Crisis Planning in Washington Schools
Forefront programs and partnerships are helping schools and higher education institutions across our state in establishing and enhancing state mandated protocols for responding to students in emotional and behavioral distress. RCW 28A.320.127
Our program model follows best practice strategies and supports schools in building and sustaining a comprehensive approach to help prevent suicide. Forefront has championed 11 state laws and positioned Washington as the first state requiring health professionals to have suicide prevention training.
On this page you will find an assortment of tools, resources and other information to help you prevent, intervene and provide support for your entire school community.
NEW TOOLS & GUIDELINES!
Crisis Plan Template – Our fillable version has arrived! We’ll send active schools an email with directions on how to access the User Guide. These steps include setting up your Passkey and other helpful information.
Intervention Protocols – We’ve updated language around intervention protocols. Best practices recommend shifting away from risk assessment (i.e., low, medium, high) to proactive safety planning and strengthening a student-centered climate. We recommend using this new sample language in the Intervention section of your plan.
PLEASE NOTE: Schools are encouraged to continuously improve their crisis plan using our template and tools as guided by the direction of OSPI.
Crisis Planning Tools
- Crisis Plan Checklist – 9.15.2025 PDF
- FILLABLE Crisis Plan Template – 5.19.2026
- FILLABLE Crisis Plan – User Guide 2026 PDF
- Crisis Plan Template – WORD DOC
- Recommended Elements Checklist – 9.12.2025 PDF
- Re-Entry Checklist – 9.12.2025 PDF
- Safety Plan Template – 9.20.2022 PDF
Sample Crisis Plans, Policies/Procedures & Suggested Screening Tools
Please note: Some elements of our previous plan template have been updated, (i.e., levels of risk) and/or do not have current hotline information. While these plans can still be helpful to view, we recommend using the updated plan template below.
- Sample Crisis Plan – Foster PDF
- Sample Crisis Plan – Eastside Catholic PDF
- Sample Crisis Plan Staff Guide – Foster PDF
- OSPI’s Emotional and Behavioral Distress Guide: Plan Template for Recognition, Screening, and Response to Emotional or Behavioral Distress in Students – 2023 PDF New fillable PDF that includes a selection of evidence-based screening tools. See p20-21.
Find more resources under Prevention and Postvention below
Prevention Resources to Help Support Students and Staff
Resources from our Partners:
While we hope our schools never have to experience a suicide, the reality is that death by suicide does occur. Experiencing this kind of loss is both unique and challenging, so moving from reaction mode to helping your school prepare to support, provide structure and safety is key. Reviewing, updating and improving this element of your crisis response plan takes preparation and coordinated efforts. We’ve gathered a list of resources to help.
Postvention Crisis Response:
- OSPI, in partnership with Forefront Suicide Prevention and Washington state’s Educational Service District (ESD) Behavioral Health Navigators, created the Suicide Postvention Guide for Schools in Washington State (PDF). This guide includes vetted information from materials that are designed to enhance a school’s ability to respond with resources specific to their distinct ESD.
- Also see: Suicide Postvention Guide for Schools in Washington State PPT slides and Suicide Postvention in Schools Handout (PDF). To request an editable version of the PPT slides, that can be localized for your district, please email Tayler Burkhart (tayler.burkhart@k12.wa).
- Forefront’s Postvention Guide (PDF): Information and resources to help schools in the aftermath of a suicide.
- Forefront’s Postvention Resource One Pager (PDF): This list includes resources for sample notification templates, safe and effective messaging guidelines, 24-hr crisis consultation, model school district policy, programming and more.