Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines Workshop Coming in June

Heartland AEA is pleased to offer The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) workshop on June 12, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CSTAG is an evidence-based model for schools to use in conducting threat assessments of students. Behavioral threat assessment and management (often referred to as threat assessment) is a systematic approach to violence prevention intended to identify and mitigate serious threats from cases in which the threat is not serious (Vossekuil, Fein, Reddy, Borum, & Modzeleski, 2002).

School threat assessment is a proactive and flexible violence prevention practice that is used when an individual threatens to commit a violent act or engages in threatening behavior. Threat assessment includes the identification, assessment and management of threats to resolve conflicts or problems before they escalate into violence. The CSTAG school threat assessment model allows school‐based teams to follow a decision‐tree process to resolve less serious, transient threats quickly while focusing greater attention on more serious, substantive threats. This is a great support/supplement for the recent legislation, HF604 “Disruptive Students and Teacher Complaints.”

This is a team training opportunity. Each participating school/district is asked to identify a threat assessment team to attend the workshop. A typical team will include a school administrator (e.g., principal or assistant principal), one or more mental health professionals (such as a school counselor or school-based mental health provider) and a law enforcement officer (often a school resource officer).

Depending on school staffing patterns, some schools may choose to include teachers, a school nurse, or others who have expertise to support the team. While AEA staff may be a support or provide consultation to a building or district threat assessment team, we do not recommend they be a standing member on the
team. School-based team members are preferred because they know the students, they can respond quickly, and they will be able to implement and monitor interventions.

We understand the importance of a developmental and systems perspective to help school staff make good decisions that both maintain school safety and help students be successful. This workshop is designed to meet both of those goals.

Heartland AEA will cover the cost of the workshop; schools/districts will just need to purchase the CSTAG manual (the manual cost ranges from $45-$50, depending on the total quantity purchased). It is recommended that each participant have their own copy of the manual. The use of the manual is critical to
achieving fidelity of implementation.

June 12, 2024
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Registration: HL – The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) (Course # 216129), Section 318967.

** Please note: Each team member will need to register.
** If you have any questions, contact your regional director and/or Jadie Boens, Director of Social, Emotional, Behavior & Mental Health Services.