A beloved teacher is killed in a car crash. A student dies. An educator experiences a workplace assault or violation. These and other traumatic events can occur in a school system as large as ours.
Did you know there’s a place to turn for support — both at and away from your work site — when tragedy strikes?
It’s the Victim Support Program, co-sponsored by the UFT’s Safety and Health Department and the city Department of Education. The program is housed at union headquarters in Manhattan and has a borough liaison at each UFT office. All assistance is free and strictly confidential.
The Victim Support Program helps UFT members with practical information regarding DOE forms and procedures, as well as the procedures of the criminal justice system. Victim Support Program staff also accompany members who need medical assistance if they have been assaulted on the job.
The Victim Support Program also has trained mental health professionals who offer confidential counseling and crisis intervention. They work in conjunction with the UFT’s Member Assistance Program to provide appropriate referrals for longer-term counseling.
Aftermath of workplace incidents
If you have suffered a serious workplace incident, you may find yourself experiencing:
- Feelings of vulnerability, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, fear, anger or depression
- Confusion about procedures and forms to be filled out
- Frustration due to the amount of paperwork involved in securing your medical benefits, claiming a line-of-duty injury or dealing with law enforcement or other agencies
- Apprehension about returning to work
Don’t hesitate to call the Victim Support Program for the support you need.
Services include:
- Counseling
- On-site crisis intervention following a sudden loss — such as the death of a student or colleague — or a violent incident that affects the larger school community
- Help with forms and procedures
- Assistance in dealing with the NYPD and other criminal justice agencies
- Accompanying members to court or the DOE’s Medical Bureau
Learning to spot the warning signs
The UFT also offers tools to avoid and defuse violent situations.
The UFT’s Safety and Health Department, through its School Safety Division, offers violence prevention training. The workshops help participants:
- Understand the dynamics of violence, aggression, hostility and acting-out behaviors
- Develop safe strategies for interactions with violence-prone individuals
- Learn practical techniques for defusing potential violence and aggression
- Identify the stakeholders responsible for maintaining overall school safety
- Understand how to secure the school environment through visitor control procedures, emergency preparedness and response
- Avoid theft and vandalism
- Avoid corporal punishment and verbal abuse allegations
If you or your school has suffered a traumatic event, or if you are interested in receiving training in violence prevention, contact the Victim Support Program at 212-598-6853.