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Behavioral Threat Assessment – Checklist, Training & More

Why Consider Behavioral Threat Assessment For Your School

The National Association of School Psychologists has called Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) an important component of a comprehensive approach to school safety. As an alternative to counterproductive zero-tolerance discipline policies, BTA and school threat assessment teams can prevent violence in schools. 

This is why the U.S. Departments of Education, Justice and Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) all recommend BTA. At least 10 states require schools to establish BTA teams/processes, and many others have proposed similar legislation. Don’t wait for the state to compel you – see directly how Behavioral Threat Assessment can make a big difference in your school. 

What is Behavioral Threat Assessment?

Behavioral threat assessment is a process designed to identify, analyze and manage threats to prevent violence. This collaborative, multidisciplinary approach is used in schools and elsewhere. Using scientific methodology, BTA teams determine the severity of threats and plan intervention to support and protect potential victims and offenders.

Why It Should Be Used In Your School

Behavioral Threat Assessment is important because it creates a culture of safety and respect. Chiefly, it equips schools to get ahead of threats by recognizing and identifying concerning behaviors from students, staff and even outside sources. 

Instead of connecting the dots after a tragedy, BTA offers schools a proactive assessment and intervention process that’s backed by behavioral experts. The threat assessment team works to uncover the offender’s motive and intervene to avoid other risky behavior (drug and/or alcohol use, physical abuse, dropping out, suicide, and more). While many schools lack the ability to provide ample mental health professionals in every building, this process equips your current staff with a multi-disciplinary BTA team to connect at-risk students with community resources that can assist them before it’s too late.

Advantages of Using Navigate360 Behavioral Threat Assessment Case Manager

Navigate360’s Behavioral Threat Assessment Case Manager helps BTA teams in schools across the country break down information silos and save time to reduce bullying, acts of violence and self-harm, and to improve educational outcomes. 

Specifically, when you partner with Navigate360, your BTA team benefits from: 

  • Data sharing across multiple disciplines and systems
  • Automated student and case transfer
  • Streamlined documentation, reporting and analytics
  • Comprehensive case management
  • Easy sharing with outside agencies
  • Secure, cloud-based storage of sensitive information
  • CSTAG Level 1 (individual eLearning) & Level 2 (virtual team workshops) training 

Two Different Types of Behavioral Threat Assessment Models

Navigate360 deploys two of the most widely used behavioral threat assessment models: the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) and the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG). So, no matter which model you choose, your team will fully assess, document and create a path to resolution for any threat quickly and efficiently.

  • National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) 

NTAC offers a reputable methodology that guides your team through screening cases, gathering information and analyzing resulting data. NTAC uses U.S. Secret Service guidelines for threat assessment, including 11 questions that aim to identify, investigate and manage individuals of concern. 

  • Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG)

Navigate360 works directly in partnership with Dr. Dewey Cornell to build out the CSTAG model in our BTA software. Dr. Cornell developed CSTAG at the University of Virginia through years of research in schools. The model provides a research-supported decision tree style process to ensure student mental health is assessed and addressed before any action is taken. Additionally, the model is prescriptive throughout to reach a resolution quickly. With a focus on helping students in distress and putting them on the correct path, the CSTAG approach has been shown to reduce suspensions and improve students’ overall wellbeing at school.

Behavioral Threat Assessment Manager

Navigate360’s Behavior Threat Assessment Manager technology streamlines your efforts to help students and prevent violence. Our rigorously-evaluated approach and simple user interface guides your team step-by-step through the process:

  • SCREEN: Identify whether there is imminent danger, and determine the need for a full threat assessment investigation.
  • GATHER: Obtain and create a record of information from knowledgeable sources including parents, students, teachers, other school staff, etc.
  • ANALYZE: Understand specific concerns regarding the person, motive, targets, and ability to carry out an act of violence. 
  • ASSESS: Use these insights to determine whether the person or situation poses the threat of violence.
  • MANAGE: Determine the appropriate course of action and response plan for the identified threat.

Contact Us To Learn More About Our Behavioral Threat Assessment Offerings

Give your team the tools to help move someone off a path of violence. 

Contact us today to learn more about Navigate360 Behavioral Threat Assessment Case Manager and Training for your school. 

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