Title IV Safety & Security Updates
May 2021
Region 17 Title IV School Safety
Email: bmccutcheon@esc17.net
Location: 1111 West Loop 289, Lubbock, TX, USA
Phone: 806-281-5875
TxSSC Youth Safety Summit
The registration application deadline is Friday, May 14th. Each participant will be notified by Friday, May 28th of the status of their registration application.
Register here: https://txssc.txstate.edu/events/youth-safety/
Finding the Spark: Inspiring Authentic Connections in Our Communities
Save the date for the 2021 Texas System of Care and Community Resource Coordination Group Conference!
When? July 27-29, 2021
Where? Zoom Meeting Platform
Parents and Gun Safety: KEEP 'EM SAFE, TEXAS
Practicing safe gun storage protects our kids, prevents accidents, and keeps our guns out of the hands of criminals. The Texas Department of Public Safety, through its awareness campaign, KEEP ’EM SAFE, TEXAS, provides posters, flyers, and videos to help educate parents about how to safely store firearms.
Visit the KEEP ’EM SAFE, TEXAS website to download materials in English and Spanish to share with parents and your community. Help spread the word about safe gun storage and keep fellow Texans safe.
Scholarships for HS Students with Families on the Frontline
School Health Survey
The annual School Health Survey is available for school district and open-enrollment charter school completion through May 28, 2021.
Use this link to access the TAA from January 7th. School Health Survey
2021 Texas School Safety Center - Virtual Conference
Save the date for the 2021 Virtual Texas School Safety Conference on June 29-30, 2021.
Themed Texas Strong: Resiliency Through Change, the conference will bring together educators, administrators, school-based law enforcement, and emergency managers to collaborate, network, and learn from each other.
Registration Information:
Conference Dates: June 29-30, 2021
Registration: $100
The TxSSC will provide Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit hours.
Updates from TEA
To the Administrator Addressed Correspondence
- April 1 | Safe and Supportive Schools Program (SSSP) Updates
- April 8 | Federal Grant Pre-award Waiver Under Texas’ Ed-Flex Authority
TEA CCMR Student Supports
https://tea.texas.gov/academics/college-career-and-military-prep/student-supports
TEA COVID School Counseling Resources
Deadlines and Due Dates
Safety Audits
Public schools should conduct a safety audit of facilities from September 2020 - August 2023.
Charter Schools should conduct a safety audit from September 2019 - August 2021.
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.
Public schools expected deadline is August 2023.
Charter Schools expected deadline is August 2022.
Threat Assessment/SSSP
Districts should collect and maintain SSSP team information and data for the 2020-2021 school year for activities that occurred from September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021.
TEA will send a Qualtrics survey requesting information to Superintendents in November 2021.
For the latest information on data collection see April 1 | Safe and Supportive Schools Program (SSSP) Updates
Emergency Operation Plans and Annexes
EOPs and Annexes can be requested at any time by Texas School Safety Center.
Legislative Updates
School Safety Related Bills to Watch
Disclaimer: this is not an exhaustive list of all school safety related proposed bills.
Looking for a Particular Topic?
Legiscan is a great tool that's ideal for tracking bills, letting you see when bills were introduced, as well as their current status.
Top Questions to the State Initiative
They plan to update frequently, so please check back often for updated content.
Training Opportunities
Region 17 ESC Trainings
Standard Response Protocol Training - Virtual Training
Register here: https://txr17.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=800542
Standard Reunification Method Training - Virtual Training
Register here: https://txr17.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=800554
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach teachers and school staff how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people.
SEL and Comprehensive School Counseling: They are Better Together - 05/17/2021
Register here:
https://txr17.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=796508
Mental Health and Behavioral Health Symposium - 06/17 through 06/18/2021
Register here:
https://txr17.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=789757
Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Webinar Series
- May 14 - Prevention Programs/Training - Crime Stoppers
- June 4 - HT Resources and Reminders
Register at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtdeqsrDwvE9IIZp0UTgZM1NxhnylE73p6?_x_zm_rtaid=p9TodvjuRnaf___o6QNXfA.1604939603966.ce0c015a92d7bc8233cc1620cbdcb2eb&_x_zm_rhtaid=870
Texas School Safety Training Events
New Courses Coming Soon to the TxSSC School Safety Learning Portal
Have you created your free account in TxSSC’s School Safety Learning Portal? This online education platform brings our trainings to a wider audience and enables participants to learn at their own pace. The self-paced, on-demand courses introduce key school safety topics and complement our toolkits and live trainings. All courses are free, and participants will receive certificates verifying the successful completion of each course.
This spring we plan to add two new video courses—Emergency Operations Plan Development: The Basic Plan and Introduction to Safety and Security Audits—to our existing course offerings in the portal. Create your free account today to receive notification of the new course offerings when they are available.
Introduction to School Safety and Security Audits Course
Texas Education Code 37.108 requires that school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and junior college districts conduct safety and security audits of their facilities at least once every three years. This self-paced, on-demand course found in the TxSSC School Safety Learning Portal will introduce participants to the audit process.
