Resources for Safe Schools

Although less than one percent of all violent deaths of children occur on school grounds--indeed, a child is far more likely to be killed in the community or at home - no school can guarantee complete safety for its students and staff. School districts should and must take effective steps to 1) prevent violent school crises from occurring, and in the worst case scenario, 2) respond swiftly to minimize injury and loss of life and provide recovery support for surviving members of the school-community. Following is a list of resources to help you keep your schools safe.


Frequently Asked Questions Related to School Incidents, October, 2006

Safe School Webcast Series
The Department of Public Instruction has produced a number of web-based presentations on best practices in school safety and youth violence prevention. To select these archived presentations for viewing at your convenience, click the above link or go to http://media2.wi.gov/dpi/catalog, select Student Services/Prevention and Wellness in the left column, and select the program you wish to view.

Violence Prevention Program Assessment Tool

This assessment tool is designed to assist middle and high schools identify gaps and strengths in their violence prevention program. The indicators within the assessment are recognized as Best Practices in the area of school violence prevention and contain six components: School Environment, Curriculum and Instruction, Student Programs, Pupil Services, Adult Programs, and Family and Community.

Violence Prevention Program Assessment Tool Resources

Introduction to Violence Prevention Program Assessment
Violence Prevention Program Assessment Tool - Hard Copy
Violence Prevention Program Assessment Glossary
Violence Prevention Program Assessment Frequently Asked Questions
Writing Measurable Violence Prevention Outcome Objectives
Web Resources for Violence Prevention Program Assessment

Consultation and Assistance

Department of Public Instruction
Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Staff
Department Directory of Services

Wisconsin School Crisis Preparedness Team

CESA Staff

Center for Emergency Health and Safety in Schools

Local law enforcement agencies

Local mental health services

Wisconsin Association of School Boards, (608) 257-2622, or e-mail to:

Wisconsin School Counselor Association - www.wscaweb.com

Wisconsin School Psychologists Association

Wisconsin School Social Workers Association

Wisconsin Department of Justice Staff, (608) 266-1221.

National School Safety Center

National PTA web site

Resources for School Officials to Use in Communicating about Violence and Traumatic Events

School administrators and pupil services staff must communicate effectively with students, parents, and community members following a violent or other traumatic event. The resources provided here include sample letters that may be modified to fit the circumstances of the local crisis, and inform concerned parties of the details of the incident and plans for response. Also included is a set of guidelines with steps up to, and including, the provision of grief counseling for individuals affected by the events.

• School Response to the Death of a Student, Faculty Member or Staff Person
  
  
• Death by Violence
  
  
• Writing a Condolence Letter
  
  
• Sample Letter to Parents
  
  
• Sample Letter

Materials

• Bullying Prevention Policy Guidelines, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2007.
• Be Safe and Sound Program, National Crime Prevention Council, 2004.
• Crisis Planning Guide and brochure, US Department of Education, 2004.
• Practical Information on Crisis Planning. This brochure and full Crisis Planning Guide provide general and detailed information and guidelines on how to be prepared for a crisis.
• Crisis Communications Guide and Toolkit. National Education Association.   
• Early Warning: Timely Response. - From the USDE/DOJ. It offers research-based practices designed to assist school communities identify these warning signs early and develop prevention, intervention and crisis response plans.
• Emergency Planning, US Department of Education’s one-stop shop that provides school leaders with information they need to plan for any emergency, including natural disasters, violent incidents and terrorist acts. The site will be regularly updated.
• Letter on steps to take in light of school terrorism in Russia, US Department of Education, 2004.
• Oconomowoc Crisis Response Manual (Note: User must have a pdf reader installed and configured on their web browser to read this file. The Acrobat reader is available free at Adobe's web site.
• Red Cross Homeland Security Advisory System Recommendations for Schools.
• Schools and Terrorism: A Supplement to the Report of the National Advisory Committee on Children and Terrorism is now available. This 2003 report is a supplement to a comprehensive report to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services with recommendations for addressing the special needs of children as they relate to possible biological, chemical, radiological, and mass trauma terrorism. The Schools and Terrorism supplement describes in more detail current federal activities and gaps as they relate to schools and makes recommendations to the Secretary on mechanisms to assist schools with the four key components of emergency preparedness: preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation.
• Preventing and Responding to Violent School Crises, 1998. A self assessment.
• Responding to Teenager's Concerns About Actual and Threatened School Violence: Suggestions for Parents
• Responding to Children's Concerns About Actual and Threatened School Violence: Suggestions for Parents
• Responding to Parent and Community Concerns About Actual and Threatened School Violence: Suggestions for School Staff
• Special DPI 9-11 packet (Mailed to schools to serve as a safe schools resource.)

Additional Web Sites

• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
• Northwest regional Education Laboratory, the SafetyZone"
• U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools
• Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV)
• American Association of School Administrators (AASA)
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Injury Prevntion: Division of Violence Prevention
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevntion: School Associated Violent Death
• Youth Violence: Prevention Strategies and Links
• Injury and Violence (including suicide)
• Keep Schools Safe (National Association of Attorneys General and National School Boards Association
• Center for the Prevention of School Violence
• Responding to Hate at School - - A teaching tolerance publication.
• The Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies in Schools (A Research Report) (NCJ 178265). This NIJ Research Report is a guide to help school administrators analyze a school's vulnerability to violence, theft and vandalism.

Funding

• Drug Free Schools and AODA grants; Safe and Drug Free Schools national programs (middle school coordinators, Safe Schools/Healthy Students).

For questions about this information, contact Steven A. Fernan (608) 266-3889

Last updated on 2/22/2008 8:00:39 AM