Services Provided by John Van Dreal Consulting

PREVENTIVE BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT

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Systemic, Collaborative Threat Assessment

This one- or two-day comprehensive training focuses on building a sustainable, community-based violence prevention and behavioral threat assessment system composed of school site-based Level 1 teams and a community-based Level 2 team. The Level 1 teams should include school administrators, school-based mental health professionals, and school resource officers. The Level 2 team should include district-level administrators and mental health and assessment practitioners, administrators, and practitioners from community mental health services, representatives from juvenile services and law enforcement, and other community agencies available to support the team. The training provides the following:

• All of the forms, directions, and protocols necessary to implement a comprehensive preventive behavioral threat assessment system

• A review of the basic concepts of violence prevention and behavioral threat assessment and management

• A review of youth violence, examining research and best practice prescriptive recommendations for assessment and management

• A review of the dynamics and risk factors for reactive aggression, teen dating aggression, and targeted violence within in K-12 schools

• The use of preventive behavioral threat assessment, equity, inclusion, restorative practice, and trauma informed care to decrease expulsions, arrests, and dismantle the school to prison pipeline

• An examination of bias and how to avoid it through collaborative assessment and training

• The application of threat assessment concepts and research in a site-based protocol, called a Level, as well as the Level 1 ancillary documents

• Instruction on the use of the Level 1 protocol

• The application of threat assessment concepts and research in a community-based protocol, called a Level 2

• Direct instruction on conducting Level 2 assessments

• A review of a centralized and community-based Level 2 threat assessment system as support to each school district’s Level 1 teams and as a regional resource

• A review of local and regional resources and implementation issues within each school district as well as available youth-serving agency support for a community-based, Level 2 team

• A brainstorming process to adapt the Level 2 team to those available resources

• Case study exercises as example of application

• Q and A

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General Preventive Behavioral Threat Assessment Training

This training assists behavioral threat assessment teams, staff members, students, parents, and the community in identifying risk factors, prevention strategies, and management options for violent behavior. The information provided highlights how school and community attacks can be prevented when staff and community members understand threatening behavior, know how to identify signs of attack, and then move quickly to assess and de-escalate a situation.

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Basic Training in School Preventive Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management

Pre-scheduled, one day classes that will assist professionals from schools and partnering agencies in identifying risk factors, prevention strategies, and management options for violent behavior, such as school shootings. The information provided will highlight how threats of violence can be systematically investigated and how school and community attacks can be prevented when staff and community members understand threatening behavior, know how to identify signs of attack, and then move quickly to assess and de-escalate a situation. With the Salem-Keizer Cascade preventive behavioral threat assessment system as a model, the presentation will provide a template for building a sustainable, school-based prevention and threat assessment system composed of school site teams and a community-based collaboration. Click here for class schedule and location. 

 

Assessing Student Threats in the School: Using the Site-Based Level 1 Student Threat Assessment Protocol

This training presumes that a community support team either exists or is being created (see training noted above). The one-day training focuses on building or maintaining sustainable, site-based Level 1 threat assessment teams within the schools. Instruction focuses on implementation of the Level 1 protocol and the basics of threat assessment. The Level 1 teams should include school administrators, school-based mental health professionals, and school resource officers (or community law enforcement). The training provides the following:

• All of the forms, directions, and protocols necessary to implement a comprehensive preventive behavioral threat assessment system

• The basic concepts of preventive behavioral threat assessment with a focus on youth risk factors

• A brief review of supportive research and best-practice prescriptive recommendations for behavioral assessment and management

• A review of the dynamics and risk factors for reactive aggression, teen dating aggression, and targeted violence within in K-12 schools

• The use of preventive behavioral threat assessment, equity, inclusion, restorative practice, and trauma informed care to decrease expulsions, arrests, and dismantle the school to prison pipeline

• An examination of bias and how to avoid it through collaborative assessment and training

• The application of threat assessment concepts and research in a site-based protocol, called a Level, as well as the Level 1 ancillary documents

• Direct instruction on conducting Level 1 threat assessments at a school level, including the process for referral to a community-based Level 2 threat assessment support team

• Case review and lab exercises demonstrating the Level 1 threat assessment process

• Q & A session and problem solving that addresses each school district’s unique needs

 

Preventive Behavioral Threat Assessment System Review

This service provides a review of preventive behavioral threat assessment and management concepts and protocol instructions for those who have been previously trained. The review can focus on site-based material (Level 1), community-based material (Level 2), or both.

 

Behavioral Threat Assessment System Audit

This service provides an evaluation of existing behavioral threat assessment and management systems, followed by consultation and recommendations for revision and improvement if needed. The evaluation includes an examination of current functioning and case work, interviews of threat assessment team members and key stakeholders, a review of completed assessments and management plans, and an observation of team meetings. The consultation additionally includes an analysis of team functioning, comparisons with current leading practices, and recommendations for refining the preventive threat assessment and management system.

