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Welcome to the Prevention Connection, a newsletter highlighting activities, resources, and information from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3).
Please note, inclusion of articles, research, and references to non-DHS organizations are for informational purposes only and does not constitute an official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or Federal Government. External links do not imply a relationship with, affiliation with, sponsorship of, or endorsement by the Department, nor do they imply that content has been authored by or represents the views or opinions of the Department, or ion of any commercial product or service
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I’m a big fan of New Year’s Eve. I think it is helpful and healthy for the calendar to serve us up a reminder each year to take stock of what we have accomplished and think about how we can improve in the coming year.
Taking Stock:
The targeted violence and terrorism prevention (TVTP) community of practice is growing and maturing more quickly than ever before. More and different governmental, professional, and geographic communities realize that targeted violence is preventable and they have an important role to play. We are proud to have contributed to that growth by awarding $18 million in TVTP Grant funding, sponsoring the Invent2Prevent student competition, conducting 3,189 in-person and virtual engagements, and publishing six widely downloaded, evidence-based Prevention Resources. This year CP3 delivered 387 trainings and hosted six Prevention Forums with nearly 3,000 attendees, partnered with an ever-increasing list of state governments on TVTP strategies, and spread the word through award-winning outreach and strategic communications platforms with a primary distribution channel of over 25,000 direct recipients.
Our New Year’s Resolutions:
The staff of CP3 looks forward to 2025. We hope to see an additional 10 state TVTP strategies published and enhanced efforts to support governors and their homeland security advisors to successfully implement existing strategies. We will continue investing in multidisciplinary behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM) teams and other promising practices through the FY25 TVTP Grant Program and strategic partnerships with National Threat Evaluation and Reporting Program, National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), and Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, as well as with mental health, behavioral health, and social protection organizations and professionals. This year, CP3 had 2047 engagements from Field Operations, a 122% increase from last year. In next year, CP3 aims to increase engagements by another 25%. We will research and publish another six evidence-based Prevention Resources, making them available to an even larger community of practice. Finally, CP3 looks to grow our multipronged strategic communications program by expanding the use of social media, video-promoted content, and other innovative tools.
Thank you for what you have done this year to keep your communities safe, and thank you in advance for carrying the TVTP mission forward in 2025 and beyond.
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State TVTP Strategy Development Gains Momentum with CP3 Support
A state-level strategy for targeted violence and terrorism prevention (TVTP) can help individual states strengthen public safety and address their unique and dynamic threat environments. Over the last few years, six states have published TVTP strategies (Colorado, Florida, Hawai’i, Illinois, New York, and Texas), and 10 additional states are currently in the drafting or publication process. CP3’s goal is to support the finalization of a minimum of 10 new state strategies. So far, 28 states have expressed interest in working with CP3 on a state strategy, some of which are taking initial steps toward drafting. CP3 provides states with guidance and support to navigate the complexities of developing a robust strategy. Read More...
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Texas Partners with CP3 to Build State Strategy in Violence Prevention
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has recognized the urgent need to strengthen TVTP efforts at the state level. To address this need, Texas DPS sought CP3’s help in designing a comprehensive behavioral threat assessment, intervention, and prevention program strategy. Read more about this effort in our blog. Read More...
CP3 Collaborates with Ohio to Create Statewide BTAM Strategies
Ohio continues to advance its statewide efforts to integrate BTAM with suicide prevention strategies, a focus highlighted in a recent meeting with local, state, and federal partners. Research shows that a narrow window often exists between the onset of suicidal ideation and self-harm, emphasizing the need for early identification and intervention. While suicidal ideation and violent behavior differ, recognizing suicide ideation signs is vital for preventing both suicide and, in some cases, externalized violence.
Crisis intervention teams are crucial in responding to individuals in crisis, while BTAM identifies concerning behaviors early, enabling multidisciplinary teams to intervene before a crisis occurs. By aligning these efforts, Ohio aims to improve early identification and provide a comprehensive response to those at risk.
CP3 engages with Ohio to encourage strategies to prevent targeted violence and terrorism, with over 130 engagements in FY24 at conferences, state summits, community prevention coalition meetings, hospitals, K-12 schools, and college campuses around Ohio.
