The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS) has announced that it will be conducting eleven Behavioral and Threat Assessment Management (BTAM) trainings across the state of Wisconsin. These trainings aim to educate school administrators, mental health professionals, security personnel, community partners, and law enforcement on the importance of threat assessment in preventing violence in schools.
Attorney General Josh Kaul emphasized the need for proactive measures to ensure school safety, stating, "We must be proactive in working to keep our schools safe. The Office of School Safety is providing Behavioral and Threat Assessment Management trainings around the state to assist schools with their efforts to stop violence before it happens."
The trainings will be held in various regions of Wisconsin over the first half of the year, allowing for widespread access to BTAM training. The locations include Pewaukee, Whitewater, Fennimore, West Salem, Portage, Oshkosh, Green Bay, Gillett, Tomahawk, Chippewa Falls, and Turtle Lake.
The goal of these trainings is to equip school teams with practical applications and best practices for implementing BTAM strategies. By familiarizing participants with the BTAM process, clarifying team member roles and responsibilities, and increasing understanding of potential threats within schools, these trainings aim to develop effective intervention plans to manage and support individuals who may pose a threat. Additionally, community members will be provided with tools on what to report and where to report it, empowering them to play an active role in preventing violence.
In addition to the trainings, OSS offers a free eLearning module called "Foundations of Targeted Violence Prevention." This module, created in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis, National Threat Evaluation and Reporting office, aims to educate the public on identifying and reporting threatening or concerning behaviors. By providing this knowledge, the module offers an opportunity for intervention to prevent targeted violence.
The Office of School Safety (OSS) was initially supported by federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance. Although Wisconsin DOJ requested permanent funding for OSS in the recent biennial budget, the request went unfilled. To ensure the continuity of OSS operations, Wisconsin DOJ has reallocated $1,340,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds. This funding will support OSS activities, including the Speak Up, Speak Out 24-hour tipline, critical incident response teams, and threat assessment consultation, until the end of 2024.
With these behavioral and threat assessment management trainings, the Office of School Safety aims to empower schools and communities in Wisconsin to prevent acts of targeted violence and ensure the safety and security of students and staff.