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Developing a Community-Based Level 2 Preventive Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Team: Level 2 Scenario Review

This training focuses on improving a sustainable, community-based Level 2 team. The course provides a brief review of basic concepts and practice of preventive behavioral threat assessment and threat management using a variety of case studies. Finally, the team addresses questions and concerns regarding sustainability and application.

 

 

Referral Services

John Van Dreal Consulting no longer provides the following services but has access to a network of experts who are available by direct referral. We would be happy to advise, direct, and make introductions. Contact us for further information.

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SCHOOL SECURITY

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School Safety/Security Systems Consultation and Fidelity Audit

This service provides an in-depth examination of an organization’s threat assessment systems, emergency response and management structures, and active-shooter response procedures. Once the audit is complete, recommendations for revision, expansion, and improvement based on leading practice and pragmatic, cost-efficient options are provided.

 

Comprehensive School Security: Prevention, Preparation, Response, Recovery

This one- or two-day training can include the basics of threat assessment, as well as active-shooter/violent-intruder response and mitigation. The presentation highlights a comprehensive and seamless safety, security, and risk management system that, in addition to managing physical security, covers the full continuum of operational safety measures. Specifically, the presenter will review educational tools used to reinforce employee awareness of the behavioral indicators of potential violence, along with the use of school preventive behavioral threat assessment protocols and prevention strategies to address potentially violent situations. Organized measures to train staff members on lockdown procedures and the use of options-based decision-making strategies to mitigate the impact of violence are also shared. The presentation concludes by outlining post-crisis recovery operations planning as a necessary preparatory measure within a comprehensive safety structure.

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Managing Trespasses, De-Escalation, and Building Bridges with Hostile Parents

This half-day training provides strategies for communicating with adults prior to trespassing them from schools. The material focuses on building relationship bridges to avoid trespasses, and provides situational thresholds that require trespass. Additionally, attendees receive organizational and tracking strategies for managing trespasses, along with constructive pathways for bringing trespassed parents back into the school as responsible contributors to their children’s educational experience.

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Training Non-Security Staff Members to Think with a Security Lens: Violence Prevention and Mitigation through Options-Based Decision Making

Train the trainer workshop provides the necessary information and instructional strategy for security professionals and administrators to teach options-based decision making, a defensive strategy tailored to the education community for use during extremely dangerous situations. Teaching others options thinking prepares them to identify potential violence, report their concerns, avoid or mitigate danger, and protect themselves and others during a violent event, such as one involving an active shooter. It instructs employees to gather and use important information during such an emergency, providing them with skills to avoid danger, de-escalate aggressive people, and survive.

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Creating and Using an Emergency Operations Center to Address Lockdowns and Other Emergencies in the School

This half-day training provides the steps and structure for building an emergency incident command structure within an education environment. While the presentation does not specifically teach incident command, it does highlight the needed information and basic principles, team building, the construction of an emergency operations center (EOC), and the use of that system to address lockdowns and other emergencies.

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Web Based Case Management Solutions

John Van Dreal Consulting is proud to partner with Public Consulting Group to bring leading technology and training solutions to school threat assessment teams and school districts using or considering the Salem-Keizer Cascade prevention system. PCG's web-based platform incorporates the Salem-Keizer Cascade Model and robust case management solutions to ensure that teams are operating with fidelity. Follow this link to learn more about the EDPlan Student Behavioral Threat Assessment and Suicide Risk Assessment Solution.

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Online Preventive Behavioral Threat Assessment Training

John Van Dreal Consulting is proud to partner with Public Consulting Group to bring leading technology and training solutions to school threat assessment teams and school districts using or considering the Salem-Keizer Cascade prevention system. Site-based, Level 1 and community-based, Level 2 training programs are available through PCG’s online learning management system. Follow this link to learn more about online preventive behavioral threat assessment training.

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RESPONSE TRAINING

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Options-Based Decision-Making: Implementing Effective Lockdown Strategies and Active Shooter/Violent Intruder Response

This training reviews successful preparatory strategies for assessing, avoiding, and mitigating danger while protecting self and others. Options-based decision making is a defensive safety strategy tailored to the education community for use during extremely dangerous situations, such as one involving an active shooter. It is a construct that builds on the established professional skills of educators, a sense of self-protection, and the ability to gather and use important information during a crisis as a means of improving strategies to avoid danger, de-escalate aggressive people, and survive.

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De-Escalation Training: Addressing and De-Escalating Hostile, Angry, and Potentially Combative Adults (Including Parents, Walk-In Visitors, Transient Visitors) and Creating De-Escalation Teams

This half-day training reviews the dynamics and indicators of escalating behavior, as well as the indicators of potential aggression within a reactive, emotional situation. The material reviews techniques for de-escalation and provides instruction on creating and training meet-and-greet teams that safely and systematically intervene in situations involving people who are emotionally elevated, angry, or even aggressive. The material also provides strategies for building communication bridges with people who are confrontational, demanding, and disrespectful.

