Student Emergency Response Team (SERP)
Program Overview
The Student Emergency Response Program (SERP) is a rapid response intervention initiative designed to assist students and families experiencing unexpected hardship that place a child's education, health, attendance, or overall well-being at risk.
Through partnerships with public schools, community organizations, and local agencies, UCEMSRT provides immediate emergency support to ensure that no child is forced to miss school or suffer academically due to lack of basic necessities.
The program operates on the belief that students cannot be expected to learn when they are hungry, without appropriate clothing, lacking hygiene supplies, experiencing homelessness, or facing a family crisis.
SERP serves as a bridge between schools and community resources by providing emergency assistance when traditional resources are unavailable, delayed, or insufficient to meet a student's immediate needs.
Our Mission Statement is to provide immediate, compassionate, and dignified emergency assistance to students and families facing crisis situations by delivering essential food, clothing's, hygiene products, school supplies, and household necessities that remove barriers to educational success.
Program Goals
1. Reduce barriers that negatively impact students' attendance and academic performance.
2. Provide emergency support to students and families experiencing crisis situations.
3. Strengthen partnerships between schools and community organizations.
4. Support homeless, foster, low-income, ad at-risk students.
5. Ensure every student has access to basic necessities needed
6. Improve student well-being through timely intervention and support services
Eligible Referring Partners
Referrals may be submitted by:
- School Principals
- Assistant Principals
- School Counselors
- School Socal Workers
- School Nurses
- Attendance Directors
- McKinney-Vento Liaison
- Student Support Personal
- Authorized School Administrators
Parent referrals may also be accepted when verified by school personnel.
Service Provided Emergency Food Assistance
Students and families may receive:
- Emergency food boxes
- Weekend meal support
- Holiday meal assistance
- Summer nutrition assistance
- Ready-to-eat meal kits
- Family food pantry referrals
Emergency Clothing Assistance
Students and families may receive:
- New or gently used clothing
- Winter coats
- Shoes (when avaiable)
- Socks and undergarments
- Seasonal clothing
- Emergency replacement clothing follwing disasters
Hygiene Assistance
Students and families may receive:
- Personal hygiene kits
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Soap and shampoo
- Deodrant
- Feminine hygiene products
- Laundry detergent and cleaning supplies
School Supply Assistance
Students may receive:
- Backpacks
- School supplies
- Classroom materials
- Educational support items
- Emergency replacement supplies
Household Crisis Assistance
When available families may receive:
- Bedding
- Blankets
- Towels
- Household start kits
- Cleaning products
- Referrals to additioanl community resoruces
Response Levels
Priority Level 1 - Emergency
Examples:
- No food in the home
- House fire
- Homelessness
- Family displacement
Response Goals: Within 4 hours whenever possible
Priority Level 2 - Urgent Need
Examples:
- Lack of clothing
- Hygiene concerns
- School spplies shortages
Response Goals: Within 24 hours whenever possible.
Priority Level 3 - Preventative Assistance
Examples:
- Resource request
- Seasonal assistance
- Ongoing family support
Response Goals - Within two business days whenever possible.
Student Eligibility
The program is intended for students enrolled in public, private, charter, and homeschool programs within communites served by UCEMSRT.
Priority consideration may be given to:
- Stduents experiencing homelessness
- Foster youth
- Low-income families
- Students receiving free or reduced-price meals
- Families impacted by disasters or emergencies
- Students identified as at-risk by school personnel
Program Delivery Methods
Services may be delivered through:
- School-based distribution
- Direct family pickup
- Community outreach events
- Mobile outreach events
- Emergency delivery services when available
Community Partnerships
UCEMSRT will work collaboratively with:
- County Boads of Education
- Public Schools
- Faith-Based Organization
- Community Nonprofits
- Food Banks
- Social Service Agencies
- Emergency Reponse Organization (All Public Safety Agencies)
- Local Businessesses
These partnerships help maximize available resources while reducing duplication of services
Expected Outcomes
The Student Emergency Response Program seeks to:
- Improve school attendance
- Increase student stablility
- Reduce educational barriers
- Support studetns health and wellness
- Strngthen family engagement
- Promote academic success
- Provide rapid crisis interventin for vulnerable students
Program Statement
The Student Emergency Response Program exists to ensure that no child is left behind because of circumstances beyond their control. Through compassionate intervention and strong community partnerships, UCEMSRT is committed to responding when students and fmailies need help most.
Because every child deserves the opportunity to succeed.