The New Jersey Department of Education’s Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning will share how a school-based behavioral threat assessment team can positively impact school culture and climate.

Recently passed legislation, N.J.S.A. 18A:17-43.4, requires the establishment of behavioral threat assessment teams in public, charter and renaissance school projects. The purpose of a threat assessment team is to provide teachers, administrators and other staff with assistance in identifying students with behaviors of concern, assessing students’ risk for engaging in violence or other harmful activities and delivering intervention strategies to manage the risk of harm for a student who poses a potential safety risk. 

While the capacity to promote safer school climates derived through the establishment of school-based behavioral threat assessment teams may be as yet unrecognized by some New Jersey schools, the positive outcomes derived through implementation of these teams has been proved nationwide for over two decades. 

This session will discuss how proper implementation can help educators recognize concerning or threatening behaviors. It will also help participants identify and implement strategies and supports to decrease students' potential to harm themselves or others.  Find out how to facilitate a climate and culture that promotes overall student safety and learn about the successes attained by New Jersey schools that have applied this process.