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Through a series of videos, participants will learn how to assemble and train an interdisciplinary audit team, implement the steps in the safety and security audit process, and report results to the district’s board of trustees and the TxSSC. Safety and security audits provide comprehensive assessments to identify areas in need of improvement and to update the district's multi-hazard emergency operations plan and are a critical component of developing and maintaining safety and security in schools.
ADVANCED Digital Threat Training
The Advanced Digital Threat Assessment Training will build and expand significantly on the skills gained in the Basic Digital Threat Assessment training. Participants will leave with a concrete understanding of how to find and curate relevant digital information as is typically represented in a real-life digital threat assessment data gathering scenario. Major engagement and hands-on practice will take place as participants are assembled into investigative teams and given mock real-life scenarios. This training is designed for individuals who serve on the Safe and Supportive School Program Team and conduct threat assessments.
The Texas School Safety Center, in collaboration with Safer Schools Together (SST), will be offering this one-day Advanced Digital Threat Assessment training at no cost.https://txssc.txstate.edu/events/adv-dta-trainings/
Register here:
ADVANCED School Behavioral Threat Assessment Training
The Advanced School Behavioral Threat Assessment Training leads participants through multiple tabletop exercises on different fact patterns, providing participants the opportunity to handle threat cases from start to finish, iron out their roles and responsibilities, and hone their procedures and decision-making, all with continuous trainer feedback. In addition to multiple tabletop exercises advanced training also includes common problems and solutions in implementing school threat assessment programs. This training is designed for individuals who serve on the Safe and Supportive School Program Team and conduct behavioral threat assessments. Please note, this training is NOT mandated by the State of Texas for threat assessment team members, however, it is intended to enhance threat assessment knowledge and skills.
The Texas School Safety Center, in collaboration with SIGMA Threat Management, will be offering this one-day Advanced School Behavioral Threat Assessment Training at no cost.
Register here: https://txssc.txstate.edu/events/adv-sbta-trainings/
School-Based Law Enforcement Training
The SBLE Trainings are FREE and cover the core topics relevant to SBLE Officers and support the mission to serve schools and communities towards creating safe, secure, and healthy learning environments for all. School-Based Law Enforcement demands high standards, full commitment, and ongoing training in a variety of critical topics. TCOLE 4064 is still virtual but TCOLE 41501, 41502, and TCOLE 41504 are in-person trainings.
Sign up at: https://txssc.txstate.edu/events/sble-trainings/
Sandy Hook Promise Say Something Training
Sandy Hook Promise is partnering with the Texas School Safety Center to bring Say Something, the proven violence prevention program, to middle and high schools in Texas. Say Something is a no-cost, easy-to-implement, and life-saving program that will help school personnel and/or school-based law enforcement teach students how to recognize warning signs of potential violence or self-harm and act immediately to intervene
The workshop will take 2.5 hours with a wide range of activities and resources to ensure training integration within the school culture, supported by student-led SAVE Promise Clubs.
Use this link to register: https://txssc.txstate.edu/events/shp-trainings/
School Behavioral Threat Assessment Training
With the passage of Senate Bill 11, Texas now joins the short list of states in our country to legislatively mandate the implementation of threat assessment teams in its Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. Threat Assessment provides a proactive, evidence-based approach for identifying individuals who may pose a threat and for providing interventions before a violent incident occurs.
The board of trustees of each school district is now required to establish a threat assessment team to serve at each campus of the district. The Board must also adopt policies and procedures for the teams that are consistent with the model policies and procedures developed by the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC). In addition, each team is required to complete training provided by the TxSSC or a Regional Education Service Center.
For more information and register for this training use this link: https://txssc.txstate.edu/events/sbta-trainings/
Digital Threat Assessment Training
Digital Threat Assessment was developed through the need to keep pace with the ever-evolving technology challenges that face our students currently. Successful violence threat risk assessment can only occur if we have a solid understanding of all data needed to appropriately assess an individuals’ potential for violence. An overall assessment of risk cannot be determined without looking at social media and online activity. It is imperative to understand the tools and methods available to identify online threat related behavior.
Real life case examples will be used from subject matter expert work across North America and a significant portion of the day will be spent conducting hands-on searching exercises through the most current social media sites and applications.
National Center for School Safety | Training Opportunities
Instructional Videos:
Self-Paced Training:
On-Demand Webinars:
Resources
Suicide Prevention Resources
- S-Word Documentary
- How to Talk to Children about Suicide - An Age-by-Age Guide
- How School Leaders Shift Suicide Prevention to the Virtual World
- COVID Guidance: Screening for Suicide Risk during Telehealth Visit
- National Suicide Hotline Designation Act Signed into Law
- Preventing Suicide: The Role of High School Mental Health Providers
School Safety and Mental Health
- Suicide Prevention
- Early Mental Health Intervention
- Mental Health Promotion
- Substance Abuse Prevention
- Substance Abuse Intervention
- Trauma-Informed & Grief Informed Practices
- Social/Emotional Skills
- Positive Behavior Interventions
- Child Abuse Prevention
- Human Trafficking
- School Safety
- Mental Health and Behavioral Health
- Safe and Supportive School Climate
- Counseling and Mental Health Services of the Coordinated School Health Model
- Health, Safety, & Discipline