A Guide for Intermediate and Long-term Mental Health Services
After School-related Violent Events

Project SERV: Defining Time Frames

In 2000, when Project SERV was funded by Congress, the Immediate Services Grant (ISG) period was defined as the first 45 days after a crisis event in a school. The Regular Services Grant (RSG) of SERV began its funding after the first 45 days and extended for the following 18 months. However, as our country moves toward the establishment of a Homeland Security Office, a reorganization of the Federal Response Plan is being undertaken and there is some indication that all federal timelines may conform to one set of time/task regulations.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV) definition of Acute Stress Disorder spans the first four weeks of a trauma-related event. A recent NIMH report (Mental Health and Mass Violence: Evidence-Based Early Psychological Intervention for Victims/Survivors of Mass Violence. A Workshop to Reach Consensus on Best Practices. NIH Publication #02-5138) similarly identifies the immediate "crisis phase" as a four week period. Both of these definitions fall within the Immediate Services Grant period of Project SERV when broader, school-wide public health approaches to mental health recovery are appropriate.

At the time of this publication, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines the Immediate Services Grant (ISG) period as the first 50 days after a Presidentially declared disaster and the Regular Services Grant (RSG) period beginning after the first 60 days of a disaster.

While recognizing the lack of conformity among state and federal programs, some delineation of time frames must be made. Therefore, for the purposes of this guide, the following working definitions have been established.

• Immediate services period: day 1 through day 60
  
• Intermediate services period: day 61 through the day of the first anniversary
  
• Long-term services period: beyond the first year anniversary

In keeping with the experiences of the expert panel members who have experienced school shootings and terrorist attacks in cities such as Springfield, Oregon; Santee, California; Littleton, Colorado; Oklahoma City and New York City, this guide promotes the notion that longer-term mental health services are needed beyond the first anniversary date and are essential to full recovery.

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