CP3 Hosts Webinar on Recognizing Risk Factors
Recent data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that Utah has the highest reported rate of mental illness in the U.S., with nearly 30% of adults reporting mental health issues in the past year. Because mental illness is a risk factor for targeted violence, clinical health education is critical. A CP3 regional prevention coordinator hosted a webinar on pathways and risk factors associated with violence on Sept. 26. Over 100 Utah clinical providers participated.
CP3 Grantee Leads Cherokee Nation School Safety Summit in Oklahoma
The Cherokee Nation, like many communities across the country, faced growing concerns about school safety and targeted violence. Administrators, teachers, and school resource officers were tasked with finding effective ways to prevent school violence, protect students, and foster a culture of safety. With funding from DHS’s CP3 TVTP Grant Program, the Cherokee Nation was able to put on the Cherokee Nation School Safety Summit on July 18. Two CP3 regional prevention coordinators traveled to Oklahoma to serve as opening and break-out speakers at the event.
TVTP Grantee Urban Rural Action is “Uniting to Prevent Targeted Violence”
Through the TVTP Grant Program, CP3 provides funding to initiate, develop, or enhance sustainable prevention programs in local communities. One of the grantees, Urban Rural Action, operates out of Pennsylvania and recognized the same need to underscore the importance of violence prevention work in the U.S. Read More...
CP3 Prevention Forums Unwrapped
During 2024, CP3 held six successful Prevention Forums with 2,854 attendees. Expert panelists showcased how targeted violence and terrorism are preventable. Check back for more information on our 2025 Prevention Forum series.
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NTAC recently published Behavioral Threat Assessment Units: A Guide for State and Local Law Enforcement to Prevent Targeted Violence, which offers a framework for state and local law enforcement agencies to proactively identify and intervene with those who display threatening or concerning behavior in their communities.
A recently published study funded by the National Institute of Justice examines risk and protective factors by comparing violent or nonviolent criminal extremists to nonoffending extremists and other types of violent offenders.
The National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center, the Department of Homeland Security's Center of Excellence for terrorism prevention and counterterrorism research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, has recently published research on vicarious trauma in counterterrorism practitioners and how extremists recruit and engage followers online.
University Engagement Series Highlight
In September, CP3 presented on the public health-informed approach to preventing targeted violence in two University Engagement Series talks. The first session took place at the University of Maryland, engaging undergraduate students studying terrorism. The second was held virtually with students from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. These presentations highlighted CP3’s use of public health principles to address violence and encouraged students to explore their role in prevention efforts. If you are interested in organizing similar engagements, contact CP3PreventionEvents@hq.dhs.gov.
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Prevention Resource Finder
The Prevention Resource Finder (PRF) is expanding! Visit the expanded site, with nearly 200 resources, to find prevention tools to help keep your community safe.
Administered by CP3, the PRF is the one-stop federal website for government produced and funded resources to help your community prevent targeted violence and terrorism. The site includes training and funding opportunities, as well as evidence-based resources.
Contact the VVPP for more information on these resources and other grant-related activities.
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Our new video library makes it easy for you to watch CP3’s mini-series on related TVTP topics and the work being done by our nation's prevention providers.
CP3 works to create a culture of prevention for targeted violence and terrorism in the United States. To support this, we have added three new videos to the CP3 Video Resource Library, highlighting the mission behind CP3, a public health-informed approach to prevention, and the role of RPCs in communities. Our Video Resource Library is home to a growing collection of videos that CP3 has created for prevention providers, students, researchers, and the public.
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Until Next Time
For more information on CP3 programs and initiatives, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/cp3
Visit the Prevention Resource Finder for information to help prepare for and prevent targeted violence and terrorism.
To learn about the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program, contact TerrorismPrevention@hq.dhs.gov
Please note, inclusion of articles, research, and references to non-DHS organizations are for informational purposes only and does not constitute an official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or federal government. External links do not imply a relationship with, affiliation with, sponsorship of, or endorsement by the Department, nor do they imply that content has been authored by or represents the views or opinions of the Department, or promotion of any commercial product or service.
CP3 prioritizes privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties consistent with DHS legal authorities and policy. CP3 works to ensure that its programs include fundamental constitutional and legal protections. CP3 does not engage in widespread data collection or activities like law enforcement investigations or intelligence gathering. CP3 does not engage in censorship or encourage or facilitate any censorship. Government censorship of viewpoints not only infringes on individuals’ constitutional rights, but it is also an ineffective tactic to prevent targeted violence and terrorism.
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