January 2025 Newsletter

The Connecticut Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparation at Western Connecticut State University is funded from appropriations through the Office of Higher Education.



Dear School Safety Partners,

Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, we want to take a moment to thank you for your unwavering dedication to keeping Connecticut schools safe. Your hard work and commitment make a tremendous difference in our school communities.

We are thrilled to announce our Inaugural Artificial Intelligence and School Safety Conference, taking place on March 26th, 2025. This groundbreaking event will explore the intersection of AI technology and school safety, offering valuable insights and innovative approaches to enhance preparedness and protection in K-12 schools. Please save the date and stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!

Additionally, we encourage you to be on the lookout for our upcoming Armed Security Officer (ASO) Study. This important initiative will help us identify the most critical training needs for Armed Security Officers working in K-12 schools across Connecticut. The Armed Security Officer study is being completed in collaboration with our partners from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Your participation and input will be invaluable as we strive to develop targeted resources and training programs that address these needs.

Thank you for all that you do to support safe and secure learning environments for students, staff, and families across the state. We look forward to collaborating with you in the year ahead to continue advancing school safety.

Warm regards,

Amery Bernhardt, D.M.

Director

CT Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparation

Department of Emergency Services

and Public Protection

Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

From the DEMHS State School Safety Program Desk

Dear School Safety Partners,

Happy New Year, I hope everyone had a great holiday and is ready for the second half of the school year. 

• How do you communicate with your school body in a noisy environment?
• Is your public address system loud and powerful enough to overcome the voices of 200 plus students in the cafeteria?
• Can it be heard over the band in the music room or auditorium?  

While conducting a Safety and Security Assessment at a school, the Principal initiated a “lockdown” during the school’s first lunch wave. (The DEMHS School Assessment team was asked prior if we would assess the drill so we knew it was going to happen).

The lockdown went very well throughout the large school, with the exception of the cafeteria. I stood in the hallway entrance to the cafeteria, and watched as the announcement was made. I could hear the announcement in the hallway, but it was so loud in the cafeteria that neither students nor staff heard the announcement. A teacher, who was in the hallway, recognized the issue, ran into the cafeteria, and got the attention of other teachers so the lockdown could be initiated. Unfortunately, valuable time was lost in initiating the lockdown, a response in which every second counts. 

Strobe lights that can be activated during announcements in loud areas such as cafeterias, gyms, auditoriums and band rooms, can be a useful tool to draw attention and help communicate emergency messaging. 

Please remember to register your school team for the January 10th Beyond Compliance Communications Annex and Tabletop Exercise Webinar. Click here to register.

Your partner in school safety,

Bill Turley

Manager Training and Exercise School Safety Program Lead

State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection

Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

William.turley@ct.gov

North Central Regional Suicide Advisory Board (RSAB) supports the overall vision of the CT Suicide Advisory Board, the goals and objectives of the CT Suicide Prevention Plan. The RSAB coordinates training opportunities and offers guidance on evidence based activities and planning for mental health promotion, and suicide prevention, intervention and response.

• When:  2/11/25 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• Where:  Amplify Community Room
• Who Should Attend: Meetings are open to all.
• RSVP at Link
• Please Save the Dates for future RSAB meetings: Meetings held the 2nd Tuesday bi-monthly; from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (4/8/25, 6/10/25, 8/12/25)

Region 2 Suicide Advisory Board (R2SAB) - Alliance for Prevention & Wellness / A Program of BHcare includes representatives from healthcare, local prevention councils, prevention professionals, school social workers, and individuals with lived experience, including suicide attempt and loss survivors. Our goal is to integrate and coordinate prevention, intervention, and response activities across multiple sectors and settings to reduce non-fatal suicide attempts and suicide in CT. This initiative aligns with the broader vision of the statewide CT Suicide Advisory Board and establishes local and regional frameworks to facilitate these activities.

• When:  2/4/25 at 10:30 a.m.
• Where: Virtually on Microsoft Teams
• Who Should Attend: Meetings are open to all and for those within Region 2's territory: Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Derby, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Haven, Essex, Guilford, Haddam, Hamden, Killingworth, Lyme, Madison, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Orange, Portland, Seymour, Shelton, Wallingford, Westbrook, West Haven, Woodbridge.
• For more information, please contact Taylor Gainey, MS, at Tgainey@bhcare.org.

