MODELS AND TRAINING
SALEM-KEIZER CASCADE
Description: The Salem-Keizer Student Threat Assessment Safety System is a set of assessment protocols and safety planning procedures overseen and administered by a unique collaborative team comprised of schools, law enforcement, public mental health, the judiciary and juvenile corrections to promote safe school environments. The primary goal is to provide an immediate and systematic response to youth who pose a threat to commit violence to others. The process is a three-level system that includes the different perspectives of a school site-based multi-disciplinary team.
Creator: John Van Dreal
Components:
- Combination of structured and open-ended questions
- Focuses on collaboration throughout the school community
- Derived from practice within a school setting
CSTAG
Description: The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), originally known as the Virginia Student Threat Assessment Guidelines, is an evidence-base model for schools to use in conducting threat assessments in K-12 schools. This model was developed by Dr. Dewey Cornell and colleagues at the University of Virginia in 2001 and has been extensively examined through field tests and controlled studies that demonstrate its utility and effectiveness. CSTAG has been widely adopted by schools in Virginia and nationwide, and was recognized as an evidence-based program by the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices in 2013.
Creator: Dewey G. Cornell, Ph.D.
Components:
- Emphasized early attention to problems such as bullying, teasing, and other forms of student conflict before they escalate into violent behavior
- School staff members are encouraged to adopt a flexible, problem-solving approach, as distinguished with from a more punitive, zero tolerance approach to student misbehavior
- Uses a 5-step structured process and decision tree
- Evidence-based and peer reviewed
BTAM
Description: Behavior Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) is a multidisciplinary, fact-based, systematic process designed to identify, assess, and manage potentially dangerous or violent situations. The purpose of the BTAM team is to identify, evaluate, and address potential threats to help schools distinguish between incidents where a student made a threat that is not actually legitimate (with no intent to harm) and other incidents in which the student does pose an actual threat of targeted violence. In all cases, the goal is to pair the student with proper school and community-base intervention and supports. The systematic and proper implementation of BTAM helps avoid impulsive and potentially harmful decisions that can lead to over management (i.e., unnecessary suspension and expulsion) and requires teams to take into account the context and disability rather than using a zero-tolerance approach.
Creator: Department of Homeland Security, National Threat and Evaluation Reporting (NTER) Office
DIGITAL THREAT ASSESSMENT
Description: Digital Threat Assessment® teaches participants to establish a Digital Behavioral Baseline through a Safety / Threat Assessment lens. By engaging with popular social media applications, you will learn how to find document worrisome digital media content originating from your community. This training solidifies your understanding of how to effectively use DTA® as a critical part of any modern-day Threat Assessment.
Creator: Safer Schools Together
Interested in requesting a training? Please fill out the Training Request Form.
UPCOMING EVENTS
No upcoming events.
This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, opportunity number DHS-22-TTP-132-00-01.