November 2023
Latest News
Federal Government Announces New Tools, Actions, and Resources to Address Rise of Reported Antisemitic and Islamophobic Events at Schools
The federal government announced new actions and resources to address the rise of reported Antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents at schools and on college campuses since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. These actions will help protect students, engage school leaders, and foster safe and supportive learning environments.
CISA Outlines Key Steps to Build Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
November is Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, an annual effort led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that focuses on educating and engaging the American public about the vital role critical infrastructure plays in the nation’s well-being and why it is important to strengthen critical infrastructure security and resilience. As part of the initiative, CISA is highlighting key steps and practices that individuals, organizations, and communities, including K-12 schools, can take to build resilience and prevent, mitigate, and recover from incidents.
Justice Department Announces New Nationwide Public Safety Commitments, Including Funding to Support School Safety
The Justice Department announced several new commitments as part of its Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime. Funding from the grants announced includes more than $73.6 million to 206 school districts, state, and local governments, and other public agencies through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program to improve security at schools and on school grounds.
ED, ONDCP Call on Schools to Help Prevent Youth Drug Use and Carry Naloxone
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) are calling on schools to help prevent youth drug use before it begins and ensure students have the help they need in the event of drug poisoning. In a joint letter to educators, ED and ONDCP encouraged schools to implement evidence-based youth substance use prevention measures and have opioid reversal agents like naloxone on site and ensure their students and faculty are prepared to use it in the event of drug poisoning.
HHS Issues New Effort to Improve the Health and Well-Being of Adolescents
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued Take Action for Adolescents: A Call to Action for Adolescent Health and Well-Being, a new effort to promote collaboration and spur action to improve the health and well-being of adolescents across the U.S. The initiative outlines eight goals and aligned initial action steps that can help create coordinated systems, services, and supports to help young people thrive, be healthy, and have equitable opportunity to realize their full potential.
CDC Provides Information and Resources for Flu Season
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes that school administrators, teachers, staff, and parents are concerned about seasonal influenza (flu), particularly its effects on children. With flu season upon us, the CDC is offering information, materials, and tools for educators and families to help reduce the spread of seasonal flu through everyday preventive actions.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Grants and Funding Opportunities
Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program (Deadline: January 10)
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (Ongoing)
Project SERV (Ongoing)
Visit the SchoolSafety.gov Grants Finder Tool for additional school safety-related funding opportunities.
Events, Webinars, and Conferences
Parent Partnership: Secretary Cardona and Friends Celebrate National Parent Involvement Day (November 16) – This live webinar, hosted by ED in celebration of National Parent Involvement Day, will focus on ED’s commitment to supporting parents and the success of their children and will feature U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and other senior ED officials in conversation with Grace Bastidas of Parents.
Talking with Children About War and Other Humanitarian Crises (November 20) – This webinar, hosted by the Pacific Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, will provide information on how children understand – and misunderstand – crises and how best to explain it to them in order to promote their understanding and adjustment, as well as discuss advice on how to address anger and blame in group settings.
Be Well: Centering Mental Health in Schools Webinar – Part III (November 21) – This webinar, hosted by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, will feature a panel of school leaders, students, federal government officials, and experts who will discuss the current state of student and educator mental health and policies to improve the tools available to K-12 schools.
Students, Teachers and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Specialized Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) - Community Violence Intervention Kickoff (November 29) – This webinar will define community violence intervention (CVI), introduce participants to school-based violence intervention strategies, and identify how schools can access TTA supports and experts in the field. Please note that while the registration form mentions STOP grantees, this event is open to any interested individuals working in school safety who want to know more about CVI and schools.
Free to Learn Miniseries (December 6, 13, January 17, February 14) – This series, hosted by the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, will offer webinars focusing on evidence-based practices to prevent, address, and ameliorate the effects of bullying, violence and hate while also supporting school safety, school-based mental health, and positive school climates. The series will provide these strategies at the key moments in a student and family’s school experience as they enter the school or classroom, engage with learning and extracurricular activities, navigate circumstances that might result in differences of opinion or conflict, and utilize various supports and opportunities to enhance their school experiences and academic achievement.
Preventing Mass Attacks in Our Communities (December 6, February 5, April 4) – This virtual training event, hosted by the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), will cover important findings from NTAC’s research on mass attacks perpetrated in public and semi-public spaces, including businesses, restaurants, bars, retail outlets, houses of worship, schools, open spaces, and more. This training will provide guidance on how communities may develop or improve existing violence prevention programs utilizing a behavioral threat assessment model.
Enhancing School Safety Using Behavioral Threat Assessment (January 9, March 8) – This virtual training event, hosted by NTAC, will highlight the key findings and implications from NTAC’s research on school violence prevention. Attendees will learn about the background, thinking, and behavior of school attackers and how some schools discovered and stopped plots before violence occurred. This training will also provide guidance on how schools may develop or improve existing violence prevention programs utilizing a behavioral threat assessment model.
Visit the SchoolSafety.gov Events Page for additional school safety-related webinars, conferences, and more.
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School Safety Resources
Mental Health Resources
Trauma-Informed Resilience-Oriented Schools Toolkit
This toolkit outlines a framework for implementing trauma-informed, resilience-oriented approaches in any school or school district. It utilizes tools, videos, professional development slide decks, and concise instruction to explain the concepts of trauma and toxic stress; offers individual and school-wide strategies for addressing trauma and fostering resilience for students, staff, and families; and offers strategies to assess the impact of these adaptations throughout the school community.
Targeted Violence Resources
Physical Security Measures Overview
This guide provides a snapshot of what physical security measures are and how they can be implemented in a school. It highlights research-based considerations and evidence on specific security measures, as well as what to consider when utilizing selected measures in a school building.
Preventing and Responding to Bias and Hate Incidents in K-12 Educational Settings: A Toolkit for School and Community Leaders
This webpage provides school and community leaders with information and strategies to create safe and inclusive learning environments free of harassment and discrimination. It includes best practices to facilitate difficult conversations and equip schools to prepare for, mitigate, and respond to bias and hate incidents.
Resources for Action to Prevent Violence
These resources were developed to help states and communities take advantage of the best available evidence to prevent or reduce violence. Each package is intended as a resource to guide and inform prevention decision-making and include topics such as preventing Adverse Child Experiences, child abuse and neglect, suicide, youth violence, sexual violence, and intimate partner violence.
Additional School Safety Resources
Multihazard Emergency Planning for Schools
These resources are designed to help schools and districts conduct training, plan, and prepare for a wide range of hazards including public health emergencies, natural disasters, and school violence.
Strategies to Create a Healthy and Supportive School Environment
This webpage provides strategies and resources to create healthy and supportive school environments and strengthen students’ emotional well-being.
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.
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.
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