T4PA School Safety State Initiative
Updates for LEAs — September 8, 2021
September is National Suicide Prevention Month
September is National Suicide Prevention Month and National Suicide Prevention Week is this week, from September 5th to 11th. While mental health and suicide awareness is important year-round, for the month of September, we encourage you to promote suicide prevention and education with your networks. DFPS and Texas Health and Human Services, has put together this toolkit with social media posts, resources, and graphics to help raise awareness about the importance of mental health and suicide prevention. These messages and links can be used as is, or they can be customized in any way that works best for your community by directing to your prevention program’s information. Keep an eye on the Get Parenting Tips Facebook and Instagram feeds as well for more social media updates.
Dates to Remember:
- Sept 5-11: #NationalSuicidePreventionWeek
https://afsp.org/national-suicide-prevention-week
This toolkit is also available online at:
TIVA State Initiative Upcoming Meeting Dates
TEA/TIVA Human Trafficking Webinar Series
- October 1; December 3, 2021; January 7; March 4, 2022 @ 10 am
- Zoom Link
- October 26, 2021: Pre-Conference (additional $75)
- October 27-29, 2021: Main Conference - www.acetx.org
Child Abuse & Human Trafficking Prevention
TEA/TIVA Human Trafficking Webinar Series
- Next upcoming meeting: October 1, 2021 at 10:00am
- Upcoming dates
- Zoom link
Office of the Texas Governor / Child Sex Trafficking Team
- R.E.A.L Friends Don't online safety campaign - empowers parents and caregivers to protect their children from harmful content, grooming, or online exploitation
- Monthly Webinar Series - September 9, 2021 from 1-2 pm.
Tools & Resources
- Hundreds of stakeholders are screening high-risk youth for trafficking and exploitation using the CSE-IT tool
- Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth (CSEY) programs
- Social Media Safety for Teens
- Gaming Safety
- Student Project Kit
- Tips for Tweens
- Peer Education and Mentoring Kit
Legislative Updates
- SB 2158 DNA Kits - Requires TEA to provide in-home DNA identification kits to all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools, to be distributed by the LEA to the parent/ legal guardian (upon request) for Kindergarteners to middle school students. The DNA kits allow families to work closely with law enforcement and appropriate officials to locate their child if the child becomes missing or their whereabouts are unknown.
- SB 1831 Signage Requirements - Requires all public and private schools to post warning signs about offenses and penalties relating to human trafficking of minors on and around school premises. TEA and the Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force will work together to develop rules pertaining to the warning signs information, placement, and distribution of posters that will be used for this purpose. TEA will provide further guidance at a future date; at this time districts are not required to do anything until the rules are in effect.
Mental Health Matters
ABC Summit - Advancing Student Wellness & Resiliency in TX Schools (TEA/partners)
- 10:00am - 1:00pm each Thursday in September
- Free Registration: http://bit.ly/ABCSummit21
- Participation is encouraged for professionals working in education service centers, local education agencies, state agencies, and community organizations who desire to support schools, learn from colleagues, and strengthen student mental health in Texas. Please share out this opportunity!
Trauma-Informed Care
- SB 1267, Section 19 amended TEC 38.036, amended Subsections (c) and (d), and is adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
(1) be provided:
(A) through a program selected from the list of recommended best practice-based programs and research-based practices established under Section 38.351;
(B) in accordance with the policy adopted under Section 21.4515; and
(C) as part of any new employee orientation for all new school district educators; and
(2) address how grief and trauma affect student learning and behavior and how evidence-based, grief-informed, and trauma-informed strategies support the academic success of
students affected by grief and trauma
(c-1) The training under Subsection (c) may include two or
more listed topics together.
(d) For any training under Subsection (c), each school district shall maintain records that include the district staff members who participated in the training.
- NCTSN Free Downloadable Guidance: Trauma-Informed School Strategies During COVID-19 and Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators
Suicide Prevention
The Texas Suicide Safer Schools Roadmap is intended to be used as a planning guide for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention by Texas school districts. This Roadmap provides public health information based on best practices for suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. It is recommended that each Element be used in the order presented, to ensure a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention planning.