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PROBLEMATIC SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IDENTIFICATION AND RESPONSE

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School-Based Assessment and Management of Problematic Sexual Behavior

This one-day training focuses on building a sustainable, community-based assessment system to address problematic sexual behavior (PSB) in schools. The system is composed of a school site-based Level 1 Team and a community-based Level 2 Team. Level 1 Teams should include school administrators, school-based mental health professionals, and school resource officers. Level 2 Teams should include district-level administrators and mental health and assessment practitioners; administrators and practitioners from community mental health services; representatives from juvenile services; and law enforcement and other community agencies available to support the team.

 

The training provides the following:

• A review of the basic concepts of assessment for problematic sexual behavior

• A review of problematic sexual behavior in youth, examining research and best-practice prescriptive recommendations for assessment and management

• A review of the dynamics and risk factors for problematic sexual behavior within K–12 schools

• The application of assessment concepts and research in a site-based protocol, called Level 1, and instruction on the use of the Level 1 protocol

• The application of assessment concepts and research in a community-based protocol, called Level 2, and direct instruction on conducting Level 2 assessments

• A review of a centralized and community-based Level 2 assessment system in support of each school district’s Level 1 Teams and as a regional resource

• A review of local and regional resources and implementation issues within each school district, as well as available youth-serving agency support for a community-based Level 2 Team

• An examination of prevention strategies aimed at improving school safety

• A brainstorming process to adapt the Level 2 Team to available resources

• Case study exercises as examples of successful application

• A question-and-answer session

 

Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children

This half-day training assists sexual incident response teams, staff members, students, parents, and the community in identifying risk factors, prevention strategies, and management options for problematic sexual behavior in children. The information provided highlights how problematic sexual behavior in children can be easily identified and addressed in school and community settings to prevent the contagion effects commonly associated with such behavior and increase school and community safety.

 

Adult Sexual Misconduct in Schools

This one-day training assists school staff members, students, parents, and the community in identifying and addressing problematic sexual behavior and sexual misconduct in adults working in schools. The information provided highlights how problematic sexual behavior in adults who work closely with children can be easily identified and addressed in school and community settings to prevent the contagion effects commonly associated with such behavior and increase school and community safety. Attendees will learn how to identify poor interpersonal boundaries, grooming behaviors, and other risk factors commonly noted among adults who sexually harm children, with special consideration given to Title IX and how schools can incorporate this information to improve campus safety and address problematic sexual behavior, sexual harassment, and poorly defined sexual boundaries with school staff.

 

Addressing Problematic Sexual Behavior in the School: Using the Site-Based Level 1 Sexual Incident Response Protocol

This training presumes that a community support team either exists or is being created (see training noted above). The one-day training focuses on building or maintaining sustainable, site-based Level 1 Teams for problematic sexual behavior within schools. Instruction focuses on implementation of the Level 1 protocol and the basics of understanding problematic sexual behavior in children. The Level 1 Teams should include school administrators, school-based mental health professionals, and school resource officers (or community law enforcement).

 

The training provides the following:

• The basic concepts of problematic sexual behavior in children

• A brief review of supportive research and best-practice prescriptive recommendations for assessment and management

• The application of assessment concepts and research in a site-based process, called the Level 1 protocol

• Direct instruction on conducting Level 1 assessments of problematic sexual behavior in children at the school level, including the process for referral to a community-based Level 2 Team for assessment and support

• Case review and lab exercises demonstrating the Level 1 assessment process

• A question-and-answer session and problem-solving recommendations that address each school district’s unique needs

 

Problematic Sexual Behavior Assessment System Review

This service provides a review of school-based assessment and management of problematic sexual behavior in children, as well as a review of protocol instructions for those who have been previously trained. The review can focus on site-based material (Level 1), community-based material (Level 2), or both.

 

Problematic Sexual Behavior Assessment System Audit

This service provides an evaluation of existing problematic sexual behavior assessment and management systems, followed by consultation and recommendations for revision and improvement if needed. The evaluation includes an examination of current functioning and case work; interviews of assessment team members and key stakeholders; a review of completed assessments and management plans; and an observation of team meetings. The consultation additionally includes an analysis of team functioning; comparisons with current leading practices; and recommendations for refining the assessment and management system.

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Developing a Community-Based Level 2 Prevention, Assessment, and Management Team for Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children: Level 2 Scenario Review

This training focuses on improving a sustainable, community-based Level 2 Team. The course provides a brief review of the basic concepts and practice of preventive assessment and management for problematic sexual behavior in children using a variety of case studies. Finally, the team addresses questions and concerns regarding the protocol’s sustainability and application.

 

Problematic Sexual Behavior Assessment Team Coaching and Case Consultation

With this service, the consultant provides assistance and support to districts and other institutions by participating in problematic sexual behavior assessment and management team meetings as a practitioner and a resource. The consultation focuses on existing cases, team procedures, the decision-making process, and resource exploration.