The Connecticut Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparation at Western Connecticut State University is funded from appropriations through the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the Office of Higher Education.

The Connecticut Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparation formed in 2021 from an agreement between the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and Western Connecticut State University. The Center provides professional development related to all aspects of school safety planning, and it conducts research on prevention, crisis, safety, and trauma related to students and schools. The Center also establishes relationships among area school districts and community stakeholders to create both formal and informal networks. Moreover, the Center provides consultation and on-site support to school districts. This newsletter provides a venue for the Center to become a clearinghouse for school safety related trainings, meetings, research, and resources.

School safety-related funding opportunities have been added to the Grants Finder Tool on SchoolSafety.gov. In case you are interested in applying, please see below:

• Strategies to Support Children Exposed to Violence (Deadline: June 24) - Provides funding to communities to develop coordinated and comprehensive community-based approaches to help children and their families who are exposed to violence build resilience, restore their safety, heal their social and emotional wounds, and prevent future violence and delinquency. Funding can be used to develop and/or enhance support services for children exposed to violence to reduce the adverse impact of violence on youth, families, and communities, and to help family-serving organizations better recognize and help families at risk for exposure to violence.
• The U.S. Department of Justice is holding a Webinar about this solicitation on June 7. Learn more here.
• Cooperative Agreements for the Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program (Deadline: June 3) -Provides funding to support states and Tribes with implementing youth (up to age 24) suicide prevention and early intervention strategies in schools, educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, substance use and mental health programs, foster care systems, pediatric health programs, and other child- and youth-serving organizations.
• 2024 Renew America's Schools Prize (Deadline: June 13) - Provides funding to help districts build capacity, perform energy audits, and plan/implement energy improvement projects across a portfolio of school facilities. Please note: This funding opportunity consists of three phases. During Phase 1, competitors will build teams and curate lists of at least 10 schools and school facilities that demonstrate compelling need and eligibility for investment. Phase 1 winners will earn a cash prize of $300,000 and move on to Phases 2 and 3, during which they will enter and execute Cooperative Agreements with the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Program (Deadline: June 12) - Provides funding to improve school safety by providing students, teachers, and staff with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and prevent acts of violence. This program seeks to increase school safety by implementing solutions that will improve school climate. Solutions include school-based behavioral threat assessments and/or intervention teams to identify school violence risks among students, technological innovations that are shown to increase school safety such as anonymous reporting technology, and other school safety strategies that assist in preventing violence.
• Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Research and Evaluation (Deadline: June 18) - Provides funding for rigorous, independent evaluation projects funded under the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) CVIPI. This solicitation includes two funding categories: 1) evaluation research of programmatic sites funded under the OJP FY23 and FY24 CVIPI solicitations; and 2) evaluation research of other community-violence programs.

To access additional information on these grants as well as find a full list of funding opportunities with upcoming application deadlines, please click here. 

You can also navigate the Grants Finder Tool’s various features to search for additional grants related to school safety.

If you have any questions, please contact SchoolSafety@hq.dhs.gov.

School Safety.Gov Resources

Cybersecurity Resources

Cybersecurity Resources for K-12 Schools and School Districts

This infographic provides information on the K-12 cyber threat landscape and strategies and resources school personnel can use to prevent and protect against cyberattacks and digital threats.

Planning Considerations for Cyber Incidents:

Guidance for Emergency Managers.

This guide is intended to help state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management personnel collaboratively prepare for a cyber incident and support the development of a cyber incident response plan or annex.

Emergency Planning Resources

Crisis Navigation in Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Oriented Schools

This self-paced training assists school leaders in creating and strengthening a site crisis navigation team. During the course, presenters discuss anticipating the outcomes of a crisis, identifying how to use the broad range of skills represented by those on the school crisis response team, and better anticipating the future needs of the school population and developing plans to meet those needs.

School Safety Drills and Exercises for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Tips and Resources for Educators. This resource provides considerations on school safety drills and exercises for students with ASD. It includes advocacy guidance for educators and offers school safety drill and exercise ideas for students with ASD.

Violence Prevention Resources

Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model: An Operational Guide for Preventing Targeted School Violence.

This guide provides actionable steps that schools can take to develop comprehensive targeted violence prevention plans and create processes and procedures for conducting threat assessments.

School Tip Line Toolkit: A Blueprint for Implementation and Sustainability

This guide is designed to help educators, law enforcement professionals, community leaders, and school safety experts navigate key decisions and consider the factors necessary to support successful and efficient tip line implementation as part of an overall school safety strategy.



