Erie 2-chautauqua-cattaraugus board of cooperative educational services (E2CCBOCES) will increase school safety at all eight of its educational sites and 27 component districts by expanding and…

Erie 2-chautauqua-cattaraugus board of cooperative educational services (E2CCBOCES) will increase school safety at all eight of its educational sites and 27 component districts by expanding and enhancing the tools and resources they provide students and teachers to recognize, respond quickly to, and prevent acts of violence. Schools will be trained to identify threats before they materialize, including those that originate from individuals with mental health issues. Multidisciplinary behavioral threat assessment and intervention teams will train, educate, prepare, and coordinate with law enforcement agencies, behavioral health specialists, community stakeholders, and school personnel to increase safety by implementing school safety strategies and solutions that assist in the prevention of violence across cattaraugus, chautauqua, and erie counties. The program will also support an anonymous reporting system. The expansion of related training activities will include workshops for staff and students to improve communications within their schools and communities to help ensure people know how to effectively utilize the reporting system taking full advantage of its capabilities, including use of a mobile phone application, website, and crisis hotline. In addition, E2CCBOCES will implement social emotional learning and restorative practices programs with the aim of creating a more positive and supportive learning environment where fewer conflicts occur, and those that do arise can be addressed effectively.