Psychological First Aid for Schools (PFA-S)

The Psychological First Aid for Schools (PFA-S) program trains school staff and equips them with effective crisis response strategies. The program’s main objective is to ensure the safety and well-being of students, staff, and families by being prepared and responding quickly during crises. PFA-S focuses on eight core actions: initiating contact, ensuring safety, stabilizing emotions, gathering information, establishing support networks, teaching coping skills, and facilitating collaborative services. The aim is to create a safe and supportive learning environment for everyone involved, and the PFA-S team responds to any hazards, threats, or incidents in the district. We train all staff members in every school district building using the Nebraska School Safety model, which offers a common language and evidence-informed interventions to assist students, staff, and families. Our program builds resiliency and helps students and staff recover and utilize adaptive coping strategies.