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Keystone Crisis Intervention Team
ABOUT THE TEAM
WHEN WILL THE TEAM RESPOND?
KCIT provides trained teams of professionals upon request, to serve any community within the commonwealth of Pennsylvania where
a crime has taken place. Examples of such crime would be:
- Criminal incidents of a nature that the entire community is thrust into grief
- Crimes affecting children, such as school shootings
- Cluster suicides
- Multiple deaths from any criminal activity
Whole communities, like individuals, may suffer trauma in the aftermath of a criminal event. The community may suffer from an effect similar to paralysis. While almost everyone is in shock, individual reactions may vary. Individuals may experience a wide variety of unexpected emotions.
HOW CAN THE TEAM HELP?
The experienced crisis responders in the community who would normally be called upon to help, may have also been involved in the crisis as members of the community. For this reason, it often helps to have outsiders come for a short period of time to offer information and suggestions on how to prepare to respond to the community’s distress.
WHAT SERVICES WILL THE TEAM PROVIDE?
KCIT will help local decision makers to identify the groups at risk of experiencing trauma. KCIT members will lead one or more group crisis intervention sessions to demonstrate how these private meetings can help victims begin to talk about their reactions to the trauma and cope. Training will be provided to the community care-givers to assist them in meeting the ongoing community needs.
When appropriate, KCIT will assist the local community in requesting a National Crisis Response Team from the National Organization for Victim Assistance. The National Team may be called upon when the scope of the traumatic event is extensive or when national attention falls upon the community. KCIT will serve as an intermediary between the local individual responsible for inviting the NOVA team and the NOVA staff arranging the national team response. In addition, KCIT will coordinate with other crisis response teams. This services to ensure comprehensive community-wide services and seeks to avoid duplication of services.
© 2003, Keystone Crisis Intervention Team. All Rights Reserved.
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