As students and educators head back to school during the ongoing pandemic, physical and emotional wellbeing are important areas of concern. To help with wellness and resiliency, consider learning how to establish a trauma-informed learning environment, identify and assess traumatic stress, and address/treat traumatic stress. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network's document Trauma-Informed School Strategies during COVID-19 provides information for educators, staff, and administrators, and includes information on cultural responsiveness, crisis response, discipline policies and practices, and community partners.

First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST) is a new national STOP THE BLEED class that is free for high school students to learn how to respond to severe bleeding injuries. In addition to bleeding control, the class teaches students how to position people with injuries, how to interact with 9-1-1 operators and other rescuers, and scene safety. For more information on FAST, click here.

This is the last chance to register for "Railroad Safety for First Responders, Educators, and School Bus Drivers" on August 27th from 9am-12pm via Zoom. The Railroad Safety class covers the challenges that frontline responders and school staff are faced with when responding to an incident on or near railroad property. This 3-hour class will prepare all involved (bus drivers, school administrators, law enforcement, first responders, etc.) and will provide responding individuals the correct tools to safely navigate the unfamiliar environment of the railroad. Attendees will gain access to the safest ways to respond to railroad incidents. For more information and to register, click here.

The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program is pleased to announce an upcoming session of "Campus Threat Management: Special Issues and Applications" with Dr. Gene Deisinger is being held September 3rd at University of Illinois Chicago. This one-day workshop for institutions of higher education is for individuals who have completed previous behavioral threat assessment training. For more information and to register, click here.

The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program is pleased to announce an upcoming session of "Threat Assessment and Management in a Campus Setting" with Dr. Gene Deisinger is being held September 7-8 at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. This two-day workshop for institutions of 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.

Earthquake Preparedness For Schools Class on September 8th 

International Shakeout Day is October 21st. In preparation for the Great Shakeout and to help schools be prepared in the event of an earthquake, the Illinois School and Campus Safety Program is pleased to announce an upcoming session of "Earthquake Preparedness for Schools" is being held through the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center on September 8th from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm via Zoom. For more information and to register, click here.

The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program is pleased to announce an upcoming session of Developing Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) for Institutions of Higher Education is being held through the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center on September 16th from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm via Zoom. For more information and to register, click here.