URMIA 49th Annual Conference

CORE COMPETENCY RM TECHNICAL SKILLS: Whether it’s an individual medical emergency or a large-scale incident, how you provide support to study abroad participants post-crisis is just as important as the assistance provided to them before and during the incident itself. And while high-profile terrorist attacks capture the headlines for good reason, institutions must also be prepared to address appropriate follow-up care and support for more common incidents such as a sexual assault or robbery. Which begs the questions: Is your institution effectively addressing students’ physical and emotional needs amid the aftermath of a crisis abroad? Are you equipping them with the support and resources they need to restore balance and protect program continuity?

In this informative session with On Call International’s Ryan DeStefano, Black Swan Solution’s Michelle Colosimo and Texas Christian University’s Paul Fox, attendees will explore answers to these critical questions. Utilizing real-world scenarios, the presenters will guide participants through a formalized emergency response process that illustrates core concepts and best practices in travel risk management, behavioral health support and duty of care compliance. Techniques and strategies for protecting the interests of constituents, the institution, and program continuity will be addressed, as well as actionable steps for providing behavioral health support services where and when students need it most. Proactive measures will also be explored, as participants will learn how to build aptitude and “muscle memory” for travel emergency preparation—including who students should call, where they should go and what to do during a crisis abroad. Through this interactive panel with a security practitioner, a behavioral health and crisis response expert, and an industry peer, participants will learn how post-crisis emotional and onsite support are integral components of any effective risk management strategy.

As a result of participating in this session, attendees will understand the institution’s role and duty of care considerations in helping those affected during each phase of the crisis; develop a roadmap of actions to support all stakeholders post-crisis that can be integrated into your institution’s risk management program; discuss the potential mental health impacts for those involved in a crisis and how to help restore balance and facilitate program continuity; explore strategies for managing reactions not only of affected students, faculty and staff, but also of stakeholders at home, including anxious parents who may be (unknowingly) hindering students’ abilities to move forward; and review three crisis examples that vary in complexity and scope: a major terrorist attack, sexual assault and robbery of an apartment. Attendees will discuss potential reactions to these scenarios and how to effectively address potential reactions to them.