Topics

Mental health resources support students’ emotional, psychological, and social well-being, helping them navigate challenges in and outside of school. By offering strategies for coping with stress and mental health concerns, schools can foster a nurturing environment where students feel understood and supported. Access to mental health resources is also critical for early identification and intervention, ensuring students receive the help they need before problems escalate.

School climate encompasses the programs, practices, and activities that promote the social and emotional well-being of both students and staff. It focuses on creating a positive and supportive environment where all individuals feel safe, respected, and valued. A positive school climate fosters healthy relationships, effective communication, and a culture of inclusion.

A comprehensive school safety plan is a strategic plan that outlines policies, procedures, and practices to ensure the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of students and staff. These plans are tailored to the local context and outline strategies for addressing potential threats and emergencies while promoting a safe and supportive school environment.

School-based law enforcement refers to the collaboration between law enforcement officers assigned to schools or groups of schools in order to maintain a safe and supportive learning environment. These officers play a crucial role in preventing and addressing safety concerns, fostering positive relationships with students and staff, and ensuring a secure atmosphere that is conducive to education.

Campus and building security involves implementing deterrent measures to reduce safety risks and enhance protection across school facilities and grounds. Layered measures can work together to create a secure environment that deters potential threats while allowing students, staff, and visitors to navigate the school safely.

Capacity building resources focus on expanding and sustaining your organization’s ability to implement school safety programs through partnerships, implementation science, and youth engagement. Capacity building also includes approaches to changing processes, culture, and policies over time.

Coordination with first responders involves establishing strong partnerships between law enforcement, emergency medical services (EMS), fire departments, and other relevant response agencies to create a unified response to school emergencies. This collaboration can help ensure that all parties are well-prepared, trained, and familiar with the school’s layout and emergency protocols.

Notification technology encompasses online and phone-based platforms that allow individuals to share secure information regarding safety concerns. This can include a reporting system where someone reports risky behavior to a school, as well as technology that schools utilize to communicate important information to their communities during an incident.

School drills involve preparing and practicing emergency response procedures for various potential situations, including natural disasters, fires, chemical hazards, violent incidents, and active shooter scenarios. These drills are designed to ensure that both students and staff are familiar with emergency protocols and can respond quickly and effectively when needed.

Social media monitoring involves following students’ online activities to identify potential risks, such as signs of self-harm or threats of violence toward others. By staying aware of students’ digital behaviors, schools can intervene early, providing the necessary support and resources to address concerns.

Behavioral threat assessment and management in schools is a process that identifies and evaluates individuals who may pose a risk to safety, based on behaviors or communications indicating intent to harm others. Threat Assessment teams carefully consider all factors and gather a range of perspectives to make informed decisions about the level of risk posed. The goal is to intervene early, ensuring the safety of students and staff while providing appropriate support to individuals involved.