Join our expert panel with Michele Gay in discussion about this dangerous trend. We’ll cover how communities can restore safety and return to learning, and share best practices, insights, and key resources. From the Classroom to the Boardroom: Addressing the Increase in School Violence (Webinar) BACK Join our expert panel with Michele Gay in discussion about this dangerous trend. We’ll cover how communities can restore safety and return to learning, and share best practices, insights, and key resources. Safe and Sound Schools in partnership with Door Security & Safety Foundation Join us in a round table discussion where experts, parents, and school leaders share perspectives on school security and safety issues in our schools. Between fears of active shooters and bullying, budget concerns, building codes and local politics, these issues impact all of us. Though emotional and challenging, it’s important to learn the facts and work with experts towards immediate and long term solutions for securing school doors. Hear the perspective of a parent, school administrator, school psychologist, door security and safety professional, and a code official who will share insights, best practices and key resources to help us all successfully work together.

This session is designed to support educators, student services teams, school mental health professionals, safety personnel, and administrators working to build sustainable, student-centered approaches to prevention, intervention, and support. Digital Dangers & Student Behavior: When Low-Level Concerns Become Safety Risks BACK This session is designed to support educators, student services teams, school mental health professionals, safety personnel, and administrators working to build sustainable, student-centered approaches to prevention, intervention, and support. As the new school year approaches, many school communities are navigating an increasingly complex student support landscape shaped by digital interactions and emerging online risks. Schools today are balancing growing behavioral, mental health, and safety concerns while working within limited time, staffing, and resource capacity. Challenges such as cyberbullying, online exploitation, AI-influenced conflicts, and threats of violence can develop quickly and often emerge through patterns of behavior that are difficult to identify without coordinated systems and processes in place. This webinar will explore how digital environments are influencing student behavior and how multidisciplinary teams can strengthen early identification, triage, and intervention practices to better support students and reduce escalation. Download a free resource developed to support key takeaways from this conversion.

Dr. Lori Mueller is joined by educator sexual abuse survivor and Safe and Sound Speakers Bureau member Michelle Denault to discuss what every school superintendent and K-12 leader needs to know to proactively protect students. Protecting Students from Inappropriate Adult-Student Relationships: What Every School Leader & Educator Needs to Know BACK Dr. Lori Mueller is joined by educator sexual abuse survivor and Safe and Sound Speakers Bureau member Michelle Denault to discuss what every school superintendent and K-12 leader needs to know to proactively protect students. Inappropriate relationships between adults and students in schools are an unfortunate and serious reality, representing one of the greatest threats to students’ sense of safety. In this upcoming webinar, former superintendent Dr. Lori Mueller is joined by educator sexual abuse survivor and Safe and Sound Speakers Bureau member Michelle Denault to discuss: How trusted adults cross boundary lines with children The long-lasting effects of trauma What every school superintendent and K-12 leader needs to know to proactively protect students Learn the warning signs, challenge misconceptions, and discover practical steps to keep students safe. Learn more about Michelle Denault, her powerful story, and how you can book her to speak at your next event: https://www.safeandsoundschools.org/featured-speakers/michelle-denault

True school safety is about preparing for every hazard that could impact students, staff, and the wider school community. This webinar explores the six pillars of comprehensive school safety and how a holistic, layered, and inclusive approach can strengthen and transform your campus culture. A Comprehensive Approach: Understanding the Layers of Effective School Safety BACK True school safety is about preparing for every hazard that could impact students, staff, and the wider school community. This webinar explores the six pillars of comprehensive school safety and how a holistic, layered, and inclusive approach can strengthen and transform your campus culture. True school safety goes beyond policies and drills – it’s about preparing for every hazard that could impact students, staff, and the wider school community. That’s why every school’s plan should reflect its unique community and include every voice at the table. This webinar explores the six pillars of comprehensive school safety and how a holistic, layered, and inclusive approach can strengthen and transform your campus culture. Key Takeaways: How a comprehensive, all-hazards approach strengthens school safety beyond policies and emergency drills. The importance of developing safety plans that reflect the unique needs of community members and include diverse stakeholder perspectives. The six pillars of comprehensive school safety that support a holistic, layered approach that strengthens campus culture and preparedness.

