May 2022 School Safety Community Bulletin: Events, Opportunities, and Resources

School Safety Events and Opportunities

May 2022

Latest News

May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of mental health in the lives of all Americans – including our children and young adults. Positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development, and K-12 school communities are critical partners in supporting students with mental health challenges. Learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month and access resources on mental health and school safety here.  

Justice Department Releases Funding Opportunities to Improve School Safety
The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced several grant solicitations available to keep students safe. Funding includes $53 million for the School Violence Prevention Program, which provides funding to improve security at K-12 schools and on school grounds through evidence-based school safety programs, as well as almost $64.7 million in solicitations to support violence prevention and response efforts in schools through the STOP School Violence Act. The announced solicitations also include the COPS Hiring Program, a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing by providing direct funding for the hiring of career law enforcement officers. For additional information on these and other DOJ grant programs for school safety, click here.  

CISA’s Shields Up Campaign Offers Guidance on Addressing Malicious Cyber Activity
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Shields Up campaign provides the latest guidance on how all communities, including K-12 districts, schools, and families, can protect against cyber attacks and improve cyber hygiene. Learn more here.

DHS Announces $1.6 Billion in Preparedness Grants
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced the Fiscal Year 2022 Nonprofit Security Grant Program and the Homeland Security Grant Program. These grants are dedicated to helping public and private sector partners prepare for, prevent, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism and other hazards. It is encouraged that any interested K-12 partners reach out to their respective State Administrative Agency for state-specific application information. Learn more by visiting the Grants Finder Tool on SchoolSafety.gov.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Grants and Funding Opportunities

May Deadlines

June Deadlines

Ongoing

Visit the SchoolSafety.gov Grants Finder Tool for additional school safety-related funding opportunities.

Events, Webinars, and Conferences

Now What – Mental Health Issues in Post COVID America (May 25) – This webinar, hosted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Public and Indian Housing and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, will examine how to address mental health issues in post-COVID America, including how to handle and move past multiple co-occurring pandemics, using a mental health focus on substance use disorder, housing, work, education, and transportation, and other relevant topics. Access the webinar here.

Helping States Implement Hate Crime Prevention Strategies in Their 3-Year Plan (May 26) – As part of its “Preventing Youth Hate Crimes & Identity-Based Bullying Initiative” Webinar Series, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will host this webinar intended for youth justice professionals. Presenters will provide participants with research, data, and best practices to mitigate youth hate crimes in the United States. Register here.

Understanding the Role of Teachers in Supporting School Safety Before, During, and After an Emergency (May 26) – This webinar hosted by the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center will highlight the role of teachers in supporting school safety at the local level. Register here.

The Tech Talk: Talking to Your Kids About Online Safety (June 2) – In this webinar, experts will share resources and tips to help parents, teachers, and school faculty successfully prepare the younger generation to navigate their online lives. Sign up to attend here.

Assisting Victims of Hate Crimes (June 23) – During this webinar, intended for youth justice professionals, presenters will help attendees increase their knowledge around best practices in assisting victims of youth hate crimes; incorporate victim assistance strategies into their programs by sharing examples of current programming; and understand ways to assist those impacted by youth hate and bias-based crimes. Learn more here.

Visit the SchoolSafety.gov Events Page for additional school safety-related webinars, conferences, and more.

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New School Safety Resources

Mental Health Resources for K-12 Schools
This two-page infographic on mental health provides information to help address youth mental health challenges, including through fostering a sense of “school connectedness” and increasing access to mental health services.

Visit SchoolSafety.gov for additional resources to support school safety and security efforts.

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If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future newsletters, please contact us at SchoolSafety@hq.dhs.gov. Follow @SchoolSafetyGov on Twitter for additional school safety updates.


SchoolSafety.gov Disclaimer
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Education (ED), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) do not endorse any individual, enterprise, product, or service. DHS, ED, DOJ, and HHS do not mandate or prescribe practices, models, or other activities described in this communication. DHS, ED, DOJ, and HHS do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any information outside of those respective Departments, and the opinions expressed in any of these materials do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of DHS, ED, DOJ, and HHS.