Project abstract queen annes county public schools proposes this project to further enhance the development and implementation of behavioral threat assessment (BTA) teams across the district

This federal Project Grant award of $166,375.00 from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (CFDA 16.839 - STOP School Violence Program) will support Queen Annes County Public Schools (QACPS) in enhancing the implementation of multidisciplinary behavioral threat assessment (BTA) teams across the district. The key products and services to be delivered under this 36-month grant include:

1. Providing evidence-based BTA training through an eLearning platform to build knowledge and skills for school teams, as well as training for law enforcement and non-team school personnel.
2. Implementing a case management software system to help multidisciplinary teams document assessments, develop harm reduction plans, and more effectively support at-risk students.

This grant aims to address challenges QACPS has faced in establishing and maintaining fully trained BTA teams, tracking assessment and intervention information, and ensuring consistency in BTA procedures across the district. The project will be implemented over a three-year period starting on October 1, 2024.

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 districts 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. 101%