Mental Health Resources

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, SchoolSafety.gov released a new issue brief that describes the impact of trauma on children and youth. The brief specifically focuses on strategies and resources to build and maintain trauma-informed schools that promote student well-being and safe, supportive learning environments.

Learn more below and download and share this new resource with others in your K-12 school community.  

What is a trauma-informed school?

A trauma-informed school promotes a safe and welcoming environment while also recognizing the widespread impact of trauma. This approach includes integrating trauma-informed principles with various aspects of a school’s policies and actions, including social, emotional, and behavioral learning practices; disciplinary procedures; classroom management and activities; and support systems and services for students and school personnel.

What is the value of a trauma-informed school?

Children in the United States are exposed to trauma at a high rate, with more than two-thirds of children reporting at least one traumatic event by age 16. Creating and maintaining a trauma-informed school can promote a sense of safety, support, and inclusivity; lessen the escalation of mental health issues associated with trauma; and better position students for success.

How can schools create and maintain a trauma-informed environment?

School leaders, educators, and staff can consider the following strategies to adopt a trauma-informed environment:

• Recognize and understand the signs of traumatic stress. Offering continuous professional development opportunities can help school leaders, educators, and staff identify signs of traumatic stress and better respond to and support affected students.
• Incorporate trauma-informed classroom practices and strategies. Creating a compassionate, positive, and supportive classroom environment can help students impacted by trauma form trusting relationships with others, grow confidence to engage in classroom learning, and develop resilience.
• Create partnerships with families and community organizations. Engaging families and local organizations can expand services to children and families affected by trauma and enhance a student’s chances for success.

DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE BRIEF

Interested in sharing this resource on your organization’s social media channels? Find sample posts below for your use or modification:

• More than 2/3 of children report experiencing a traumatic event by age 16. @SchoolSafetyGov’s new issue brief outlines how a trauma-informed school can lessen the escalation of trauma-related #MentalHealth issues & create supportive learning spaces: go.dhs.gov/3o6
• Schools play a critical role in supporting students who have experienced trauma. Maintaining a trauma-informed school can promote a sense of safety, support & inclusivity. Learn more from @SchoolSafetyGov: go.dhs.gov/3o6

For additional trauma-informed school resources, please visit SchoolSafety.gov’s mental health topic page. Visit SchoolSafety.gov for additional resources to support school safety and security efforts.

Southern Connecticut State University's Tobacco Program

SCSU’s Tobacco Program Coordinator, Victoria Adams, M.Ed., provides free trainings, technical assistance, and materials on tobacco (vaping) prevention and cessation. This is provided at no cost to employees in CT from a grant from the CT DPH. Email Victoria Adams, M.Ed, NCTTP, at Adamsv2@southernct.edu for additional information.

Free Training and Resources:

• Tobacco Treatment Specialist training in August for those interested in supporting youth and adults quit tobacco (including nicotine vaping).
• Trainings on the risks of nicotine vaping, youth vaping cessation, alternative to suspension programs, and other tobacco related training
• Print materials on tobacco prevention and cessation (posters, brochures, etc.) contact the DEMHS School Security Group at SchoolSecurityPlanStandards@ct.gov.
• Free Vaping Prevention Resources, Victoria Adams, M.Ed., NCTTP, Tobacco Program Coordinator, Health and Human Services, Southern Connecticut State University. I can provide to those working in Connecticut: Tobacco (nicotine vaping) prevention resources and provide trainings that can include alternatives to suspension programs, cessation resources, strategies to reduce vaping rates in school, posters and other informational handouts. This is offered at no cost through a grant from the CT Department of Public Health. For more information, please contact me at Adamsv2@southernct.edu.
• Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems PowerPoint Presentation covering General Information & Trends, ENDS Health Risks, Secondhand Aerosol, Cessation, and Youth Prevention Strategies - provided by Victoria Adams, M.Ed., NCTTP, Tobacco Program Coordinator, Health and Human Services, Southern Connecticut State University.

