National Emergency Assistance Team (NEAT)
The National Emergency Assistance Team (NEAT) is part of the National Association of School Psychologists' (NASP) strategic commitment to help schools, families and communities cope with crisis situations. While every school ideally should have the internal capacity to provide appropriate, effective intervention in a crisis, some traumatic events require outside assistance from professionals with specific expertise in crisis intervention.
NEAT is comprised of nationally certified school psychologists who have had formal training in and direct crisis experience involving manmade and natural disasters. NEAT's role varies according to the needs of each situation, but team members provide services ranging from advice over the phone to joining a crisis management team at the scene when invited. NEAT's mission is to:
- Provide direct aid and assistance to schools and communities in emergency crisis situations.
- Promote crisis management preparation and planning.
- Expand the network of professionals able to lend support to their schools and communities during a crisis event.
- Train school psychologists and other professionals in crisis preparedness and response.
- Advocate for safe, healthy schools through legislative and policy initiatives.
Contacting NEAT
In an emergency, NEAT members can be reached directly or through NASP. To
contact a team member through NASP during business hours, call 301-657-0270
and ask for Susan Gorin, NASP Executive Director. You can also e-mail
NEAT members by clicking the link below.
During non-business hours you can contact NEAT members directly. Some team members have emergency pagers and cell
phones. Please note that these options are for emergency purposes only!
If you are interested in information on training or non-emergency consultation,
please call NEAT members directly at their telephone numbers below.
Richard Lieberman, NEAT Chair
School Psychologist
Los Angeles Unified School District
Telephone: 818-705-7326
Pager phone (emergencies only): 818-593-1125
Bill Pfohl, NEAT Cochair
Professor
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Telephone: 270-745-4419
Cell phone (emergencies only): 270-535-4915
Stephen E. Brock
Assistant Professor
California State University, Sacramento
Telephone: 916-278-5919
Cynthia Dickinson
Coordinator
Crisis and Attendance Services
Fairfax County Public Schools
Falls Church, VA 22042
Telephone: 571-423-4315
Cathy Kennedy-Paine
School Psychologist/Coordinator
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, OR
Telephone: 541-747-8241
Cell phone (emergencies only): 541-729-5242
Philip Lazarus
Associate Professor
School Psychology Training Program
Florida International University
Miami, Florida
Telephone: 305-348-2725
Shirley A. Pitts
School Psychologist
Chicago Public Schools
Telephone: 773-535-8956
Scott Poland
Associate Professor
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Telephone: 954-262-5881
Cell phone (emergencies only): 713-201-6659