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Mark Kraft, M.Ed., is currently the District Threat Management Coordinator for Volusia County Schools in DeLand, Florida. He completed his master’s in educational leadership at Grand Canyon University. Mark has significant experience working with youth at all levels, elementary, secondary, and undergraduate. He was an instructor at Salisbury State University, St. John’s County Juvenile Detention Center, and Silver Sands Middle School. He took on administrative roles at the middle and high school levels, where he focused on discipline and MTSS. With his relevant background, he was selected to be Volusia County School District’s Threat Management Coordinator for the new Florida Harm Prevention and Threat Management Model. He is dedicated to ensuring Volusia County Schools, its students, staff and all community members are kept safe, and the students of concern are provided with the assistance that is needed.
SESSIONS
Harmony Amidst Chaos: Mental Wellness and Risk Prevention
Mental health plays a critical role in effectively managing threats within schools. Today, more than ever, our goal is to create a safe and supportive environment for students while addressing prospective dangers and concerning behaviors. This presentation aims to foster a holistic approach that ensures student safety while addressing potential threats. Through an Interconnected Systems Framework we can combine systems and practices to improve outcomes for our students.This presentation will discuss the integration of mental health in enhancing school safety and management. For this to occur, we must understand the framework of behavioral threat management teams and the importance of multidisciplinary teams. Additionally, the role of mental health with early interventions and promotion of well-being must not be understated when outlining the threat management process and looking at behavioral indicators and gathering data.
The symbiotic relationship between mental health and school safety is crucial for fostering a supportive and conducive learning environment. By supporting students who experience mental health challenges, school can promote better academic and behavioral outcomes. Providing access to mental health services can reduce difficulties related to mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being among students at risk. This comprehensive approach emphasizes the importance of addressing students’ emotional needs alongside safety measures. Through use of the identified risk assessment tool, the school district systematically identifies and evaluates potential threats, demonstrating a proactive approach to student safety. Partnered with training in mental health awareness and de-escalation techniques, empathy and understanding within the school community is fostered. Prioritizing mental health and safety creates a positive feedback loop: when students feel mentally well, they are more likely to engage in safe behaviors, and when schools prioritize safety, students’ mental well-being improves.
Learning Objectives
- Review the research and basic principles regarding the history and importance threat assessment and threat management.
- Identify the steps, developmental procedures, and protocols necessary to develop a tiered, multi-disciplinary, multi-agency threat management system.
- Understand the legal and ethical responsibilities within behavioral threat management in schools (i.e. privacy laws, reporting obligations, FERPA, and state legislation/requirements).
- Recognize interventions and supports in the areas of disciplinary/punitive actions, monitoring, skill development/resiliency building, school-based service interventions, and environment.