T4PA School Safety State Initiative
Updates for School Districts—January 2022
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month!
What are Others Doing to take Action? See Here
- Next upcoming meeting: January 7, 2022, at 10:30am
- Flyer with Dates. Zoom link
Texas Department of Family and Protective Service Lunch and Learn Series 2022
- Every Friday in January, DFPS will host webinars with subject matter experts during the lunch hour to speak about various human trafficking intersections and topics.
- January 7; 14; 21; 28, 2022 @ 12 pm. Registration Link
National Advocacy Leadership Center - Sex Trafficking Advanced Victim Assistance Training
- Each Tuesday, from January 11, 2022, through February 22, 2022
- 12:00pm-3:00pm (EST) Register Now!
GRACE - Governor's Response Against Child Exploitation
GRACE is a faith-based initiative that works together with communities of faith throughout Texas to improve awareness, service capacity, and prevention efforts. This program further complements the statewide Network of Nurture to meet the needs of both children and their families. Webpage Link
FREE Virtual School Safety Summit hosted by ESC 13
Region 13 - FREE Virtual School Safety Summit
- January 11-13, 2022
- Virtual, half-days, with specific audience focus for each day
- Day 1: Mental Health & Counselors
- Day 2: Leadership
- Day 3: Adults Supporting Youth in Schools
- Sign-Up for one day or all three days. CPE’s will be provided for all educators and CE’s will be provided for all mental health professionals. This summit is completely FREE!
- Registration Link: https://esc13.net/events/school-safety-summit
- Registration & Informational Link
- Check registration for exact times
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2022, 12:00 AM
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Click on the photo to read the article published by the Washington Post
Mental Health / Behavioral Health
Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network
The MHTTC has released beneficial recordings and informational materials from two of their more recent webinars. The first focuses on the impacts of COVID on school mental health systems and leaders/providers. The second webinar helps to both inform on the negatives behind colonizing self-care and provides resources to aid in decolonizing self-care for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) school mental health providers.
- The Mental Health Impacts of Surviving COVID-19
- Anchored in Our Roots: Decolonizing Self-Care for BIPOC School Mental Health Providers
Shatter Mental Health Stigma through ART
The Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest shines a light on an often-overlooked topic and shows why mental health matters. To educate people about how common mental illnesses are and to encourage Texans to seek help when they need it, the yearly themes reflect the move toward treating mental illness with the same openness as other illnesses. The contest is open to EVERYONE from elementary through adult and categories include original artwork, creative writing, and photography.
- Website Link
- 2022 Downloadable Flyer (includes rules and registration)
How Do We SEE and SUPPORT Children of Incarcerated Parents
Launched in 2015 by the Osborne Association’s New York Initiative for Children of Incarcerated Parents (NYCIP), See Us, Support Us (SUSU) raises awareness and increases support for children of incarcerated parents.
HHSC Children's Mental Health Survey
- Needs assessment on children's mental health crisis services
- Need input from multiple stakeholders
- Survey Due January 14
Suicide Prevention
School-based Suicide Prevention: Promising Approaches and Opportunities for Research Webinar
- January 14, 2022 @ 2-3:30pm EST
- For additional information and to register, click HERE!
Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative
- Symposium 2022: March 1-3
- TexasSuicidePrevention.org
Resources for Suicide Prevention and Intervention is a document released by Texas Health and Human Services that includes State and Federal hotlines, trainings related to suicide awareness and prevention, related websites and apps, links to Evidence-Based Tools, and pertinent information for students.
Bullying / Cyberbullying
Bullying Prevention Activity Set
Teaching and encouraging kindness is invaluable to children and youth, and it’s never too early to start. Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) released a new resource developed for school staff and caregivers that can be used to teach bullying prevention skills for all school-aged youth. This resource, Connect with Kindness: Bullying Prevention Activity Set, provides three easy-to-implement activities that help promote and teach skills needed to foster kindness with developmentally appropriate strategies.
TASB on Bullying, Cyberbullying, and HazingGive Students a Voice in School Safety!
Texas high schools are now invited to participate in Invent2Prevent, a free competitive program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships. Invent2Prevent helps to identify new whole-of-society approaches to preventing targeted violence and hate, and it is a prime example of how the U.S. government can harness the energy, enthusiasm, tech-savvy skills, and genuine voice of our nation’s youth to educate and motivate communities to engage in an honest and authentic dialogue about targeted violence and terrorism. This program also promotes and encourages high school students to consider ways they can pursue careers at the federal, state, local, and community levels, ensuring that motivated and talented minds bring their unique perspectives to the top sectors diligently working to prevent targeted violence and terrorism.
