(Annual Conference Series 1) Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM): Best Practices for K-12 Schools

Dr. Melissa Reeves (Full-Day Training via Webinar) will be presenting from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm on “Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM): Best Practices for K-12 Schools” (6-hours NASP Approved CPD Session).

This workshop will focus on the process and procedures needed to establish a consistent school/district-wide approach to behavioral threat assessment and management utilizing a multidisciplinary team. Critical factors discussed will include: current statistics, legal cases, post-incident reviews, and early identification of warning signs, primary prevention strategies to "break the code of silence; an overview of threat and risk assessment models and tools; assessment procedures; and strategies for interventions, postventions, and working with difficult parents.  Case study examples and forms will be shared to illustrate the process.  

Participants will learn:

• how to establish a consistent school- or district-wide approach to behavioral threat assessment.
• the critical factors contributing to risk to include current statistics and early identification of warning signs
• best practice guidelines as established by prior legal cases and lessons learned reports
• primary prevention strategies to break the code of silence
• how to assess for risk using best practice guidelines and procedures established by the US Secret Service and US Dept of Education
• strategies for interventions and postvention
• strategies for working with difficult parents
• from case study examples and shared forms that illustrate the BTAM screening and full assessment process

Presenter Bio: Melissa Reeves, PhD, NCSP, LPC, is an Associate Professor at Winthrop University. She is the Past President of the National Association of School Psychologists (2016–2017), a nationally certified school psychologist, licensed professional counselor, and licensed special education teacher. She has over 19 years’ experience working in public schools, a private school, and day and residential treatment programs. Dr. Reeves is a coauthor of the PREPaRE Crisis Prevention and Intervention curriculum and travels both nationally and internationally training professionals in crisis prevention and intervention, threat and suicide assessment, trauma and PTSD, and cognitive–behavioral interventions. She recently joined Sigma Threat Management Associates as a senior consultant and is also an advisor for Safe and Sound Schools, an organization founded by two parents who lost their children in the Sandy Hook tragedy. She has coauthored multiple books and publications focusing on school safety and trauma.

This is a first in a series of four professional development days for the AASP Annual conference.

Technology Information

This event will be offered via a Zoom Webinar. This will include small group breakouts and interaction with Dr. Reeves. The workshop is all day with a one hour lunch break. Participants should ensure they have a reliable internet connection with speaker, microphone, and video capabilities.

Please note that you must be a current member of AASP at the time you register for the conference in order to obtain the member rate. It is recommended that you renew membership a week to ten days prior to registering for the conference event.