Debriefing after an Emergency Behavior Intervention must include which groups?

• A. Only the child
• B. Child placement staff and children in care who witnessed the incident
• C. Parents only
• D. Medical staff only

Answer: (B)

After an Emergency Behavior Intervention, debriefing focuses on supporting those most affected and ensuring safety and proper follow‑up. The groups that should be included are the child placement staff who were involved in the incident and the children in care who witnessed it. Including staff helps review what happened, confirm that the intervention followed policy, address any safety concerns, and determine any needed changes to procedures. Including the children who witnessed the incident gives them a chance to process their feelings, ask questions, receive reassurance, and reduce potential trauma by ensuring they understand what occurred and what support is available.

Bringing in only the child or only the parents or only medical staff would miss key perspectives and needs: staff are directly responsible for implementing the response and ensuring ongoing safety, while the children who witnessed the event are often the most affected emotionally. Medical staff involvement is appropriate if there are health concerns, but the debriefing focus for EBI is on the staff and the witnesses in care.