January, 2023
- Deadline has been extended to January 31, 2023.
- SPAT FAQ Smartsheet.
- Due February 8, 2023. For more details see January 5, 2023 TAA Link.
- Due February 10, 2023.
- Good tool to use when completing 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant application.
- TAA Link. | TEAs Safety Website.
- Due no later than 5:00 pm February 10, 2023. T
- The following districts were awarded 2019-2021 School Safety and Security Grant Funds and are required to complete the Program Report.
- Eligible applicants must apply through the eGrants system by 5:00 p.m. Central Time, February 17, 2023.
- January 5, 2023 TAA Link
Annual Reporting
- SSSP Data Collection - June, 2023 - Report SSSP team activities by CAMPUS
- Fitness Assessment deadline - June 9, 2023
- Safety Audits - Public Schools should conduct a safety audit of facilities from September 2020 through August 2023. At the culmination of the Safety Audit process, schools are required to submit a District Audit Report to the Texas School Safety Center.
District Audit Reports - At the culmination of the Safety Audit process, schools are required to submit a District Audit Report to the Texas School Safety Center. The Public School expected deadline is August 2023.
Drill rules became effective - May 17, 2022
- School Health Survey deadline - May 26, 2023
Texas School Safety Center Survey
The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) would appreciate 5 to 10 minutes of your time to gather information about your school safety education and training needs, as well as resource preferences. The survey is open through January 30, 2023.
January - Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Light the Way End Human Trafficking 2023 Lunch and Learn Series
Every Friday and one Wednesday in January, DFPS will host webinars with subject matter experts during the lunch hour (starting at noon) to speak about various human trafficking intersections and topics. Bring your lunch and learn with us!
Friday January 13, 2023
Reducing Elopement in CSEY through Strengths-Based Approaches
Sarah Hall and Erin Argue
Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3343047939852602456
Wednesday January 18, 2023
Faith Based Champions
Panel Members (listed in alphabetical order): Mira Boyda, Bishop James Dixon,
Leigh Kohler, and Vicky Payne
Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7313931984542911575
Friday January 20, 2023
How to Effectively Meet the Needs of Male Survivors
Judge Robert Lung and Suleman Masood
Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2804739141542505815
Friday January 27, 2023
Understanding Buyers is the Key to Stopping the Demand for
Human Trafficking
John Pulley
Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7000937308019785817
The Overlap
Districts should be aware that certain federal and state laws may have overlapping jurisdictions when human trafficking is alleged, including laws regarding dating violence, sexual harassment and Title IX protections (see TASB Policy FFH), bullying (see TASB Policy FFI), and threat assessments (see TASB Policy FFB).
Save the Dates
2023 Texas School Safety Conference- June 18-22, 2023. The conference will be held at the beautiful San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. Information will be posted online in mid-January.
Substance Use/Abuse
USDE two-part miniseries "The Facts about Fentanyl and Approaches to Prevention"
Part 1: Knowing the Facts About Fentanyl
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
3:00-4:30 pm EST
During the first webinar of this two-part miniseries, you will learn what fentanyl is and why it is so addictive and deadly. You will learn how students get it and in what different forms. You will hear from families impacted by the fentanyl crisis and the hopes they have for implementing more robust prevention efforts with students.
Part 2: Preventing and Addressing Fentanyl Use
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
3:00 – 4:30 pm ET
During the second webinar of this two-part miniseries, you will learn about a variety of approaches schools and communities are taking to educate students on the risks of fentanyl. You will hear from practitioners in schools and districts as well as community-based organizations working with schools to prevent and address fentanyl use.
You must register to participate in this presentation. Register Here for Part 1!. | Register Here for Part 2!
Rethinking School Policing: How Round Rock ISD is Changing the Model
In this session of the 2022 ABC Summit, Round Rock ISD leaders shares their model of collaboration between the district police force and mental health providers to support student success. The presenters discuss the different ways in which they are working to avoid the school-to-prison pipeline with mentoring, student supports, and advocacy. View Resource
Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey has been published for the 2021 calendar year. This tool is updated yearly and illustrates state trends for students of various ages and behaviors that impact mental health. You can look through current data, specific to Texas, about alcohol, tobacco use, and other risk-associated behaviors.
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES FOR CRCGS: Strengthening Individual, Family, School and Community Partnerships
This monthly virtual webinar series beginning January 25th, will provide introductory information on the principles of Restorative Practices. This series will be 1-2 hour sessions packed with exceptional presentations, including a keynote presentation by the nationally acclaimed author Kay Pranis. Kay is a national leader in restorative justice and the author of the books Circle Process and Circle Forward. Additional presentations on the impact of Restorative Practices on families, educators, and students. Participants will see Restorative Practices in action, the practical application of techniques in CRCG, and community meetings. For Dates and Registration see Flyer Here. The webinar series is free for participants, and the link for registration is at the bottom of the page. For a brief video about Restorative Practice, go to: https://youtu.be/_obyZY4XzaI
SAMHSA Report on Mental Illness and Substance Use Levels
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the results of its annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which shows how people living in America reported about their experience with mental health conditions, substance use, and pursuit of treatment in 2021. The 2021 NSDUH national report includes selected estimates by race, ethnicity, and age group. It is the most comprehensive report on substance use and mental health indicators that SAMHSA has released to date.
