Crisis Intervention Team
The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a multidisciplinary Student Services team comprised of school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and mental health specialists. The team is organized by areas, each with two or more team leaders.
The CIT aims to provide prevention, intervention, and postvention in response to crisis situations within the schools or communities of Polk County Public Schools. CIT members are certified in the use of the PREPaRE model, which is an evidence-based crisis intervention model developed by the National Association of School Psychologists.
Services provided by the CIT include:
- Multi-tiered interventions in the aftermath of the death of a teacher, student, parent, or other significant loss
- Training and support following a local or community disaster
- Intervention and risk assessment with potentially suicidal and/or homicidal students and adults
- District-wide training on crisis topics
- Crisis prevention and awareness activities
- Networking with community agencies on crisis intervention and mental health issues
The school principal contacts the Crisis Intervention Team when needed. Details of the intervention are discussed to plan for the needs of the students and school staff.
School board employees may go to the Crisis Intervention Team site in Sharepoint within Microsoft Office 365 for policies, procedures, and other resources.