2020-21 Threat Assessment Update
Procedural Updates, Forms and Documentation Instructions
New!! Threat Assessment Office Hours
Dr. Robison, Supervisor of Threat Assessment, and Ms. Gubitosa, Mental Health Specialist, are hosting weekly office hours to provide the opportunity for team members to ask questions, share experiences and learn from others as we implement the TA process (both threat to self and threat to others) during the 2020-21 school year. Each session will focus on a different aspect of the threat assessment process and will include open forum time for participants to ask questions or get feedback on any relevant topic. Some sessions will focus on working through scenario-based cases from initial referral through to case management.
Course: 33092 Threat Assessment Office Hours
Section: 106728: Suicide Prevention in the Virtual Learning Environment 10/2 12:00-1:30
Section: 106729: Information Sharing in the Threat Assessment/ Management Process (co-facilitated with Ms. Cheryl Tibbs) 10/5 12:00-1:30
Section: 106730: Threat to Self or Others: Scenerio-based exercises. 10/12 12:00-1:30
PWCS Threat Assessment Process and associated forms
Potential Threat to Self or Others is Reported
Reportable Behaviors - PPT slides used in training for school use as appropriate to inform staff of behaviors that should be reported to administration / threat assessment team.
Initial Inquiry (threat to self)
School mental health professional interviews student and conducts the C-SSRS. Informs parent and makes recommendations based on the outcome of the C-SSRS. Administrator and mental health professional document the outcome of the C-SSRS and parent contact using the Triage form (see link below). Moderate or High concern cases will require gathering additional information and the development of a Behavioral Monitoring Plan (see link below).
Initial Inquiry (threat to others)
Initial interviews are conducted by the administrator and/or other team members using the documents below.
Interview with individual who reported the threat and witnesses.
Interview with the subject of concern.
Triage
Information from the initial interviews is considered, along with other readily available information, by the administrator and a school mental health professional and the Triage form is completed.
Triage FormUsed for both threat to self and threat to others. Completed by Administrator and school mental health professional. For threats to others, the triage process will determine if threat is transient, or easily addressed and clearly a low level of concern, and those that are substantive and require additional information in order to more fully understand the situation of concern and determine strategies to mitigate risk.
Once completed, the form is printed, signed and a copy is provided to the parent and placed in the student record - threat to self is filed in the Cat 1 and threat to others is filed in the Discipline file.
Outcome of Triage, for either threat to self or others, is documented in the HUB (described below) and the Triage form and any associated information (interviews, statements, screenshots, Columbia, etc.) are submitted to the Office of Student Services via email (STSV-threatassessment@pwcs.edu).
Used when a student is referred for a community-based risk assessment (for either harm to self or harm to others). Submitted to Office of Student Services via email (see above).
Used for intervention planning when student returns from a risk referral. Information discussed is included in Behavior Monitoring Plan (see link below).
Used to secure permission to exchange information with non-PWCS entities or individuals.
Full Inquiry by Threat Assessment Team
Additional information about the subject of concern, the setting, risk and protective factors and the target is gathered by the Full Team.
Teacher Questionnaire - can be conducted in-person or sent to teachers via email.
In-depth student interview conducted by the school psychologist or school social worker.
Parent interview conducted by the school psychologist or school social worker.
Assessing Level of Concern
Completed when the recommendation from Triage is to initiate a full threat assessment inquiry (threat to others). It documents information gathered to assess level of concern and decision-making relative to the potential threat of targeted violence.
Intervention and Monitoring
Completed when the outcome of a threat assessment - either threat to self or threat to others - is determined to be moderate or high. If a student is referred for a community-based mental health assessment, it is completed at the same time as the re-entry meeting is held. The form is maintained by the Case Manager and updated at each follow-up meeting until case is closed. A copy is submitted to the Office of Student Services via email (see link above) when Plan is initiated and when case is closed. A hard copy is maintained in the Category 2 file.
Contact the Supervisor of Threat Assessment
- When Triage has determined a substantive threat to others.
- When conducting a threat assessment that involves a student at another school to assist with information sharing, etc.
- When the student transfers in from another district with a recent history of a threat assessment to support safety planning.
- When the risk is suspected or determined as being high - weapons, specific detailed threat, history of threats, mental health concerns to support safety planning and next steps.
- When the student will be referred to OSMAP as a result of the behavior that initiated the threat assessment.
- For consultation on specific students/ situations.
Site-Based Administrative Point of Contact
Continuing this year, each school will have a designated administrator to serve as the Point-of-Contact for the Supervisor of Threat Assessment. At the elementary level, this is typically the school principal. At the middle and high school levels, it is an administrator designated by the principal. In schools where there are multiple assistant principals, the principal may choose to have each administrator take the lead for threat assessments that occur within their "Alpha"; but the Administrative Point of Contact will serve as a resource to ensure consistency of implementation of the process through communication and collaboration across school teams.
Threat Assessment Training 2020-21
Courses are now available in the Professional Learning Course Catalog. Additional sessions will be added as needed.
32644 Behavioral Threat Assessment - Basic (Formally STU 720)
This training is required for all new administrators, school counselors, school social workers and school psychologists as well as other school professionals who may serve on a school threat assessment team. Participants will become familiar with the legal basis for threat assessment in Virginia public schools; understand the core concepts and principles of behavioral threat assessment; learn the PWCS threat assessment process; and understand their role in preventing targeted school violence.
3 credits
32645 Threat Assessment Update for Administrators
Required for administrators. This is an advanced training and participants are expected to have completed Behavioral Threat Assessment - Basic (formally STU 720) prior. Participants will review data related to threat assessment activities, address procedural changes, and practice skills using scenario-based learning activities.
32646 Threat Assessment Update
Required for school counselors, school social workers and school psychologists as well as other school professionals who may serve on a school threat assessment team. This is an advanced training and participants are expected to have completed Behavioral Threat Assessment - Basic (formally STU 720) prior. Participants will review data related to threat assessment activities, address procedural changes, and practice skills using scenario-based learning activities.
32653 Suicide Prevention for School Mental Health Professionals
This training is required for all school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists and school nurses who may be called upon to assess the risk of suicide. Participants will learn how to administer the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and understand the PWCS protocol for identifying, assessing and managing students who present with risk for suicide which has been revised for the 2020-21 school year.
Quarterly Team Meetings
Meeting on a regular basis, not just to assess a student or situation of concern, is a critical component of a comprehensive targeted violence prevention plan and is required by school board regulation. Meeting on a pre-planned, regular basis provides the team the opportunity to review students of concern, discuss team process issues, reflect on threat assessment completed cases to identify areas for growth and to ensure consistent understanding and implementation of the PWCS threat assessment process. The meeting should be lead by the school's administrative point of contact with participation from all team members. The Supervisor of Threat Assessment will work collaboratively with the administrative points of contact across the Division to provide content, support meetings and facilitate scenerio-based table top activities.