T4PA School Safety State Initiative
Updates for School Districts — December 2021
Child Abuse & Human Trafficking Prevention
- Next upcoming meeting: December 3, 2021 at 10:30am
- Flyer with Dates
- Zoom link (same as above)
National Advocacy Leadership Center - Sex Trafficking Advanced Victim Assistance Training
- Each Tuesday, from January 11, 2022 through February 22, 2022
- 12:00pm-3:00pm (EST)
- Register Now!
GRACE - Governor's Response Against Child Exploitation
GRACE is a faith-based initiative which works together with communities of faith throughout Texas to improve awareness, service capacity, and prevention efforts. This program further complements the statewide Network of Nurture to meet the needs of both children and their families.
Mental Health / Behavioral Health
Parenting Guide on Preventing and Healing ACEs
This guide, based upon the resources created by Donna Jackson Nakazawa, provides parents with education on ACEs and ways to promote the prevention and healing of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). | Resource Link
HHSC Children's Mental Health Survey
- Needs assessment on children's mental health crisis services
- Need input from multiple stakeholders
- Survey Due January 14
CSTIC Trauma-Informed Newsletter
This newsletter includes links for the PEI Community Toolkit, The Center for Partnership Systems' new website, and "Cultivating Resilience" - a Trauma in School podcast. Resources are also included for three upcoming webinars and events including topics such as Strengthening Families, Addiction in the Family, and Trauma-Informed Peer Supports. | Downloadable Newsletter Link
SAMHSA Mental Health Resources For Schools
To ensure personnel are supported and cared for, school communities must prioritize their self-care, stress management, and well-being. The following resources can be used by school personnel to check in on their wellness, develop a self-care plan, and ensure they are best equipped to support themselves and their students | Bulletin Link
CBITS and SSET Training/Consultation Cohorts
The South Southwest MHTTC is pleased to offer thirty seats each for the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) Training and Consultation Cohort as well as the Support for Students Exposed to Trauma in Schools (SSET) Training and Consultation Cohort.
- January 12-13, 2022 (CBITS) & February 3-4, 2022 (SSET)
- Click HERE for more information and to register
Me & My Emotions - Supporting Teens' Mental Wellness
The Dibble Institute recently unveiled their new online resource geared towards teenagers' social-emotional learning and resilience. The website includes fun and interactive activities, videos, and lessons. | Website Link
Me & My Emotions Webinar
This free webinar will provide participants with an introductory overview of what Me & My Emotions is, as well as who will be benefitted by the website and ways to promote it. Open to educators, facilitators, counselors, group home staff, schools and agencies using ESSER funds, SEL, program managers, and anyone working with teens.
- Wednesday, December 8, 2021 @ 4:00pm (EST)
- For more information and to register, Click Here!
Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health Needs
The U.S. DOE’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services released document designed to provide information and resources to enhance the promotion of mental health and the social and emotional well-being among children and students. The document complements guidance regarding supporting students and returning to school safely, and highlights seven key challenges and recommendations for early childhood and K–12 schools. | PDF Link
Project AWARE Texas
AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) Texas is designed to strengthen community and school-based supports for the mental health and resiliency of students. | Webpage Link
School Mental Health Toolkit
The Texas School Mental Health Practice Guide and Toolkit provides information, considerations, resources, and tools to help LEAs plan and provide a comprehensive school mental health system. This toolkit also provides SSSP support with readiness for interventions and services. | Webpage Link
Supporting Students Exposed to Trauma Training and Learning Cohort
- February 3-4, 2022 | Application Link
The TIER Network
Tiered Interventions Using Evidence-Based Research (TIER) is a statewide technical assistance network funded by The Texas Education Agency (TEA). The TIER network provides comprehensive intervention best practices within MTSS for all stakeholders across Texas.
Trauma-Informed Resources from the CSTIC Work Group
- Brain Activity Patterns After Trauma May Predict Long-Term Mental Health
- Your Number Story
- Virtual Relaxation Room
Crisis Text Line
The Crisis Text Line has officially launched their Spanish service. Text HOLA to 741741.
New Courses Available from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
The NCTSN is pleased to announce that courses on Grief and Loss, Maltreatment and Interpersonal Violence, Schools, and Suicide and Substance Use are now available on the NCTSN Learning Center! These trainings are free through the Learning Center and participants are able to earn 1 CE credit per course. | Learning Center Account Setup and Courses Link
Suicide Prevention
Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative
- Symposium 2022: March 1-3
- TexasSuicidePrevention.org
Talking about Suicide with Friends and Peers
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has released resources to help youth talk about suicide with their friends and peers. They offer tips on having a conversation about suicide and supporting someone who is struggling. | Webpage Link
The Hope Hub
Resources for Suicide Prevention and Intervention is a document released by Texas Health and Human Services that includes State and Federal hotlines, trainings related to suicide awareness and prevention, related websites and apps, links to Evidence-Based Tools, and pertinent information for students.
