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CSTAG Training

Equip teams to identify, assess, & support student well-being.

Provide staff with the expert-led training they need to implement effective behavioral threat assessment protocols. Created in partnership with Dr. Dewey Cornell, this training equips staff to identify potential threats, prevent violence, and promote a culture of safety.  

Enable your multi-disciplinary teams to act quickly and effectively when a student is at risk with Navigate360 CSTAG Training.

CSTAG Training

Empower Your Team with CSTAG Training

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Improved Risk Identification

Equip team members with the knowledge and skills to identify and assess early warning signs and risk factors

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Expanded Expertise

Build expertise on threat assessment principles, protocols, and best practices

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Proactive Prevention & Intervention Strategies

Equip team members to identify and address potential threats with proactive prevention and intervention strategies

CSTAG Level 1 Training

CSTAG Level 1 – Revised & Enhanced for 2024

This two-part asynchronous eLearning series has been redesigned for increased efficiency and faster completion. Equip your staff to deepen their understanding of threat assessment, learn execution strategies, and receive comprehensive training on the CSTAG model from leading experts. Participants will learn:

  • Best practices and common errors 
  • Effective safety interview techniques 
  • FERPA compliance 
  • Importance of fairness and equity 
  • Application of knowledge in complex case exercises.
CSTAG Level 2 Training

CSTAG Level 2

Prepare staff with this a 4-hour workshop led by Dr. Cornell or his trainers, either on-site or virtually. Throughout the session, teams collaborate on case exercises using the CSTAG model, gradually increasing in complexity to enhance analysis and teamwork skills. Completing both tiers of training equips your school-based threat assessment teams to evaluate and manage complex situations accurately and efficiently.

        CSTAG Training for Law Enforcement

        CSTAG for Law Enforcement in Schools

        Support law enforcement officers on your campus with this self-paced, one-hour asynchronous online course. Law enforcement officers will gain insights into behavioral threat assessment, their role on multidisciplinary teams, and the application of the CSTAG model within school environments.

              CSTAG Training for School Staff

              CSTAG for School Staff

              Provide support staff with this one-hour course during which they will gain an overview of the CSTAG model and discover ways to support behavioral threat assessment and violence prevention efforts on your campus.

                    Building Confidence with CSTAG Training

                    Subject Matter Expert Spotlight

                    Dewey Cornell, Ph.D.

                    Navigate360 partners with Dr. Cornell, a forensic clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Virginia. As the principal author of CSTAG, he collaborated with our development team to integrate the methodology into our case management software, ensuring fidelity and providing ongoing guidance. Additionally, Dr. Cornell worked with our curriculum team to design exclusive CSTAG Level 1 and Level 2 training programs.

                          Dr. Dewey Cornell, principal author of CSTAG

                          Katherine Schweit

                          Katherine Schweit, an attorney, security consultant, and retired FBI special agent, brings invaluable expertise to Navigate360. As the creator of the FBI’s Active Shooter program and author of “Stop the Killing,” she collaborated with our team and Dr. Cornell to develop the CSTAG for Law Enforcement training course. This course aims to educate law enforcement on their role within multidisciplinary school behavioral threat assessment teams.

                                Katherine Schweit

                                Dr. Sharmila Mehta

                                Dr. Sharmila Mehta is the Director of Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychology for the Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School. She has experience in psychological and threat assessments for adolescent inpatients and is a national school threat assessment trainer and consultant to schools and agencies serving youth for School Threat Assessment Consultants. 

                                      Dr. Sharmila Mehta

                                      Dr. Talisha Bond

                                      Dr. Talisha Bond is a clinical psychologist and school psychologist for DC Public Schools. She was a member of the UVA Youth Violence Project research team and contributed to the research and development of the CSTAG model, and now maintains her own private practice in Maryland, working with children from 4-18 years old.

                                            Dr. Talisha Bond

                                            CSTAG Training: Frequently Asked Questions

                                            What is CSTAG Team Training and does my school need it?

                                            Effective teams need excellent training. Exclusively through Navigate360, you can provide the most complete behavioral threat assessment training that prepares your teams to implement the CSTAG model with high fidelity.

                                            What does “CSTAG” stand for?

                                            CSTAG stands for Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines.

                                            What makes CSTAG training unique from other behavioral threat assessment team training?

                                            Navigate360 is the only school safety partner to provide CSTAG eLearning curriculum supported by more than 20 years of research, including controlled studies demonstrating safety and effectiveness.

                                            Be better equipped to identify, assess, & support student well-being.

                                            Connect with a Navigate360 safety and well-being expert to discuss your CSTAG Training needs.

