Frequently Asked Quesions - Crisis Response Team
Who We Are?
The Office of the Attorney General sponsored Mississippi Crisis Response Team is comprised of victim advocates, law enforcement, medical and mental health professionals, clergy and volunteers who have received the 40 - hour basic crisis response training provided by the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). NOVA is the oldest national victims' services organization in the world.
How Can We 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 a community in distress.
When Will We Respond?
The MS-CRT provides trained teams of professionals, upon request, to serve any community within the state where a crime has taken place. The mission of the MS-CRT is to facilitate crisis intervention services to crime victims and their communities in the aftermath of a traumatic event involving multiple victims, survivors and/or witnesses. Examples of such crimes are: crimes affecting children, such as school shootings; workplace violence; or multiple deaths from any criminal activity that causes an entire community to grieve.
How Do You Request Team Assistance?
The MS-CRT can be accessed by calling our toll free number at 800-829-6766 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. After hours, you can access this service by paging the Crisis Intervention Coordinator at 601-328- 0171. An official request or invitation must come from someone with authority at the site of the criminal incident. Generally, the team members can respond within 24 72 hours. The individual or agency requesting the MS-CRT may be asked to assist the team leader in arranging overnight accommodations. In addition, the MS-CRT will require assistance in locating a private area(s) in a public building to hold logistical meetings with community leaders and to hold group and individual crisis intervention sessions for crime victims, survivors and/or witnesses.
What Services Do We Provide?
The MS-CRT will help local decision makers to identify the groups at risk of experiencing trauma. The MS-CRT members will lead one or more group crisis intervention sessions to help victims begin to talk about their experiences and reactions to the trauma and begin to cope. MS-CRT will provide community care-givers information, referrals and resources to assist them in meeting ongoing community needs.
What Is the Cost of Team Services?
MS-CRT services are provided at no cost to the citizens of Mississippi.
