and continuously improving the crisis component of a Tiered System of Supports.
This collection of tools and resources will enable schools to understand the impact of trauma and work collaboratively, within the structure of a Tiered System of Supports, to address and meet the needs of all students and staff, especially in the wake of the scale of collective trauma in our world.
INNOVATION IN ACTION
Explore the tools below to learn about the Crisis Component of a Tiered System of Supports and to start innovating:
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SETTING UP THE CRISIS COMPONENT
School Crisis Plan Rationale
ALL ROLES
Learn more about how a school crisis plan, anchored in the science of learning and development, can support the urgent individual and collective needs of a school community
Step-by-Step Guidance for Providing Crisis Level Supports to Students
SCHOOL LEADER + STUDENT SUPPORT TOOL
There are times when students need more immediate support than your current Tiered System of Supports can provide. The purpose of this document is to walk you through the steps of setting up or refining the crisis component of your existing Tiered System of Supports and/or your Tiered Supports Crisis Team.
Crisis Team Meeting Roles
SCHOOL LEADER + STUDENT SUPPORT TOOL
This form provides guidance and clarity about the roles and responsibilities needed to support the functioning and productivity of the meeting. Team meeting roles can remain the same or change.
Sample School Tiered Supports Crisis Plan
SCHOOL LEADER + STUDENT SUPPORT TOOL
This sample Tiered Supports Crisis Plan is meant to serve as a model for schools who are creating or refining their Tiered System of Supports structure. This is one way in which a school could share its Tiered Supports Crisis Plan with its staff.
Universal Supports Following a Crisis
SCHOOL LEADER TOOL
This tool provides some guidance to school leaders on the action steps to consider when responding to the needs of staff and students after a crisis. The recommendations are relevant for supporting the needs of individuals, groups of students, or the school community after a crisis.
Universal Supports Following a Crisis
STUDENT SUPPORT TOOL
This tool provides student support staff with considerations and action steps to take after a crisis. It provides some ideas of how to collaborate with leadership and teaching staff to support being responsive to the needs of individuals, groups of students, or the school community after a crisis.
Universal Supports Following a Crisis
EDUCATOR TOOL
This tool provides teachers with guidance on the considerations and action steps required to be responsive to the needs of students and families after a crisis. It is intended to support collaborative efforts with leadership and student support staff.
MAKING A CRISIS REFERRAL
Direct Referral Process (Tier 3)
ALL ROLES
This form provides guidance and clarity to teachers and staff about the steps in the Direct Tier 3 Referral process.
Direct Referral Criteria (Tier 3)
ALL ROLES
This form provides guidance and clarity to teachers and staff about making a direct referral to Tier 3, bypassing Tier 2 processes.
Direct Referral Form (Tier 3)
ALL ROLES
This form has two purposes: 1. Provide teachers and other school staff with a way to request support for students who need crisis support in a timely manner 2. A place for student support staff to document
how they have responded to the needs of the student based on the referral.
COLLABORATIVE IMPLEMENTATION
Caregiver Interview
STUDENT SUPPORT TOOL
This tool supports staff in building a partnership and rapport with caregivers to provide the necessary supports for students. These interview questions can be used prior to, during, or after a crisis.
Crisis Referral Tracker
SCHOOL LEADER + STUDENT SUPPORT TOOL
The purpose of the Crisis Referral Tracker is for school leadership, the crisis team, and student support members to document the work they are doing with students who are currently experiencing a crisis. It supports the ability to keep track of how many students are being served, what the needs are and how students and families are being supported.
PARTNERING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY
Partnering With a Mental Health Agency
STUDENT SUPPORT TOOL
This document supports schools who have a Mental Health Agency that they regularly make referrals to and would like to improve collaboration with the agency.
Selecting a Mental Health Agency
SCHOOL LEADER + STUDENT SUPPORT TOOL
This document will help schools research potential mental health providers and consider feasibility of partnership with each, ideally after conducting a needs assessment for the school community.