DEMHS Region 1 Emergency Planning Team’s combined ESF-5 / Emergency Management and School Safety and Security Committee meeting

• When: To be announced
• Where: Fairfield Regional Fire School
• Who Should Attend: This meeting is for Administrators, Facility Directors, Business Officials, SRO's, Security Personnel, Emergency Management Personnel, Mental Health Professionals, Technology Leaders, etc. 
• Those who are interested in being part of our group are encouraged to email their contact information to Robert.Kenny@ct.gov. Group membership includes receiving correspondence related to meeting announcements and information related to school safety/security.

Region 1 Gambling Awareness Team consists of community stakeholders working toward raising awareness and developing prevention and treatment capacity in the region. We host gambling awareness trainings and webinars. The team meets quarterly to review gambling trends, needs, gaps, and access to treatment.

• When:  1/14/25 from 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
• Where: In-Person at the Burroughs Community Center
• Who Should Attend: Meetings are open to all.
• RSVP to Dena Miccinello by emailing Dmiccinello@catalystct.org for more information and to receive the zoom link.
• Please Save the Dates for future Region 1 Gambling Awareness Team meetings: Meetings held the 2nd Tuesday of the month, Quarterly; from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. (March - no meeting to celebrate PGAM, 4/8/25, 6/10/25)

DEMHS Region 2 School Safety & Security Group Meeting 

• When:  2/19/25 from 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Where: Virtually via Google Meets
• Who Should Attend: We are always looking for new members from diversified disciplines - all school safety and security partners are welcome. Please share this with your peers and partners and they can reach out to Jeff Nielsen at Jnielsen@milforded.org to be added to the distribution list.

DEMHS Region 3 Capitol Emergency Management Meeting

• When: 3/27/25 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Where: In-Person at the West Hartford Town Hall, 4th Floor
• Who Should Attend: This meeting is for Administrators, Facility Directors, Business Officials, SRO's, Security Personnel, Emergency Management Personnel, Mental Health Professionals, Technology Leaders, etc.
• RSVP to Claudia Nardi at Cnardi@cantonschools.org or call 860-693-7704 if you plan on attending or sending a representative. Please save the dates for future Capitol Emergency Management Meetings. All meetings will be held in-person from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

DEMHS Region 4 ESF-5 School Safety Sub-Committee

• When: To be announced
• Where: Hybrid (Both Zoom and In-Person) In-Person held at East Lyme Public Safety Complex located at 277 West Main Street, Niantic, CT.
• Who Should Attend: For those organizations within Region 4’s territory: Ashford, Bozrah, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Hampton, Killingly, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Mansfield, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Plainfield, Pomfret, Preston, Putnam, Salem, Scotland, Sprague, Sterling, Stonington, Thompson, Union, Voluntown, Waterford, Willington, Windham, Woodstock. Attendance/membership for this group could include, but not be limited to: Any school staff who are responsible for school safety planning in their districts; SROs; Emergency Managers; Public Safety Chiefs/Department Heads; Public Health Officials; any others with vested interest.
• RSVP if you are interested in attending: Please send an email with your interest to Julie C. Wilson at Jwilson@eastlymepolice.org in order to be added to the meeting email distribution list, and to receive the Zoom Link. Please save the dates for future School Safety Subcommittee meetings. All meetings will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. and will be Hybrid on Zoom and In-Person.