Legislative Update
- SB 1267 amended TEC 38.351(h). Each school district shall provide training on suicide prevention programs that must include components that provide for training school counselors, teachers, nurses, administrators, and other staff, as well as law enforcement officers and social workers who regularly interact with students, to: recognize students at risk of attempting suicide, including students who are or may be the victims of or who engage in bullying; recognize students displaying early warning signs and a possible need for early mental health or substance abuse intervention, which warning signs may include declining academic performance, depression, anxiety, isolation, unexplained changes in sleep or eating habits, and destructive behavior toward self and others; intervene effectively with students by providing notice and referral to a parent or guardian so appropriate action, such as seeking mental health or substance abuse services, may be taken by a parent or guardian; and assist students in returning to school following treatment of a mental health concern or suicide attempt. Districts shall provide the training for teachers, school counselors, principals, and all other appropriate personnel. A school district must provide the training at an elementary school campus only to the extent that sufficient funding and programs are available. If a school district provides the training, the school district shall: require completion of the training in accordance with the policy adopted under Section 21.4515 and maintain records that include the district employees who participated in the training.
Seize the Awkward recently released four new videos containing powerful advice for teens and young adults on mental health. Each video features expert advice on practical tips on supporting a friend who may be struggling with their mental health.
- Learn the Signs (https://youtu.be/3jCCxsvYjA4)
- Have the Conversation (https://youtu.be/8evtuxohDvU)
- Tips for Better Conversations (https://youtu.be/gX0cQBL_RzU)
- Conversation Starters (https://youtu.be/H-Q6ieH_Z08)
Other School Safety Topics
Required Training
TASB School District Training Chart August 2021
Behavioral Threat Assessment
Prevention is the best form of protection. The Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) publishes research and guidance to inform the best practices in implementing proactive targeted violence prevention programs in schools, including:
- Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model: An Operational Guide for Preventing Targeted School Violence
- Protecting America’s Schools: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Targeted School Violence
- Averting Targeted School Violence: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Plots Against Schools
When conducted properly, a threat assessment will involve providing robust interventions and support for students experiencing distress, thereby intervening with and de-escalating situations before they become violent. The primary objective of a student threat assessment is to provide a student with help while working to ensure positive outcomes for the student and the community.
TITLE IX
SHAC Committee
- HB 1525, Section 7 – Amends Section TEC 28.004
- HB 1927, The Firearm Carry Act, effective September 1, 2021, allows unlicensed individuals to carry a firearm. As with concealed and open carry handgun laws, a school district can prohibit individuals from bringing a firearm onto the premises and other locations specified by state law. Notice is now required for the successful prosecution of an individual who enters district premises with a firearm. The text of the poster, as prescribed in Texas Penal Code §30.05, must be displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public, in English and Spanish, and in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height. TASB has designed a poster to be a companion to their Handguns Prohibited notices. Districts can access their TASB site for a copy.
- SAMHSA releases 15 new PSAs that encourage parents and educators to talk to their children/students about alcohol and other substances. Free downloads.
Legislative Updates
- HB 1525 - COVID-19 funded recovery activities - provides opportunities for LEAs to integrate personal and mental health supports into innovations. (1) New Resource Campus designation for certain schools that includes personal, social, emotional supports and hiring of a licensed counselor or mental health professional in the staffing pattern to address student support needs. (2) New PEIMS data elements for collecting information on truancy prevention measures, attendance truancy court filings, and the offering of high school equivalency programs, dropout recovery programs and adult education programs (3)Additional language to the school safety allotment on allowable expenditures for mental health personnel and interventions such as restorative practices in schools.
Back to School Tips (in English and Spanish) from Crime Stoppers of Houston
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VdiwXj9lAZVUMq2cIAoh17O4boHGMB-e/view?usp=sharing
Texas School Safety Center
- School Behavioral Threat Assessment: Virtual
- Digital Threat Assessment Training: In-Person
- SRP/SRM Train-the Trainer: In-Person and Virtual - this training has had recent updates
Upcoming Deadlines & Due Dates
Threat Assessment/SSSP
- Data Collection - November 2021- TEA will send a Qualtrics survey to Superintendents on data collected September 1, 2020 - August 31, 2021. See proposed data collection here.
- Required training for ALL SSSP Team members: Virtual TxSSC Threat Assessment Training or check with your ESC about in-person training.
- Recommended Digital Threat Assessment training for SSSP Team members offered virtually.
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
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.
TEA & Federal Programs Updates/Resources
School Counselors
- Pandemic Mental Health Support / School Counseling Interventions at Each Tier (Stephanie Lerner) PowerPoint Deck
Title IV Frequently Asked Questions Document - Updated
TEA Federal Program Compliance Website - Updated
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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