As we approach the midpoint of the school year, I would like to share some of the great work we are doing here at Barker.

Barker has joined a Trauma, Illness & Grief (TIG) consortium comprised of districts in Orleans and Niagara counties. Our TIG Team went through an intensive 5-day training this summer consisting of:

• Session 1: Grief & Loss
• Session 2: Trauma
• Session 3: Chronic & Acute Illness
• Session 4: Suicide Risk & Assessment
• Session 5: Threat Assessment
• Session 6: Implementation
• School Violence
• Commemoration & Memorialization
• Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

What is TIG?
TIG is a comprehensive training and crisis response network for K-12 education and beyond. The program model trains networks of school-based professionals to meet the holistic needs of students and equips them with evidence-based crisis response skills, resources and ongoing technical support to help students and adults cope with trauma, violence, illness, death and grief in the school setting. The goal of TIG is to strengthen and grow our districts capacity to prepare to have appropriate support for students and staff in place to help minimize risk for crisis, respond more effectively and efficiently, and recover quickly by promoting healthy recovery strategies in the event of a traumatic incident. The Orleans/Niagara Consortium teams are linked to one another for support, and also with the resources of the entire consortium, along with Orleans and Niagara counties resources. The TIG Consortium provides and receives back-up TIG support whenever a response plan exceeds the impacted district’s resources.

TIG's Mission:
To promote well-being in naturally occurring areas of connection by building capacity among professional and natural helpers to effectively respond to needs that may arise from experiences of trauma, illness, and grief.

What is the purpose of the District TIG Team?
The purpose of the District TIG Team is to facilitate and assist with the systematic response to tragedy and crisis within the district. Membership is comprised of district staff members who have completed the comprehensive 5-day TIG training. Children are affected more than we might assume by major and minor losses. Traumatic events and serious illnesses or deaths of family members or friends, as well as members of their school family can have a profound impact on these young lives. Even tragic community events, not directly experienced by a child, can leave an indelible mark. Grieving children are more likely to struggle in school, and experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal. In recognition of this reality the Barker Central School District has made a commitment to providing needed support for those who experienced trauma, illness, or grief.

What is a crisis that could affect the school community?
A crisis can be an unpredictable, tragic event or situation that the potential to cause a state of upset and disorganization.  Crises can happen before, during or after school and on or off school campus.  Crises range in scope and intensity from incidents that directly or indirectly affect a single student to ones that impact the entire community.  In essence, a crisis is a situation where schools could be faced with inadequate information, not enough time, and insufficient resources, but in which district leaders, in collaboration with the District Crisis Team and the TIG Team must make one or many crucial decisions. Some examples are severe, chronic or life-threatening illness of a student, staff member or family member; death of a student, staff member or significant person to a student or staff member; traumatic event, suicide, serious accident, fire, violent school intrusion, community/national/world crisis event or natural disaster.

“Students carry much more to school than lunch and a backpack; working together can lighten their load” – National Association of School Psychologists

Thank you all for your continued support of our District and our students. If you have any questions regarding the TIG Team or the information shared above, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Mark Learo
Director of Instructional Services/AP
mlearo@barkercsd.net
716-795-3350