DEMHS School Reunification Planning Committee Note: Meets Hybrid Immediately After the Region 4 ESF-5 School Safety Sub-Committee Meeting

• When: To be announced
• Where: Hybrid (Both Zoom and In-Person) In-Person held at East Lyme Public Safety Complex located at 277 West Main Street, Niantic, CT.
• Who Should Attend: For those organizations within Region 4’s territory: Ashford, Bozrah, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Hampton, Killingly, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Mansfield, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Plainfield, Pomfret, Preston, Putnam, Salem, Scotland, Sprague, Sterling, Stonington, Thompson, Union, Voluntown, Waterford, Willington, Windham, Woodstock. Attendance/membership for this group could include, but not be limited to: Any school staff who are responsible for school safety planning in their districts; SROs; Emergency Managers; Public Safety Chiefs/Department Heads; Public Health Officials; any others with vested interest.
• RSVP if you are interested in attending: Please send an email with your interest to Julie C. Wilson at Jwilson@eastlymepolice.org in order to be added to the meeting email distribution list, and to receive the Zoom Link. Please save the dates for future School Reunification Planning Committee Meetings. All meetings will be held 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and will be Hybrid on Zoom and In-Person.

DEMHS Region 5 School Safety and Security Working Group

• When: 1/23/25 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• Where: Virtually
• The mission of this group is to provide a school safety and security network consisting of school resources who can share lessons learned and quality information pertaining to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our schools.
• RSVP if you are interested in attending:  please email your interest to John Field at John.field@ct.gov

Western Regional Crisis Team Meetings (Covering the RESC Regions of EdAdvance & CES)

• When: 1/14/25 from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• Where:  Virtually
• Topic/Presenter: Vik Joshi, Ph.D., Director, Program Design and Strategic Partnerships, from Project Belonging, of Teachers College-Columbia University, will be joining us and providing an overview on Project Belonging, a peer-to-peer training and experiential learning program to prevent hate and Educational Displacement in schools.
• Who Should Attend:  These meetings are geared towards the mental health professionals servicing our K-12 students.
• For more information or to join the Team: please email Tanya Iacono at Iaconot@wcsu.edu.
• Please Save the Dates for future RCT Meetings: 2/25/25, 3/18/25, 4/15/25, 5/13/25, 6/3/25 - Planning Meeting.

ACES Regional Crisis Team Meeting (Covering the RESC South Central Region)

• When: 1/16/25 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• Where: Virtually
• Topic/Presenter: Sarah White, LCSW, the Project Coordinator from the Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI), will be joining us to discuss her program and services.
• Who Should Attend:  These meetings are geared towards the mental health professionals servicing our K-12 students.
• For more information or to join the Team:  please email Sadie Witherspoon at Witherspoons@wcsu.edu.
• Please Save the Dates for future RCT Meetings: 2/20/25, 3/20/25, 4/17/25, 5/15/25, 6/12/25 - Planning Meeting.

North Central Regional Crisis Team Meeting (Covering the RESC Capitol Region Education Council)

• When: 1/8/25 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• Where: Zoom Link, Meeting ID: 870 9664 2732, Passcode: 856200
• Topic/Presenter: Molly Sexton-Read, the Program Director, from Mary's Place A Center for Grieving Children and Families, will be joining us to discuss programs and resources they provide for schools and families.
• For more information or to join the Team: please email Kimberly Myers at Myersk@wcsu.edu.
• Please Save the Dates for future RCT Meetings: 2/12/25, 3/12/25, 4/9/25, 5/14/25, 6/11/25 - Planning Meeting.

Northeastern Regional Crisis Team Meetings (Covering the EASTCONN RESC Region)

• This team will meet jointly with the Southeastern Regional Crisis team for the remainder of the 2024/2025 academic year.
• When: 1/8/25 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• Where: Virtually on Zoom
• Towns: Andover, Ashford, Bozrah, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Franklin, Griswold, Hampton, Hebron, Killingly, Lebanon, Lisbon, Mansfield, Marlborough, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Scotland, Sprague, Stafford, Sterling, Thompson, Tolland, Union, Voluntown, Woodstock, Willington, Windham
• Who Should Attend: These meetings are geared towards the mental health professionals supporting our K-12 students. 
• For more information or to join the Team: please email Kiley Young at Youngki@wcsu.edu.
• Please Save the Dates for future RCT Meetings: 2/12/25, 3/12/25, 4/9/25, 5/14/25, and a brief planning meeting in June TBD.

