Implementing Behavior Threat Assessments with Fidelity - Queen Anne's County Public Schools

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Queen Anne’s County Public Schools proposes this project to further enhance the development
and implementation of Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) teams across the district. This
project will further build upon an already ongoing statewide and local effort to address the
problem of school violence through prevention and intervention efforts to support students.
Despite efforts to implement an evidenced-based BTA in the district, schools continue to
experience challenges relate to establishing and maintaining fully trained multidisciplinary BTA
teams; tracking and storing assessment and intervention information; consistency in procedures
across the district’s campuses. To successfully implement an evidence-based BTA program in its
schools, the QACPS needs to provide ongoing, accessible training to entire teams to ensure all
team members understand the purpose and processes involved in BTA. Additionally, the district
needs to train non-team members in their role in the program. Finally, a focus is needed on
efficient and effective case management to ensure that post-assessment, students receive the
supports and interventions they need to be successful in school.
To address these challenges, QACPS proposes to enhance the implementation of
multidisciplinary threat assessment teams by delivering the evidence based CSTAG model
through a high-quality eLearning training platform for school teams to build, strengthen, and
maintain knowledge and skills in threat assessment and suicide prevention. Threat assessment
training includes eLearning modules and interactive virtual or in-person team training that
provide both the background needed to implement threat assessment and the practical hands-on
skills. The district will also work with local law enforcement agencies to offer CSTAG
eLearning training modules designed specifically for law enforcement and the staff modules
designed for educators who are not specifically serving on a team. The case management
software will guide multidisciplinary teams as they document and assess cases, and more
effectively implement harm reduction plans for at-risk students that are trauma-informed and
developmentally appropriate. These tools will be made available to campuses over a 36-month
period using a cyclical and phased approach to implementation. Specific elements are also
embedded within our proposal that will ensure these activities have the long-term impacts
desired beyond the life of the grant.

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