Parent Student Reunion

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Parent Student Reunion
Emergency procedures for reuniting parents with
students
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Parent/Student Reunion

• Objectives
• Participants will understand the procedures for
  student release in an emergency
• Participants will be able to apply the procedures
  for releasing students
• Participants will identify locations for parent
  check-in / request and reunion / release gates
• Participants will list supplies and forms
  necessary to successfully reunite parents with
  students

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School Site Planning GuidelinesOrganizational
Chart
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Moral and Legal Responsibilities
On a daily basis, parents entrust schools with
the safety, health and well-being of their
children. Once a student steps on campus, the
school is responsible for that child until they
are picked up by a parent or returned home by
bus. This responsibility remains, even when
disaster strikes and circumstances require
schools to keep students beyond the normal school
day.
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Let's Imagine.....
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What do you think...

• The parent/student reunion team members are
  feeling?
• The parents are feeling?
• The students are feeling?

How can we help reduce the stress of this event
before it occurs?
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Reducing the Stress Before The Emergency

• Parents and Students
• Teach parents and students the procedures for
  releasing students.
• Help parents understand what to expect on the day
  of the emergency
• Involve parents and students in practice drills
• Have copies of the forms with process ready to
  give to parents while waiting to reunite with
  their child.

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Before The Disaster

• Know your parent/student population
• How many students live within walking distance to
  the school?
• How many families have an adult at home during
  the day?
• How fast will they arrive?
• This might be a good resource for volunteers,
  provided you identify and train them before the
  event.

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Before the Disaster

• File Emergency Information forms alpha in the
  binders provided keep them in a portable box or
  rolling case
• Identify the members of the student/parent
  reunion team
• Identify a group of students to train as runners
  for the reunion process
• Identify the location of the check-in /request
  gate and the reunion / release gate

• Identify the team leaders for the student care
  team so they can be trained in the procedures
• Identify the supplies necessary to effectively do
  your job
• Provide training for the team members and student
  runners
• Be prepared for rain

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Before the Disaster

• Example
• 1. Talk through the procedures
• 2. Use teddy bears as students to practice
  releasing students from classrooms if needed
• 3. Invite a small group of parents to assist
  with a practice drill at the end of a school day
• 4. Practice procedures as part of an all school
  drill.

• Create a plan for team members to practice the
  procedures.
• Start with little or no stress exercises and work
  toward involving the team in an all school drill.
  

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During The Event

• Follow the schools emergency procedures for
  safety and accountability.
• After students are accounted for, team members
  hand off their class to their buddy and report
  to their assigned areas for deployment
• When deployed, report to Logistics to get
  supplies and equipment.
• Begin releasing students according to school
  policies and procedures.

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Knowledge can reduce stress!
What are some ways you can inform the parents
that are waiting to be reunited with their
children about the status of the school and the
procedures for releasing their children?
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Parent/Student Reunion Procedures

• At the beginning of school, have parents complete
  the Emergency Information Form for every child
• At the beginning of school, Place completed
  Emergency information forms in the 3-ring alpha
  binder to be used at the parent Check-in /Request
  gate.

• At the beginning of school, Inform Parents of
  Reunion process and to report to Student
  Request location first

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Refer to the

• Student Release /Runner Form
• Section by Section

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Parent/Student Reunion Procedures

• Parents report to Parent Check-In / REQUEST
  GATE location first
• Parent completes form requesting student to be
  released and show Identification
• Staff checks ID and signs form
• Staff keeps back copy and files it alphabetically
  behind Emergency information form

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Parent/Student Reunion Procedures Continued...

• Runner takes the form to the student care holding
  area
• Staff at student care area completes students
  status portion of the form
• Runner takes student to the Reunion gate
• Reunion gate staff check Name ID again

• Requester signs the bottom of the form and gives
  destination, date and time, phone if possible
• Staff keeps yellow copy at Release Gate
• Runner takes original white copy back to Check in
  / Request Gate for final filing

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Lets Refer To

• Student Release Team Job Description and Check
  List

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Activity

• Objectives
• participants are able to practice the procedures
  of parent/student reunion
• Supplies
• Students or teddy bears with name tags
• Parent ID tags
• Emergency Information form completed for each
  student
• Student Release / Runner forms
• Signs for Request, Release, Student Holding
  tables
• Basic office supplies (pens, pencils, clipboards,
  stapler)
• Procedures
• select volunteers to be parents, request gate
  staff, reunion /release gate staff, runners, and
  student care /holding area staff.
• practice the procedures as outlined in the job
  description.

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Summary

• Parent/student reunion is a vital component of
  the school disaster plan.
• Parent, students and staff need to be informed of
  the procedures prior to the disaster
• The Parent/student reunion team needs several
  opportunities to practice the procedures prior to
  a real event.
• Words of wisdom

You could have an outstanding response plan,
saving hundreds of people lives. However, if
your parent/student reunion process does not
function smoothly and with confidence, the
perception for the parents will be that there is
chaos on the campus.