2023 Mental and Behavioral Health Webinar Series
The Texas Education Agency Mental and Behavioral Health Team and Project AWARE Texas will be hosting a series of monthly webinars on timely and relevant school mental health topics including substance use/abuse prevention, school and community partnerships, parent engagement, and school safety.
2nd Wednesday of each month from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (CST) via Zoom. Select the date below to register for each webinar:
January 11, 2023 | February 8, 2023 | March 8, 2023 | April 12, 2023 | May 10, 2023 | June 14, 2023
Resources in Response to Rise in Black Youth Suicides - NCTSN
The tragic death by suicide of Stephen “tWitch” Boss left many youth and families saddened and talking about their own struggles and distressing feelings. Some may be reminded of their own losses. Others may be reminded of or are continuing to face injustices in the world around them. With the increase of hate crimes and systematic racism, as well as the unequal impact of the pandemic, this has made the risk of suicide an even bigger challenge in the Black community. Unfortunately, lack of trust in the health care system and profoundly limited mental health resources compound the challenges of reaching those at risk and places an unfair burden on their existing community support system. Today, Black youth death by suicide is increasing at alarming rates (see 2021 HHS Report to Congress on African American Youth Suicide, Journal of the American Medical Association, American Journal of Pediatrics, Black Child Suicide: A Report). Suicide is a public health emergency that we must call our attention to with both a cultural and contextual understanding of the underlying systems that cause historical harms, which have disproportionately impacted communities of color and LGBTQ+ youth. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network and its partners have resources to promote culturally-responsive healing at the individual, family and community levels. These resources include:
Youth
- Talking about Suicide with Friends and Peers (En Español)
- Words to Use When Talking About Suicide (En Español)
- Taking Care of You (En Español)
Parents and Caregivers
- Talking to your Child about a Suicide Death: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
- The Power of Parenting: How to Help Your Child After a Parent or Caregiver Dies
- Supporting Children and Teens During this Holiday Season
- Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
- Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
- Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers (En Español)
Providers and Educators
- Treatment for Suicide, Self-Harm & Depression
- Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma for Adolescents Online Treatment Guide
- Issues of Race, Equity, and Social Justice: Addressing Impact of Racial Trauma and Inequity on Ethnic Minority Families
- School Suicide Postvention, Recovery and Renewal
- Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN) to Promote Wellbeing (En Español)
Video Resources
YAM - Youth Aware of Mental Health
Youth Aware of Mental health, also known as YAM, is a school-based program for young people ages 13 to 17, in which they learn about and explore the topic of mental health. YAM is an evidence-based program taking place in classrooms around the world. Students actively engage with the topic of mental health through role-play and student-led discussions.
- Education and Outreach Services | Edu-Services@ttuhsc.edu | (806) 743-3026
Universal Supports through Project AWARE
In this session of the 2022 ABC Summit, district leaders across four communities share the universal supports that have been put in place for students through Project AWARE in Texas, the barriers they experienced, how they overcame those barriers, and some of their lessons for others looking to put universal school mental health practices in place. View Resource
Program for School Violence Prevention TOT
Do you want to 1. Learn how to involve students in creating safer and kinder schools? 2. Access free online resources that could help save lives?
Texas School Safety Center is offering three train-the-trainer models for Sandy Hook Promise’s Know the Signs programs aimed at teaching youth and adults how to prevent school violence, shootings, and other harmful acts. Students and educators learn how to identify at-risk behaviors and intervene to get help. Start with Hello teaches students to be more socially inclusive and connected to each other. View Dates and Register.
Resolve to be Ready - Individual and Community Preparedness Newsletter Here
Federal Fiscal Year 2022 Title IV, Part A LEA Special Data Collection for Public Reporting – Program Objectives and Intended Outcomes
TEA is required to collect and publicly report how all LEA Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1 funds are being expended per content areas by Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) and the degree to which progress has been made toward meeting program objectives and intended outcomes. All LEAs that applied for Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1 program funds in 2022-2023 are required to report the information requested. TEA will take a phased-in approach to launch the Title IV, Part A Special Data Collection. During the first phase of the collection, LEAs will provide Title IV, Part A Program Objectives and Intended Outcomes for the 2022-2023 school year.
The Federal Program Compliance Division will collect the requested information using the Smartsheet WorkApp system. The report will open in the WorkApp on January 17, 2023. The deadline for LEA data submission will be March 17, 2023.
Statewide Training and Q&A Sessions
Statewide Trainings
A voiced-over presentation video of the statewide trainings' content is published on the Statewide Training Series webpage.
Title IV, Part A Program Objectives and Intended Outcomes Q&A Sessions
The Q&A sessions will be an open forum for participants to submit questions limited to the TIVA LEA Special Data Collection Smartsheet WorkApp, initial data reporting phase, submission requirements, and resources. The Q&A sessions will not be recorded.
- January 26, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Q&A Session Registration Link: Session ID 92812
- February 16, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Q&A Session Registration Link: Session ID 92813
Legal Disclaimer: This information in this newsletter is intended solely to provide general information and guidance and reflects the Title IVA School Safety State Initiative current understanding of the topics and applicable state and federal guidance. The content is subject to change as a result of additional information and guidance provided by state and federal agencies with regulatory oversight. ESCs and LEAs may choose to seek legal counsel regarding the information and guidance.