                                            Set a course for zero incidents.

                                            Take a layered, holistic approach to school safety with Navigate360 technology, training, and guidance to move you closer to your goal.

                                            Discover more Navigate360 Detection & Prevention solutions.

                                            Detection & Prevention

                                            CSTAG: The Gold Standard in School Threat Assessment

                                            The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), developed by Dr. Dewey Cornell, is a research-based framework designed to help schools identify, assess, and address threats in a systematic, fair, and effective way. CSTAG provides school teams with the tools they need to evaluate potential threats, ensure proper interventions, and prevent harmful incidents, all while fostering a positive school climate.

                                            What is CSTAG?

                                            CSTAG stands for Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines, a structured model that empowers schools to handle behavioral threats in a proactive and consistent manner. Developed through rigorous research, CSTAG is grounded in principles of early intervention, student support, and behavioral analysis. Its goal is to address threats in a way that prevents violence while avoiding punitive responses that could worsen underlying issues.

                                            The CSTAG model is widely recognized as one of the most effective approaches to school-based threat assessment. It provides a framework for forming multidisciplinary teams—including administrators, counselors, school psychologists, and school resource officers (SROs)—to collaboratively evaluate and manage threats.

                                            What Makes CSTAG Threat Assessment Effective?

                                            The CSTAG threat assessment process stands out for its emphasis on collaboration, intervention, and prevention. The model is built around five core steps that ensure every threat is properly evaluated and addressed:

                                            1. Identify and Report Threats: CSTAG starts with recognizing and documenting threats of harm. This could include verbal, written, or behavioral indicators.
                                            2. Gather and Analyze Information: Once a threat is identified, the team gathers detailed information about the situation, including context, intent, and the individual’s background. This stage focuses on understanding the root cause of the threat.
                                            3. Assess the Threat: Using CSTAG’s structured guidelines, the team evaluates whether the threat is transient (not serious or easily resolved) or substantive (serious and requiring further intervention).
                                            4. Determine a Response: For transient threats, resolution often involves clarifying misunderstandings or offering support. For substantive threats, the team creates a tailored response plan that could include mental health services, disciplinary action, and safety measures.
                                            5. Monitor and Support: CSTAG emphasizes ongoing monitoring to ensure that interventions are effective and that no new risks emerge. The focus remains on providing support to the student while maintaining safety for the broader school community.

                                            This approach ensures that all threats are taken seriously, but it avoids overreaction in cases where the threat may not pose a significant risk. It also prioritizes student well-being by addressing the underlying causes of the behavior, whether that involves mental health challenges, peer conflicts, or other issues.

                                            Why Schools Should Adopt CSTAG

                                            CSTAG is a comprehensive strategy for creating safer schools while promoting positive outcomes for students. The model has been adopted by thousands of schools nationwide, with research demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing suspensions, improving school climates, and preventing violence.

                                            Key benefits of CSTAG include:

                                            • Proven Effectiveness: The CSTAG model is evidence-based, with research showing that schools using CSTAG experience fewer incidents of violence and improved threat management outcomes.
                                            • Collaboration and Teamwork: CSTAG relies on multidisciplinary teams to assess and address threats. This collaborative approach ensures that multiple perspectives inform decision-making.
                                            • Supportive Interventions: Rather than focusing solely on punishment, CSTAG emphasizes supportive interventions to address the root causes of threatening behavior. This approach helps students access resources like counseling and mental health services.
                                            • Customization for Schools: CSTAG can be adapted to meet the unique needs of individual schools and districts, ensuring its effectiveness across diverse settings.

                                            CSTAG Training: Building Expertise for School Safety

                                            To implement the CSTAG model effectively, schools must ensure their teams receive proper training. CSTAG training equips educators, administrators, and school safety personnel with the knowledge to differentiate between transient and substantive threats, evaluate risks, and develop tailored intervention plans. It also emphasizes compliance with legal and ethical considerations, ensuring adherence to school safety laws and policies.

                                            By mastering these techniques, school teams can confidently align their threat assessment processes with CSTAG’s evidence-based principles to create safer learning environments.

                                            Take Action: Implement CSTAG in Your School

                                            Whether you’re looking to enhance existing safety protocols or establish a robust threat assessment process, the CSTAG model offers a reliable, research-backed solution. By adopting CSTAG, your school can proactively address threats, reduce violence, and foster a safe and supportive environment for all students.

                                            Contact Navigate360 today to learn more about CSTAG training and how you can bring this proven threat assessment model to your school. Equip your team with the tools to assess threats effectively, respond compassionately, and build a safer future for your school community.