ALERT Helps Implement New Safety Protocol in Edmonton Schools

Edmonton| Threat Assessment

Edmonton… ALERT’s Integrated Threat and Risk Assessment Centre (ITRAC) has helped to implement new safety protocol in Edmonton Schools.

News release from Edmonton School Boards:

New Safety Protocol will Help Identify Imminent Threats to Schools and Communities

Edmonton Catholic Schools, Edmonton Public Schools and Greater North Central Francophone Schools are working with a number of community partners who are committed to making all schools and communities safe in Edmonton and the surrounding area. The Edmonton Community Threat Response and Intervention Support Protocol (C-TRISP) was created to share the details of an identified threat, to collaborate effectively, and to make use of a broad range of expertise in order to prevent and reduce imminent violence in schools and communities. In the fall of 2013, the process for developing the Protocol began by meeting with key partners with the common objective of maintaining safe and secure communities.

“The continued safety of students and staff is paramount in all we do,” said Joan Carr, Superintendent with Edmonton Catholic Schools. “By sharing information we can collaborate on preventative strategies that will reduce violence and maintain safety,” Carr went on to say.

The Protocol is based on the work of Kevin Cameron from the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response as well as the Government of Alberta’s Information Sharing for Human Service Providers in the Alberta Public Sector document. It also supports the timely sharing of information about students who pose a risk of violence towards themselves or others and follows a three step process:

Data collection and immediate risk reducing interventions,
Comprehensive multidisciplinary risk evaluation,
Multidisciplinary interventions.

“Schools are already among the safest places in our community because of our consistent and steadfast commitment to the well-being of our staff and students,” says Darrel Robertson, Superintendent for Edmonton Public Schools. “The signatures on this protocol represent a broad partnership in ensuring that safety remains at the forefront of everything we do in our schools.”This Protocol would not be possible without the commitment of the following partners:

Alberta Health Services
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
ALERT/ITRAC
City of Edmonton
Edmonton Catholic Schools
Edmonton Fire Rescue Services
Edmonton Police Service
Edmonton Public Schools
Greater North Central Francophone Schools
Native Counselling Services of Alberta
Royal Canadian Mounted Police “K” Division

When identifying a threat that involves a student in a school, Administrators will be able to use a Student Behaviour Response Chart as a guide. The Chart helps to pinpoint if the student is displaying low, moderate or high risk behaviours and how to respond. Depending on the perceived threat, the Protocol may be activated and partners will collaborate, assess and put into effect strategies to reduce potential violence.
“We are very pleased to be signatories to this important protocol for all Edmonton schools and partners,” said Henri Lemire, Superintendent of Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord. “The safety of our students and staff is a top priority. Thankfully, C-TRISP will ensure all partners can focus on providing a safe learning environment to all students. Merci à vous tous!”

An important component of the Protocol is ongoing staff development in violence threat risk assessment training. Edmonton Catholic Schools, Edmonton Public Schools and Greater North Central Francophone Schools will continue to train staff on how to identify and deal with an imminent threat.

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