Duval County Public Schools

District Crisis Response Team

The goal of the District Crisis Response Team is to assist school personnel in addressing the immediate emotional and psychological needs of students, faculty, and staff following a crisis event. By providing timely support, the team helps schools restore a sense of safety and stability, minimize disruptions to the learning environment, and promote the overall well-being of the school community.

The District Crisis Response Team is available to support schools following events that significantly impact groups of students, grade levels, or the entire school community. Using a comprehensive, trauma-informed approach, the team provides resources, consultation, and interventions to help school personnel address the social and emotional needs of those affected while also identifying strategies to strengthen future prevention and response efforts.

The team responds to a wide range of crisis situations, including deaths, accidents, medical emergencies, natural disasters, threats, acts of violence, and other incidents that disrupt the normal school environment. Such events can result in intense emotional responses, difficulty coping, and physical symptoms of stress. The District Crisis Response Team is composed of experienced School Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, and District Mental Health Specialists who provide on-call support and crisis intervention services throughout Duval County Public Schools.

In addition to responding to school-based crises, the District Crisis Response Team serves as a valuable resource for students, families, and school personnel by connecting them with community-based mental health services, grief counseling, and other supportive resources. When appropriate, families who have experienced the loss of a child may also be connected with organizations that provide funeral expense assistance and other bereavement supports.

The Mental Health Specialist for Crisis Response is available to provide presentations and educational workshops through the Parent Academy, focusing on topics such as grief and loss, trauma, resilience, suicide prevention, and strategies for supporting the emotional well-being of children and adolescents.

The 2025 Florida-Specific Youth Survey provides an important reminder of the mental-health needs of Florida’s students. 14% of students reported seriously considering harming themselves, while 22% reported almost always experiencing symptoms of stress, anxiety, or depression. At the same time, only 26% reported seeking support or resources when experiencing a mental health challenge. These findings highlight the importance of early identification, supportive relationships, and timely connections to mental health resources. The District Crisis Hotline is available to school personnel when a student is actively threatening to harm themselves or someone else, when a student has wounds that may be self-inflicted or if a student is a danger to themselves.

Community Resources