School Violence/Behavioral Threat Assessment
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network published a report covering an increase in threats of school violence, including those via social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. The report also includes information on how such current experiences like racism and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic having further heightened individuals' anxiety, as well as provides suggestions for ways to support schools and their communities.
TxSSC Fidelity of School Behavioral Threat Assessment Implementation Tool
This tool was designed to both assist in the identification of current BTA practices - in relation to the guidelines set forth by the TxSSC - and to provide a self-assessment to aid in the improvement and maintenance of BTA practices.
TxSSC Updates - Addressing School Safety ConcernsIn the wake of the most recent acts of school violence and the increase in violent threats in our schools across the country, the Texas School Safety Center wants to remind schools of best practices and resources to assist you:
- School Behavioral Threat Assessment (SBTA) is considered a best practice for preventing targeted school violence, and the Texas Education Code mandates that every campus be supported by a Safe and Supportive School Program that conducts behavioral threat assessments.
- School safety is a shared responsibility. Remind staff, parents, and students of the importance of reporting all safety concerns, including how to report.
- Drills are essential in preparing your school for an emergency. Drills offer the opportunity for students and staff to learn their roles and responsibilities before, during, and after any type of emergency. Practice of emergency procedures through drills can reduce confusion, panic, and even serious injury for both staff and students.
- The Texas School Safety Center has developed a Parent’s Guide to School Safety Toolkit and a Cyber Safety and Digital Responsibility Parent Guide for you to share with parents.
- Keep ’Em Safe Texas has resources which can be sent out in newsletters and posted on your school’s website to spread the word about safe gun storage, including safe gun storage checklists, how to talk to others about safe gun storage, and ways to safely store firearms.
After a School Tragedy...Readiness, Response, Recovery, & Resources
- We continue to see acts of violence, suicide, and other tragedies affect many of our school districts. The affects of these incidents extends bar beyond the days events and can appear at any time. This resource developed by the MHTTC Network is designed to help districts, families, and students in the event of a tragedy.
- Resource Document
Other School Safety Topics
Want to Improve your School Culture? Start with Hello!
According to Sandy Hook Promise, one in five high school students report that they have been victims of bullying. Bullying, along with social isolation, being a victim of violence, and emotional distress can all be risk factors for youth acting out violently. Start With Hello teaches students to be more socially inclusive and connected to each other. With activities and curricula available for all ages, students are empowered to end social isolation in three easy steps: see someone alone, reach out and help, and start with hello.
The 2.5-hour virtual training consists of a wide range of activities and resources to ensure integration within the school culture, supported by student-led SAVE Promise Clubs. Join the many Texas schools that are seeing the positive impact Start With Hello makes on school climate and culture!
- Start With Hello Homepage
- Sandy Hook Promise - Start With Hello Virtual Training (through the TXSSC)
REMS Technical Assistance Center Newsletter (December 2021)
This newsletter spotlights Threat- and Hazard-Specific Annexes that may prove beneficial to schools developing emergency operations plans or EOPs.
TASB Updates on School Cybersecurity: Texas Requirements
Substance Abuse
Discipline Is Not the Answer: Better Approaches to On-campus Student Tobacco Use
As schools develop or revamp and modernize their smoke- or tobacco-free policies, the Truth Initiative released some suggestions on what schools should do when students violate these policies and use tobacco products on campus. Truth Initiative recommends that students who violate tobacco policies be approached in a supportive way that focuses on encouraging them to quit using tobacco products and does not support suspension or expulsions from school as a punishment.
Getting Candid: Framing the Conversation Around Youth Substance Use Prevention
98% of youth-serving providers feel responsible for communicating with youth about their substance use. But when talking with youth, what messages and tactics are actually the most resonant in preventing substance use? The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), explored this question and compiled their findings into a newly published interactive message guide for providers, educators and adults.
TEA & Title IV, Part A Federal Programs Updates/Resources
Texas Education Agency Newsletter (December 2021)
Updated Title IV, Part A FAQ Document
New TEA Parent Resources Page
- Features information on accelerated learning and related tutoring supports being provided to all students working to overcome the learning disruptions caused by COVID-19
- Webpage Link
LaNetra Guess, Program Director, Title IV, Part A & TEA
Upcoming Deadlines & Due Dates
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.
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 of facilities
ESC Resources
Previous ESC newsletters
District Resources
Previous LEA Newsletters
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
Copyright © 2021. Texas Education Agency. All Rights Reserved.