Mental Health Resources from REMS Technical Assistance Center

Safeguarding mental health is a whole-community effort. Alongside mental health professionals who provide direct care, administrators and educators often serve on the front lines of student mental health efforts. Moreover, when equipped with the right resources, both students and staff can develop peer support networks to sustain one another through difficult times. consider taking one of the following steps to build resilience across your education community:

• School-based mental health providers, learn more about your role in supporting overall school safety efforts through the REMS TA Center’s webinar on The Role of School Mental Health Professionals.
• Administrators and educators, watch the REMS TA Center’s NEW webinar on The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to learn about this crucial suicide prevention resource and how to help your students access it.
• School and district leaders, download the REMS TA Center’s training module on Understanding Educator Resilience & Developing a Self-Care Plan to equip your staff with tools to protect their personal mental health while caring for others.
• Leaders in higher education, consider applying for the REMS TA Center’s free Training by Request on Resilience Strategies for Institutions of Higher Education, which provides tools for compassion fatigue prevention appropriate for faculty, staff, and college-aged students.

Region 1 Gambling Awareness Team consists of community stakeholders working toward raising awareness and developing prevention and treatment capacity in the region. We host gambling awareness trainings and webinars. The team meets quarterly to review gambling trends, needs, gaps, and access to treatment.

• When:  6/11/24 from 2:30 - 4 pm
• Where:  In-Person at the Burroughs Community Center
• Who Should Attend: Meetings are open to all.
• RSVP to Dena Miccinello by emailing Dmiccinello@ryasap.org for the meeting link and with any questions or comments.
• Please Save the Dates for future Region 1 Gambling Awareness Team meetings: Meetings held the 2nd Tuesday of the month, Quarterly; from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.

The Region 2 Gambling Awareness Team focuses on raising awareness and promoting prevention, treatment, and recovery from problem gambling and gaming across the lifespan. All are welcome to attend our meetings and get involved. We meet bimonthly and host events, trainings, and attend regular outreach events. Our next meeting is:

• When:  6/20/24 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Where: Virtually
• Who Should Attend: Meetings are open to all.
• RSVP at Zoom Link

For additional information, please contact Brailee Whan at bwhan@bhcare.org.

The DEMHS Region 2 School Safety & Security Group Meeting 

• When:  6/18/24 from 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Where: Virtually
• Topic: Our guest speakers will be from the Connecticut Intelligence Center (CTIC) and they will provide an overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Deep Fakes and the Impact on Schools.
• Who Should Attend: This meeting is for Administrators, Facility Directors, Business Officials, SRO's, Security Personnel, Emergency Management Personnel, Mental Health Professionals, Technology Leaders, etc. As always, we ask others to share our group and meeting information with their respective school safety and security partners. Please share my contact information as well.
• Those who are interested in being part of our group are encouraged to email their contact information to Jeff Nielsen at Jnielsen@milforded.org. Group membership includes receiving correspondence related to meeting announcements and information related to school safety/security.

Region 2/South Central Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization

Alliance for Prevention & Wellness / A Program of BHcare

Regional Suicide Advisory Board (RSAB) Meetings

• When:  6/4/24 at 10:30 a.m.
• Where: Virtually
• Region 2 RSAB supports the overall vision of the statewide CT Suicide Advisory Board, the goals and objectives of the CT Suicide Prevention Plan, and provides the local and regional infrastructure for activities.
• Who Should Attend: For those within Region 2's territory: Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Derby, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Haven, Essex, Guilford, Haddam, Hamden, Killingworth, Lyme, Madison, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Orange, Portland, Seymour, Shelton, Wallingford, Westbrook, West Haven, Woodbridge.
• For more information, please contact Taylor Gainey, MHA, at Tgainey@bhcare.org.
• Please Save the Dates for future RSAB meetings. All meetings will be held on the first Tuesday, bi-monthly. Meetings: 8/6, 10/1, 12/3

The DEMHS Region 3 Capitol Emergency Management Meeting

• When: Meetings Will Reconvene in September
• Where: In-Person
• Who Should Attend: This meeting is for Administrators, Facility Directors, Business Officials, SRO's, Security Personnel, Emergency Management Personnel, Mental Health Professionals, Technology Leaders, etc.
• RSVP to Claudia Nardi at Cnardi@cantonschools.org or call 860-693-7704 if you plan on attending or sending a representative.