Southeastern Regional Crisis Team Meetings (Covering the LEARN RESC Region)

• This team will meet jointly with the Northeastern Regional Crisis team for the remainder of the 2024/2025 academic year.
• When: 1/8/25 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• Where: Virtually on Zoom
• Towns: Chester, Clinton, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Lyme, Essex, Groton, Guilford, Haddam, Killingworth, Ledyard, Lyme, Madison, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Preston, Salem, Stonington, Waterford, Westbrook
• Who Should Attend: These meetings are geared towards the mental health professionals supporting our K-12 students. 
• For more information or to join the Team: please email Kiley Young at Youngki@wcsu.edu.
• Please Save the Dates for future RCT Meetings: 2/12/25, 3/12/25, 4/9/25, 5/14/25, and a brief planning meeting in June TBD.

February 28 and March 7 | PREPaRE Workshop 2 (Mental Health Crisis Interventions: Responding to an Acute Traumatic Stressor in Schools, 3rd edition). This 2-day workshop will be presented by PREPaRE Trainers - Kiley Young, LCSW, Kimberly Myers, Ed.D., and Diana Perry, PsyD, LPC. The workshop will be at the UCONN Storrs Campus and is held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST. This training develops the knowledge and skill required to provide immediate mental health crisis interventions to the students, staff, and school community members who have been simultaneously exposed to an acute traumatic stressor. The knowledge and skill developed within this session will help build a bridge to the psychotherapeutic and trauma informed mental health response required to address challenges associated with trauma exposure. This workshop is an excellent course for all mental health professionals in your district who provide mental health crisis intervention services.

Intended Audience: This training is appropriate for any individual filling the role of a crisis intervention specialist. This includes school mental health staff (school psychologists, social workers, counselors, and nurses), administrators, and other individuals whom the team has identified as appropriate providers of psychological first aid. Additionally, this workshop can be very helpful for community-based mental health practitioners who may work with the school crisis team and/or may be brought into the school to assist in response to a crisis. (You do not need to have completed PREPaRE WS1 in order to take WS2).

Pre-Work is Required. Registration Deadline is February 13, 2025, see Flyer below.

Cost: $55 NASP Fee & online processing fees.

Our workshops are offered in collaboration with the Western Connecticut State University’s Department of Social Work and approved for Continuing Education Credit for Connecticut State Licensed Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Psychologists, and Marriage and Family Therapists. The approval meets relicensing criteria for LPCs, LCSWs, LMSWs, LMFTs, and licensed Psychologists in the State of Connecticut.

January 15, 2025 | Enhancing School Safety Using Behavioral Threat Assessment- Hosted by: The US Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC). In this virtual training event, NTAC researchers highlight the key findings and implications from our research on school violence prevention. In this training, you will learn about the background, thinking, and behavior of school attackers and how some schools discovered and stopped plots before violence occurred. This training will provide guidance on how schools may develop or improve existing violence prevention programs utilizing a behavioral threat assessment model. Intended Audience: School teachers, administrators, counsellors, mental health professionals, school resource officers, law enforcement officers, and other school safety stakeholders. Additional dates include 3/19/25 and 5/21/25.

January 19, 2025 | Recovery and Trauma Work with Adolescents - A Compassionate Relational Approach- Presented in collaboration with CT Clearinghouse, Youth Recovery CT, and NAADC. In this training, you will explore how trauma impacts adolescent development and contributes to addictive behaviors as a coping mechanism, and develop skills to create a supportive and attuned relational environment that fosters trust, emotional regulation and connection with adolescents, and more.

February 7, 2025 | PREPaRE Workshop 1(Comprehensive School Planning: Prevention Through Recovery, 3rd edition). This 1-day workshop will be presented by PREPaRE Trainers - Dr. Paula Gill Lopez and Dr. Tanya Iacono. This workshop will be held at Fairfield University. In this workshop participants will learn how to establish and sustain comprehensive school safety efforts that attend to both physical and psychological safety. The workshop addresses critical components needed to develop, exercise, and evaluate safety and crisis teams and plans and conduct building vulnerability assessments. The model also integrates school personnel and community provider roles in providing school-based crisis preparedness and response activities. Additional topics addressed also include media/social media, communication, reunification, students with special needs, culture, and memorials. After this workshop, participants will be better prepared to improve their school’s climate, student resilience, and crisis response capabilities of school personnel. With updated research and strategies, this workshop makes a clear connection between ongoing crisis prevention, mitigation, protection, response, and recovery.

