Traumatic Event Team - Ulster BOCES

A Countywide Response to Traumatic Events

The Ulster County Traumatic Event Team (TET) consists of designated professionals from participating component school districts who come together to support and provide guidance to the school community following a crisis, such as acts of violence, natural disasters, or the unexpected death of a student or staff member.

How it Works

Following a crisis event, the school superintendent or their designee can activate the Ulster County Traumatic Event Team (TET) by contacting the Ulster BOCES District Superintendent. The Ulster BOCES TET leader will then contact the district’s identified point of contact and collect relevant information to help determine what services are needed. The TET leader will coordinate the deployment of the Ulster BOCES TET facilitators, who will respond to the district in need.

Essential Actions for Deployment

From the "District In Need" Requesting Support
From the Responding District being Deployed to Assist

From the "District In Need" Requesting Support

What Information Should a District Provide When Requesting Activation of the TET Team?

Communication of key information is important to quickly activate the TET. The Ulster BOCES TET leader will conduct a telephone intake and collect as much information about the traumatic event as possible. Having as many answers as possible to the following questions will be helpful.

Given the nature of the emergency, it may not always be possible to gather this information initially, or the contact in the district in need may not be able to engage in an extended conversation at the time.

Taking the time to review and become familiar with this list in advance of a traumatic event is encouraged.

What is the event? What is going on?
What is the impact on personnel and students?
Are there identifiable individuals (ie. siblings, teachers, friends, etc.) or homogeneous groups impacted? (ie. sports teams, classroom, group of friends etc.)
Who is the on-the-ground contact at the “district in need” and what is their phone number?
Who are the alternative contacts in case you or your identified contact are unreachable?
How many people are needed to help?
Who do you need (social workers, psychologists, nurses, etc.)?
What support services would be most helpful given the circumstances?
What would be most helpful to you for us to do?
What dates/times do you need us?
Where (location/building) do you need us?
What logistical details does a TET member need to know in order to respond?
- Directions once on campus?
- Are there any known roadblocks on the way?
- Where should the TET member who is deployed to support the incident park?

From the Responding District being Deployed to Assist

How Should a Responding District’s TET Primary Contact Prepare to Deploy Support?

As we activate the TET Team to support the district in need, ensuring you (as the responding district's TET primary contact) have taken the following steps will help ensure a smooth and efficient response:

Provide the Ulster BOCES TET facilitators with the names and contact information of all support professionals from your district who will be deployed.
Designate a lead person on your deployment team to communicate with the Ulster BOCES TET facilitators. This will minimize repetitive questions and unnecessary distraction from the traumatic event.
Ensure those being deployed bring their school ID badges and identification to expedite access to the building.
Provide all logistical information to your deployment team to expedite and ensure a smooth arrival.

History of the Ulster County Traumatic Event Team

Over the years, there has been a growing concern for the traumatic phenomenon of sudden child/adolescent death and its impact on a school community. Faced with the challenges and realities presented by this social problem, the Ulster County Superintendents’ Council joined forces to coordinate a countywide response to the issue. A steering committee was formed with representatives from each district, the Ulster County Task Force on Youth Depression and Suicide Prevention, and Ulster BOCES. The charge of this committee, known today as the Traumatic Event Team (TET), was to develop a response plan which:

Established a list of Countywide Resource Providers consisting of professionals from local school districts, Ulster BOCES, and the Ulster County Mental Health service agencies who would be available as support personnel to a district that experiences a traumatic event.
Provided preparatory and procedural guidelines that school districts may follow in response to the aftermath of such an incident.

Traumatic Event Team Activator

Call Dr. Jonah Schenker, District Superintendent. Designated school administrators can call Dr. Schenker at 845.255.3040 to request support of the Ulster County Traumatic Event Team.

Activate Support in Three Simple Steps

Step 1: The school superintendent or their designee reaches out to the Ulster BOCES District Superintendent

Step 2: The Ulster BOCES TET leader reaches out to the district in need’s primary contact to complete an intake interview and identify supports needed (see questions listed in Essential Actions for Deployment: From the District in Need)

Step 3: The Ulster BOCES TET facilitators are deployed to the district in need to help coordinate the response and put a plan into place.

Ulster County Mental Health Resources

Countywide School Resources/Staff & Service Providers