The DEMHS Region 4 ESF-5 School Safety Sub-Committee

• When: 6/5/24 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
• Where: Hybrid (Both Zoom and In-Person) In-Person held at East Lyme Public Safety Complex located at 277 West Main Street, Niantic, CT.
• Who Should Attend: For those organizations within Region 4’s territory: Ashford, Bozrah, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Hampton, Killingly, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Mansfield, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Plainfield, Pomfret, Preston, Putnam, Salem, Scotland, Sprague, Sterling, Stonington, Thompson, Union, Voluntown, Waterford, Willington, Windham, Woodstock. Attendance/membership for this group could include, but not be limited to: Any school staff who are responsible for school safety planning in their districts; SROs; Emergency Managers; Public Safety Chiefs/Department Heads; Public Health Officials; any others with vested interest.
• RSVP if you are interested in attending: Please send an email with your interest to Julie C. Wilson at Jwilson@eastlymepolice.org in order to be added to the meeting email distribution list, and to receive the Zoom Link. Please save the dates for future School Safety Subcommittee meetings. All meetings will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. and will be Hybrid on Zoom and In-Person. Meetings: 8/7/24, 9/4/24, 10/2/24, 11/6/24, 12/4/24.

The DEMHS School Reunification Planning Committee (Note: meets (Hybrid) immediately after the Region 4 ESF-5 School Safety Sub-Committee Meeting)

• When: 6/5/24 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• Where: Hybrid (Both Zoom and In-Person) In-Person held at East Lyme Public Safety Complex located at 277 West Main Street, Niantic, CT.
• Who Should Attend: For those organizations within Region 4’s territory: Ashford, Bozrah, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Hampton, Killingly, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Mansfield, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Plainfield, Pomfret, Preston, Putnam, Salem, Scotland, Sprague, Sterling, Stonington, Thompson, Union, Voluntown, Waterford, Willington, Windham, Woodstock. Attendance/membership for this group could include, but not be limited to: Any school staff who are responsible for school safety planning in their districts; SROs; Emergency Managers; Public Safety Chiefs/Department Heads; Public Health Officials; any others with vested interest.
• RSVP if you are interested in attending: Please send an email with your interest to Julie C. Wilson at Jwilson@eastlymepolice.org in order to be added to the meeting email distribution list, and to receive the Zoom Link. Please save the dates for future School Reunification Planning Committee Meetings. All meetings will be held 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and will be Hybrid on Zoom and In-Person.

The DEMHS Region 5 School Safety and Security Working Group

• When: 6/27/24 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Where: Virtually
• The mission of this group is to provide a school safety and security network consisting of school resources who can share lessons learned and quality information pertaining to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our schools.
• RSVP if you are interested in attending:  please email your interest to John Field at John.field@ct.gov. 
• Please Save the Dates for future School Safety and Security Working Group Meetings: 7/25/24, 8/22/24, 9/26/24, 10/24/24, 11/28/24, 12/28/24. 

The Western Regional Crisis Team Meetings (covering the RESC regions of EdAdvance & CES)

• When:  6/4/24 from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
• Where:  Virtually
• Topic: Planning Meeting
• Who Should Attend:  These meetings are geared towards the mental health professionals servicing our K-12 students.
• For more information or to join the Team: please email Tanya Iacono at Iaconot@wcsu.edu.

The ACES Regional Crisis Team Meeting (Covering the RESC South Central Region)

• When: 6/20/24 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• Where: Virtually via Zoom
• Topic: Our meeting will be a planning meeting to discuss topics for the next school year, as well as presenter ideas, and our meeting times. Please bring the wonderful things that your district has done this school year, your comments can inspire a chain-reaction.
• Who Should Attend:  These meetings are geared towards the mental health professionals servicing our K-12 students.
• For more information or to join the Team:  please email Sadie Witherspoon at Witherspoons@wcsu.edu.

The North Central Regional Crisis Team Meeting (Covering the RESC Capitol Region Education Council)

• When: 6/12/24 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• Where: Zoom Link, Meeting ID: 870 9664 2732, Passcode: 856200
• Topic: Our end of year meeting will be to discuss topics for the next school year, and schedule meeting dates and times.
• Who Should Attend: These meetings are geared towards the mental health professionals servicing our K-12 students.
• For more information or to join the Team: please email Kimberly Myers at Myersk@wcsu.edu.

The Northeastern Regional Crisis Team Meetings (Covering the EASTCONN RESC region)

• This team will meet jointly with the Southeastern Regional Crisis team for the remainder of the 2022/2023 academic year.
• When: Meetings Will Reconvene in September
• Where: Virtually via Zoom
• Towns: Andover, Ashford, Bozrah, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Franklin, Griswold, Hampton, Hebron, Killingly, Lebanon, Lisbon, Mansfield, Marlborough, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Scotland, Sprague, Stafford, Sterling, Thompson, Tolland, Union, Voluntown, Woodstock, Willington, Windham
• Who Should Attend: These meetings are geared towards the mental health professionals supporting our K-12 students. 
• For more information or to join the Team: please email Kiley Young at Youngki@wcsu.edu.