Intended Audience: This training is appropriate for all school personnel who need to understand how the comprehensive school crisis team is organized and functions. This can include but is not limited to school mental health professionals, administrators, teachers, other pupil services personnel, security officers, school resource officers, front office staff, transportation directors, and before an after school activities coordinators.

Pre-Work is Required. PLEASE REGISTER NOW! If you need any additional information, please contact Linnea May at email Lmay@fairfield.edu.

Cost: $45 NASP Fee.

17th Annual Gangs, Guns & School Violence Prevention Summit (GGSVP25)

There Are No Borders When It Comes to School Safety.

After 16 impactful years of the Gangs & Guns Training Symposium, Safer Schools Together is proud to expand the scope of this event to address broader aspects of school violence prevention. In partnership with Safe and Sound Schools, we will lead the international conversation on school safety, the emerging threats landscape, and proven strategies to address them.

With timely and vital information from internationally recognized speakers and experts, attendees will leave with best practices, innovative programs, tools, resources, and actionable insights.

Key topics include:

• Gang Reduction Through Informed Practice (GRIP®)
• Updates and changes to the current gang landscape, including recent gang case studies and analysis for sustainable case management strategies.
• Taking a community-focused approach to developing response plans for gang-associated behaviors.
• Utilizing Digital Threat Assessment®, Behavioral Threat Assessment®, cyberbullying prevention, and trauma-informed practices in prevention efforts.
• Fostering comprehensive school safety using Safe and Sound Schools’ easy-to-use framework.
• Leveraging leadership and lessons learned from cases of both completed and averted school violence.
• Enhancing emergency preparedness and response.

Dates and location: 

Dates: February 13th and 14th, 2025

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

Safer Schools Together would like to extend a

Special Rate for you to join us

either

In-person in beautiful Vancouver, BC, or Virtually via Zoom

Please click HERE to Register

and use the

Coupon code: ggsvp_2025 at checkout.

February 16-18, 2025 | 8th Annual Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Conference - Largest Gathering of Trauma-Informed Educators - Building Resilience & Improving Children's Outcomes. Hosted by Attachment & Trauma Network (ATN). The Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Georgia. It will also be Virtual February 20-21, 20225. Join the largest gathering of Trauma Informed Educators dedicated to building Trauma-Responsive Schools gathering in Atlanta, GA. Early-bird registration expires Dec. 15th. To Learn More and to register, please click here.

February 19, 2025 | Preventing Mass Attacks in Our Communities- Hosted by: The US Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC). In this virtual training event, NTAC researchers discuss important findings from our research on mass attacks perpetrated in public and semi-public spaces, including businesses, restaurants, bars, retail outlets, houses of worship, schools, open spaces, and more. This training will provide guidance on how communities may develop or improve existing violence prevention programs utilizing a behavioral threat assessment model.

Intended Audience: Law enforcement, corporate security, mental health professionals, faith-based community leaders, university faculty, threat assessment team members, and other community safety stakeholders. Additional dates include 4/16/25 and 6/18/25.

ALICE Training is a program that teaches proactive options-based strategies that empower individuals to participate in their own survival in the face of violence.

ALICE Training is supported by published research, more than 4,200 law enforcement agencies around the country and complies with the standard of care recommended by the Federal Department of Education for schools, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Visit alicetraining.com to learn more. The 2-day course prepares you to teach others to be proactive and increase the survivability of individuals who encounter acts of violence. Upcoming Training dates are listed below.

• February 17 &18, 2025 | ALICE Active Shooter Response Certification Training. ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Training is the leading program for response to violent critical incidents. This 2-Day Instructor training course is designed to teach particpants the skills and strategies to increase survivability during the gap between the time a violent event occurs, and law enforcement arrives. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be a Certified ALICE Instructor and you will have the knowledege and resources to train others in your community. This course will take place in OXFORD, CT. To Learn More and to register, please click here.

