Presentation

Establishing Interdisciplinary Communication & Collaboration for K12 Threat Assessment

(Lina Alathari & Susan Payne)

This session will provide an overview of best practices for prevention, threat assessment, and safety planning in K-12 schools.  Attendees will begin with the components of a comprehensive threat assessment program, including actionable steps that schools can take to identify students who may be exhibiting concerning behaviors, gather information on the background and behaviors of concerning students, assess whether students pose a risk to themselves or others, and risk management strategies and interventions. The session will discuss engaging students, parents, and staff to be part of the prevention and recovery solution, reporting tools, accountability of these mechanisms, and follow up strategies.

Biography

Dr. Lina Alathari is the Chief of the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), where she oversees the center’s targeted violence behavioral research program. NTAC research has identified behaviors, motives, and triggers leading to targeted violence, including school and workplace violence, terrorism, and mass attacks in public spaces. Dr. Alathari also oversees NTAC’s training and consultation programs, and frequently presents on threat assessment to government agencies, law enforcement, international security agencies, schools, and corporations. Earlier, Dr. Alathari oversaw the behavior management program for patients who posed a risk for violence, self-harm, and suicide and the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute.