Safeguarding Our Children:
An Action Guide

Implementing Early Warning, Timely Response

CONTENTS

Organizations Supporting this Guide

Production Notes

Letter from Secretary Riley and Attorney General Reno

Chapter 1: Introduction

• Overview of the Action Guide
• A Comprehensive Three-Level Approach to Prevention
• Schoolwide Foundation
• Early Intervention
• Intensive Interventions
• Safe Schools Combine All Three Levels
• Safe Schools Employ Teams Efficiently and Effectively
• Safe Schools Have the Capacity to Plan, Implement, Monitor, and Evaluate a Prevention and Intervention Plan
• Safe Schools Have the Capacity to Identify and to Respond to Individual Needs

Chapter 2: Building A Schoolwide Foundation

• Creating a Caring School Community in Which All Members Feel Connected, Safe, and Supported
• Teaching Appropriate Behaviors and Social Problem-Solving Skills
• Staff Training
• Staff Support and Coordination
• Monitoring the Program
• Positive Behavior Support Systems
• Establishing Schoolwide Systems to Manage and Support Behavior
• Creating a Safe Physical Environment
• Providing Appropriate Academic Instruction

Chapter 3: Responding To Children Exhibiting Early Warning Signs: Early Interventions

• Review of the Early Warning Signs of Violence
• Building the Capacity to Identify Early Warning Signs
• Connecting the Early Warning Signs to Early Intervention: Developing a Referral Response Process
• Referral
• Involving Students in the Referral Process
• Responding to Referrals
• The Initial Meeting
• Developing Early Interventions
• Problem Identification and Analysis
• Plan Development, Implementation, and Evaluation
• Early Intervention Strategies

Chapter 4: Providing Intensive Interventions To Troubled Students

• Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health Programs
• Special Education and Related Services
• Alternative Programs and Schools
• Systems of Care
• Individualized Mental Health Services and Supports
• Multisystemic Therapy
• Treatment Foster Care
• Wraparound Planning and Services

Chapter 5: Creating And Implementing A Comprehensive Plan

• The Role of the Schoolwide Team in Creating Safe Schools
• Organizing the Schoolwide Team
• Community Members and the Schoolwide Team
• Building an Effective Schoolwide Team
• Logistics for the Schoolwide Team
• Obtaining Approval and Buy-Ins
• Securing a Planning Budget
• Designing a Communication Process
• Scheduling Meetings and Setting Timelines
• Implementation Considerations for the Schoolwide Team
• Other Considerations

Conclusion

Resources

• Online Resources
• School Safety-Related Sites
• Student Support and Classroom Management Sites
• Federal Sites
• Organization Sites
• Family Information Sites
• Additional Resources

Contributors to the Action Guide

References