Supporting and Protecting the Rights of Students at Risk of Self-Harm in the Era of COVID 19
The U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights jointly issued guidance to support students with mental health disabilities and their schools in the era of COVID-19. The guidance underscores the importance of supporting students with mental health disabilities who may be at risk of self-harm and provides information about Federal civil rights laws that protect students with mental health disabilities, including scenarios that illustrate when either Department might investigate whether a violation of those laws has occurred. It also gives schools and postsecondary institutions a list of action steps to create a school environment that is responsive to students with mental health disabilities, and provides educational and crisis resources for students, families, and educators. | Resource Link and The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website
Bullying / Cyberbullying
Government Accountability Office's Updated Bullying Report
SB 2050: Minimum standards for bullying policies
- Requires district bullying policies to address prevention and mediation of bullying incidents and comply with minimum standards adopted by TEA. Local policy revisions will be presented by TASB following the publication of the TEA minimum standards.
School Requirements | Safety Teams | Legislation
SB 9 Dating violence policy and prevention of child abuse, family violence, dating violence, and sex trafficking
- Effective December 2, 2021, SB 9 (Second Special Session) requires updates to your district improvement plan (DIP) regarding dating violence. The dating violence policies in your DIP must include (1) a clear statement that dating violence is not tolerated, (2) procedures on reporting and immediately notifying a parent if a report identifies a student as an alleged victim or perpetrator, and (3) guidelines for students who are victims.
- The bill also requires districts, to the extent possible, to make available to students age-appropriate educational materials on the dangers of dating violence and resources for students seeking help.
- By December 2, 2021 districts should update the materials in their district improvement plan to address these items and must begin providing the parental notifications required by SB 9. In the spring, TASB will recommend a local policy revision to FFH(LOCAL) to clarify existing parental notification provisions
- Effective with the 2022–23 school year, SB 9 requires local boards to adopt a policy establishing a process for adoption of curriculum materials for instruction on child abuse, family violence, dating violence, and sex trafficking. The bill also addresses parental notification and consent on these topics, which will be included in the 2022 Model Student Handbook.
SB 1267 Professional development policy
- SB 1267 (Regular Session) requires, by August 1, 2022, the board to adopt a professional development policy for district personnel guided by an SBEC clearinghouse on continuing education and training requirements. The clearinghouse must include best practices and industry recommendations for the frequency of training and must be published by June 1, 2022. TASB will recommend local policy revisions following the publication of the SBEC clearinghouse.
- Click the picture to learn more!
Other School Safety Topics
After a School Tragedy...Readiness, Response, Recovery, & Resources
- We continue to see acts of violence, suicide, and other tragedies affect many of our school districts. The affects of these incidents extends bar beyond the days events and can appear at any time. This resource developed by the MHTTC Network is designed to help districts, families, and students in the event of a tragedy.
- Resource Document
SB 1267 Professional development policy
- By August 1, 2022, the school board should adopt a professional development policy for district personnel guided by an SBEC clearinghouse. This clearinghouse must include best practices and industry recommendations for the frequency of training and must be published by June 1, 2022. TASB will recommend local policy revisions following the publication of the SBEC clearinghouse.
TASB School District Training Chart
TASB Updates on School Cybersecurity: Texas Requirements
NOVA Campus Advocacy Training
NCAT is a 30-hour advanced training academy focused on building participants’ knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to sexual assault, stalking and interpersonal violence in higher education.
- Wednesdays, from January 5 - February 23, 2022 | 11:00am - 3:00pm (EST)
- Registration Link
Upcoming Deadlines & Due Dates
Threat Assessment/SSSP Reporting
- The SSSP Data Collection survey due date ended November 30. However, districts still can and need to submit the report as required by Texas Education Code (TEC) § 37.115.
- All questions regarding email/links/etc. need to go to Hank Weikert at hank.weikert@tea.texas.gov.
District Audit Reports
- At the end of the Safety Audit process, schools will be required to submit a District Audit Report to Texas School Safety Center.
- August 2023 - Public schools expected deadline.
- August 2022 - Charter schools expected deadline.
Emergency Operation Plans and Annexes can be requested at any time by Texas School Safety Center.
- HB 3597 now allows Texas School Safety Centers to request that schools submit safety-related MOUs and Mutual Aid Agreements.
Safety Audits
- September 2020 - August 2023: Public schools should conduct a safety audit of facilities
- September 2019 - August 2022: Charter schools should conduct a safety audit of facilities
TEA & Title IV, Part A Federal Programs Updates/Resources
Updated Title IV, Part A FAQ Document
New TEA Parent Resources Page
- Features information on accelerated learning and related tutoring supports being provided to all students working to overcome the learning disruptions caused by COVID-19
- Webpage Link
LaNetra Guess, Program Director, Title IV, Part A & TEA
ESC Resources
Previous ESC newsletters
District Resources
Previous LEA Newsletters
Contacts
Nancy Galle, Title IV Part A School Safety Consultant
Amber Guthrie, Intern
Email: rpruitt@esc14.net
Website: https://www.esc14.net/page/t4si
Location: 1850 State Highway 351, Abilene, TX, USA
Phone: 325-675-8600
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