This Week in School and Campus Safety

Good morning,

This Weekly Update by the Illinois School and Campus Safety Program shares information on the Safe2HelpIL program, links to information on the Invent2Prevent program and an upcoming session of the NASRO Basic SRO Course being held in Normal, and promotes upcoming sessions of Advanced Digital Threat Assessment®, Campus Threat Assessment and Management, and Threat Assessment Team Training.

Thank you for your interest in school and campus safety. However, if you wish to no longer receive our emails, let me know and I will remove you from our contacts list.

Respectfully,

Laura Black

le-black@wiu.edu

Program Coordinator

Illinois School and Campus Safety Program

Safe2HelpIL

In the world of school safety, having a confidential reporting system can be an invaluable tool in preventing tragedy. For Illinois, one option is Safe2HelpIL. Safe2HelpIL "is a 24/7 program where students can use a free app, text/phone, and website (Safe2HelpIL.com) to share information on school safety issues in a confidential environment. Once vetted, the information provided will be shared with local district and school officials and/or local PSAP/9-1-1- call center, depending on the nature of the information shared." 

In addition to providing a confidential platform for students to report their concerns, school districts can also choose to participate in the Safe2HelpIL program. There is no cost to participate in the program and, in doing so, the school's designated end users will be ones who are contacted if Safe2HelpIL receives any tips tied to the school.

For more information about participating in the Safe2HelpIL program, contact Barbara Schmidt at Barbara.Schmidt@Illinois.gov or at 312-995-9563.

"In the absence of a trusted adult, Safe2HelpIL offers students a safe, confidential way in which to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety. This program is not intended to suspend, expel, or punish students. Rather, the goal is to encourage students to

'Seek Help Before Harm.'”

Campus Threat Assessment and Management

May 21-22nd in Quincy, IL

The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program is pleased to announce the class Campus Threat Assessment and Management will be held May 21-22, 2025, in Quincy, IL.

This two-day workshop for K-12 and higher education will help participants to better understand the dynamics of targeted violence and to develop and enhance strategies for early identification, assessment, and intervention with concerning situations.

For more information and to register, click here.

Upcoming Session of Advanced Digital Threat Assessment® via Zoom May 29th

The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program, in partnership with Safer Schools Together, is pleased to announce an upcoming session of the Advanced Digital Threat Assessment® class being held via Zoom on May 29th. Building upon the Digital Threat Assessment® class by Safer Schools Together, Advanced Digital Threat Assessment® advances participants' understanding of finding and curating relevant digital information consistent with real-life digital threat assessment data gathering scenarios. Significant engagement and hands-on practice will take place as participants are assembled into investigative teams and given a true-to-life mock scenario. For more information and to register, click here.

Threat Assessment Team Training in

East Moline, IL June 5-6

The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program is pleased to announce a session of the Threat Assessment Team Training class is being held in East Moline, IL June 5-6, 2025.

This comprehensive 2-day K-12 training on multidisciplinary, community-based threat assessment teams provides a history and background of threat assessment, targeted violence, threat assessment research, risk factors, and behavioral indicators of those who are intending to commit targeted violence against others. It also provides training on the concept and advantages of a community-based, multidisciplinary threat assessment system, team dynamics, threat assessment process, and management principles.

For more information and to register, click here.

Upcoming Session of the NASRO Basic SRO Course Being Held in Normal

The Law and Justice Commission MTU 8, in partnership with the Illinois School Resource Officers Association, is hosting a session of the NASRO Basic School Resource Officer Course July 21-25, 2025, in Normal, IL. This week-long training is "designed to prepare school resource officers, other law enforcement officers, and school safety professionals to fulfill their roles in the school setting effectively. School administrators and education professionals would also benefit from this course."

For more information and to register, click here.

Registration Open for Illinois Invent2Prevent

Illinois high schools are invited to participate in Invent2Prevent, a free school safety and prevention program. "Illinois Invent2Prevent challenges high school students to create and implement peer-developed initiatives, products, and tools to prevent targeted violence in ways they think will be most effective in making their schools and communities safer." For more information and to register a team, see the attached flyer.

2025 ILSROA School Safety Conference June 18-20, 2025

The 2025 ILSROA School Safety Conference is being held June 18-20th in Normal, IL. The registration fee for the 3-day conference is $275, which includes all training materials, daily breakfast, and a 1-year ILSROA membership. There is also a 1-Day Only Pass option for $100 for school administrators and school district personnel who are unable to attend all 3 days. For more information and to register, click here.