• March 19 & 20, 2025 | ALICE Active Shooter Response Certification Training. ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Training is the leading program for response to violent critical incidents. This 2-Day Instructor training course is designed to teach participants the skills and strategies to increase survivability during the gap between the time a violent event occurs, and law enforcement arrives. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be a Certified ALICE Instructor and you will have the knowledge and resources to train others in your community. This course will take place in HAMDEN, CT. Please see flyer below. To Learn More and to register, please click here. Few spots remaining!

• April 28 & 29, 2025 | ALICE Active Shooter Response Certification Training - Hosted by the Torrington Police Department. ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Training is the leading program for response to violent critical incidents. This certification is a 2-day train the trainer class on civilian, active shooter response options to enable you to empower others to survive violence. Attendees will range from law enforcement, local school officials, and area businesses leaders. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be a Certified ALICE Instructor and will have the knowledge and resources to train others in your community. This course will be held at the Litchfield County Regional Fire School. To Learn More and to register, please click here.

To learn more about the NASW-CT's 38th Annual Conference, please click HERE.

Additional Training

Incident Command System (ICS) in Schools - An Overview of ICS for Connecticut School Systems -Sponsored by the State of CT Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security. This program is designed to introduce you or re-introduce the concepts of ICS and how they apply to school systems in Connecticut. The program will also cover several resources available to schools. The course is generally delivered as a 2-hour in person program. Please see Flyer for more information. If you have any questions, please contact DEMHS Training Points of Contact: Michael Paradis, Trainer, email: Michael.Paradis@CT.Gov.

The Threat Evaluation and Reporting Overview (TERO) is a three-hour introductory training focusing on a behavioral approach to violence prevention. The TERO raises awareness about the risk factors, triggers and stressors, and warning behaviors that could impact a person's decision to commit an act of targeted violence. Further, it outlines the mitigating factors that could help prevent acts of targeted violence, while emphasizing the importance of community involvement in seeking help for individuals, and respecting their privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. If you have any questions, please contact DEMHS Training Points of Contact: DEMHS.TrainingandExercise@CT.Gov.

The Basic Threat Evaluation and Reporting Course (B-TERC) is a one-day training that teaches participants how to assist in preventing acts of targeted violence, such, but not limited to, terrorism, school shootings, or mass attacks in public spaces, by identifying those threats or observable behaviors that may indicate the potential for violence. Participants are equipped with the tools to identify and report threats or observable behaviors that may concern others, as well as recognize intervention strategies to move individuals off a pathway to violence. If you have any questions, please contact DEMHS Training Points of Contact: DEMHS.TrainingandExercise@CT.Gov.

The Threat Evaluation and Reporting Course (TERC) is a three-day course that will teach participants how to apply Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) best practices to assist in preventing acts of targeted violence, such as, but not limited to, terrorism, school shootings, or mass attacks in public spaces, by identifying those threats or observable behaviors that may indicate the potential for violence. The TERC teaches students to utilize a four-step BTAM model to identify, investigate, assess, and manage individuals who display threats or observable behaviors that may concern others. If you have any questions, please contact DEMHS Training Points of Contact: DEMMHS.TrainingandExercise@CT.Gov.

Two important new eLearning courses have been added to the training portal of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Policing Services (COPS Office). Like all of the more than 50 courses available on the COPS Training Portal, they are free of charge and developed by subject matter experts in the law enforcement field.

• Vehicular Pursuit Management: Balancing Risks and Enhancing Safety explores the decision-making challenges that police chiefs, sheriffs, and other law enforcement professionals face regarding vehicular pursuits: setting pursuit policies, managing the risks associated with them, and choosing alternatives that can shorten or eliminate the need for a vehicular pursuit.



• Pathways to Resiliency: Community Policing and Countering Violent Extremism highlights community-based efforts to address the threat of violent extremism and targeted violence through partnerships, problem solving, and community policing strategies. Developed by the National Center for Policing Innovation (NCPI) to provide local, state, and tribal law enforcement personnel with practical guidance and important insights into this critical public safety issue, the course features video case studies of agencies and organizations which have effectively used community policing to counter the threat of violent extremism and build community resiliency.