The Southeastern Regional Crisis Team Meetings (Covering the LEARN RESC region)

• This team will meet jointly with the Northeastern Regional Crisis team for the remainder of the 2022/2023 academic year.
• When: Meetings Will Reconvene in September
• Where: Virtually via Zoom
• Towns: Chester, Clinton, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Lyme, Essex, Groton, Guilford, Haddam, Killingworth, Ledyard, Lyme, Madison, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Preston, Salem, Stonington, Waterford, Westbrook
• Who Should Attend: These meetings are geared towards the mental health professionals supporting our K-12 students. 
• For more information or to join the Team: please email Kiley Young at Youngki@wcsu.edu.

CT CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY

2024 SUMMER TRAINING EVENTS

SAVE THE DATES!

August 6 - Western Region

August 7 - North Central Capitol Region

August 8 - Eastern Region

August 14 - South Central Region

(Topics and Presenters to be announced).

• Incident Command System (ICS) in Schools - An Overview of ICS for Connecticut School Systems -Sponsored by the State of CT Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security. This program is designed to introduce you or re-introduce the concepts of ICS and how they apply to school systems in Connecticut. The program will also cover several resources available to schools. The course is generally delivered as a 2-hour in person program. Please see Flyer for more information. If you have any questions, please contact DEMHS Training Points of Contact: Michael Paradis, Trainer, email: Michael.Paradis@CT.Gov.

• The Threat Evaluation and Reporting Overview (TERO) is a three-hour introductory training focusing on a behavioral approach to violence prevention. The TERO raises awareness about the risk factors, triggers and stressors, and warning behaviors that could impact a person's decision to commit an act of targeted violence. Further, it outlines the mitigating factors that could help prevent acts of targeted violence, while emphasizing the importance of community involvement in seeking help for individuals, and respecting their privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. Please see Flyer for more information. If you have any questions, please contact DEMHS Training Points of Contact: DEMMHS.TrainingandExercise@CT.Gov.

• The Basic Threat Evaluation and Reporting Course (B-TERC) is a one-day training that teaches participants how to assist in preventing acts of targeted violence, such, but not limited to, terrorism, school shootings, or mass attacks in public spaces, by identifying those threats or observable behaviors that may indicate the potential for violence. Participants are equipped with the tools to identify and report threats or observable behaviors that may concern others, as well as recognize intervention strategies to move individuals off a pathway to violence. Please see Flyer for more information. If you have any questions, please contact DEMHS Training Points of Contact: DEMMHS.TrainingandExercise@CT.Gov.

• The Threat Evaluation and Reporting Course (TERC) is a three-day course that will teach participants how to apply Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) best practices to assist in preventing acts of targeted violence, such as, but not limited to, terrorism, school shootings, or mass attacks in public spaces, by identifying those threats or observable behaviors that may indicate the potential for violence. The TERC teaches students to utilize a four-step BTAM model to identify, investigate, assess, and manage individuals who display threats or observable behaviors that may concern others. Please see Flyer for more information. If you have any questions, please contact DEMHS Training Points of Contact: DEMMHS.TrainingandExercise@CT.Gov.

Recent events

Last month one of our interns, Eli, hosted an event which gave the students and staff at Western Connecticut State University a chance to learn about what we do. At this event the center partnered with Ben's Bells to share our mission and hear from the future generations of teachers and administrators.

ACES (Area Cooperative Educational Services)

2nd Annual Resource Fair

May 2024, New Haven, CT

Connecticut School Counselor Association’s Annual Conference

held at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT, May 2024

Dr. Gabriel Lomas and Dr. Amery Bernhardt presented “Why kids in Connecticut bring weapons to school and what school counselors can do about it” at the Thrive and Grow CSCA 2024 Annual Conference held at Sacred Heart in Fairfield, CT!

CONTRIBUTE to our NEWSLETTER

If you have content such as meetings, trainings, resources, and/or research to include in the next issue of our newsletter, please email Mary Pupazzoni at Pupazzonim@wcsu.edu no later than the 15th of the month prior.