New School Safety-Related Grants have recently been added to the Grants Finder Tool on SchoolSafety.gov. See list below:

Nonprofit Security Grant Program - National Security Supplemental (NSGP-NSS) (Deadline: January 24, 2025)

Provides funding support for facility hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist or other extremist attack. The intent is to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. All NSGP-NSS activities must be linked to enhancing the security and safety at the physical site of the nonprofit organization.

Project School Emergency Response to Violence - Ongoing

Provides funding to short-term education-related services for local educational agencies and institutions of higher education to help them recover from a violent or traumatic event in which the learning environment has been disrupted.

Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) (Deadline: March 18, 2025)

Provides funding to federally recognized tribes and tribal consortia to improve public safety and victim services in tribal communities. Purpose areas of this combined solicitation may allow for eligible school safety expenses including the hiring of School Resource Officers (SROs) and the development of, or to enhance existing, school-involved Youth Healing to Wellness Courts. Please note: Federally recognized tribes are the only entities eligible to apply for CTAS on behalf of subapplicants. Schools and school systems are encouraged to work with federally recognized tribes on the application regarding proposed school safety efforts.

To access additional information on these grants as well as find a full list of funding opportunities with upcoming application deadlines, please here. You can also navigate the Grants Finder Tool’s various features to search for additional grants related to school safety. For more information, please contact SchoolSafety@hq.dhs.gov.

Resources from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Recordings from the 2024 Summit are now available on CISA's YouTube channel. All recordings can be accessed under the “2024 National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security” playlist and include the subject matter expert topic overviews, keynote addresses and panel discussions from the event. The full playlist can be accessed at 2024 National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security - YouTube.

To learn more about and access the agenda from this year’s event, please visit CISA.gov. 

• Navigating Deep Fake Nudes: A Guide To Talking To Your Child About Digital Safety: Download Guide Here 
• NetSmartz, Teen Videos in Spanish: Download Here
• Empower Yourself to Protect Your Kids Online with "The Platforms Cheat Sheet for Parents": Get Free Guide
• Stamford police warn of new sextortion email scam: Read More
• Face the Facts: Protecting kids from toxic content on social media platforms: Listen Here
• Instagram introduces "teen accounts', other sweeping changes to boost child safety online: Read More
• Can Instagram's new 'Teen Accounts' help improve youth mental health? Experts weigh in: Read More

The REMS TA Center created a number of new resources for institutions of higher education (IHEs), particularly for emergency managers, administrators, faculty and staff who have a role or responsibility in safety and emergency management planning. The most notable of these resources is the synchronous training opportunity, Reunification Planning for Institutions of Higher Education: Family and Friends Center and Family Assistance Center Live and Virtual Trainings by Request. IHEs can request the REMS TA Center deliver this training to their site at no cost on how to develop a Family and Friends Center, Reunification Annex in the EOP, and Family Assistance Center. In 2024, the REMS TA Center also developed training materials of the topic of Planning for Reunification for Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), which may be used by teams to deliver a 90-minute training session or for independent study.

In response to an emerging need, the REMS TA Center created a NEW fact sheet, Planning for Demonstrations, Protests, and Civil Unrest on Higher Ed Campuses. This fact sheet provides information on protests and demonstrations at IHEs, the importance of protecting student voices while maintaining safety, considerations for campus safety leaders and partners, and emergency management planning to develop a Protest/Civil Unrest Annex.

To Learn more about REMS and access additional resources or training, please click here.

Beyond Compliance School Reunification Workshop presented by Dr. Daniel Rector, DM, CES

December 5, 2024

Strong Cities - Stamford Workshop Stamford, CT

December 9, 2024

The City of Stamford is working with Strong Cities – a global network of 250+ cities dedicated to addressing hate, extremism, and polarization – on an exciting initiative to prevent and respond to these challenges in the Stamford community. A workshop was held on December 9, 2024.

CONTRIBUTE to our NEWSLETTER

If you have content such as meetings, trainings, resources, and/or research to include in the next issue of our newsletter, please email Mary Pupazzoni at Pupazzonim@wcsu.edu no later than the 15th of the month prior.