Now one of Safe and Sound’s signature programs, Bright Futures brings together faith-based organizations, human services agencies, and businesses in partnership with families and schools for a shared purpose: to quickly meet basic needs and create new opportunities for children and youth so they can succeed in school and beyond. Bright FUTURES GET TRAINING WHAT IS BRIGHT FUTURES? The Bright Futures Program at Safe and Sound Schools brings together faith-based organizations, human services agencies, and businesses in partnership with families and schools for a shared purpose: to quickly meet basic needs and create new opportunities for children and youth so they can succeed in school and beyond. What started as a locally led initiative in Joplin, MO, has now become a national effort in communities across the nation. The Bright Futures program now serves more than 70 communities in 8 states, supporting the health, wellness, and safety of over 250,000 students nationwide. The Bright Futures Community Resiliency Framework takes a whole community approach to raising our next generation of citizens and is grounded in three foundational principles to support the growth of our kids and strengthen the resolve of our communities: Create communication and resource structures to meet any child’s basic needs within 24 hours. Strengthening community resiliency by building the local leadership and resource capacity to improve problem solving capabilities to address the greater challenges faced by today’s youth. Providing opportunities for children and youth to serve the community through curriculum-based, hands-on service experiences to grow generations of service-minded citizens. WHO CREATES BRIGHT FUTURES? Now one of Safe and Sound’s signature programs, Bright Futures brings together faith-based organizations, human services agencies, and businesses in partnership with families and schools for a shared purpose: to quickly meet basic needs and create new opportunities for children and youth so they can succeed in school and beyond. What started as a locally led initiative in Joplin, MO, has now become a national effort that serves more than 70 communities in 8 states, supporting the health, wellness, and safety of over 250,000 students nationwide. EVERY CHILD DESERVES A CHAMPION Now one of Safe and Sound’s signature programs, Bright Futures brings together faith-based organizations, human services agencies, and businesses in partnership with families and schools for a shared purpose: to quickly meet basic needs and create new opportunities for children and youth so they can succeed in school and beyond. What started as a locally led initiative in Joplin, MO, has now become a national effort that serves more than 70 communities in 8 states, supporting the health, wellness, and safety of over 250,000 students nationwide. Inspiring community partnerships that open a way for all children to learn to lead and serve to their full potential. HOW IT WORKS The Bright Futures Community Resiliency Framework© takes a whole-community approach to raising the next generation of citizens and is grounded in three foundational principles that support the growth of our kids and strengthen the resolve of our communities: Create communication and resource structures to meet any child’s basic needs within 24 hours. Strengthen community resiliency by building the local leadership and resource capacity to improve problem solving capabilities to address the greater challenges faced by today’s youth. Provide opportunities for children and youth to serve the community through curriculum-based, hands-on service experiences to grow generations of service-minded citizens. Bright Futures Website MEET THE FOUNDERS Dr. C.J. Huff Co-Founder Bright Futures USA Kim Vann Co-Founder Bright Futures USA Start a Bright Futures Community IN YOUR AREA! Want to help meet the basic needs of children and families in your community? Complete the form below to learn more, and a member of our team will be in touch soon!

Staying Safe is an options-based emergency response framework that equips staff and students with a variety of safety skills that they can use in different situations. Recognizing the unique needs of the school environment, Safe and Sound Schools has tailored this program to address the specific roles and responsibilities of school personnel, ensuring that the training... Staying SAFE GET TRAINING WHAT IS Staying Safe? Staying Safe is an options-based emergency response framework that equips staff and students with a variety of safety skills that they can use in different situations. Recognizing the unique needs of the school environment, Safe and Sound Schools has tailored this program to address the specific roles and responsibilities of school personnel, ensuring that the training is as relevant and effective as possible in a school context. We aim to teach safety skills as practical actions that individuals can apply based on their circumstances. Empower Your School with Adaptable Safety Skills Staying Safe provides lifelong tools that align to and support existing procedures and protocols, and it is intentionally designed to dovetail with your current emergency plans and safety drills. Learn more about the program by downloading the Staying Safe Program Guide today! DOWNLOAD NOW PROGRAM Highlights Staying Safe was designed with all ages and abilities in mind. The program focuses on the following: Behaviors and choices that support safe decision-making during an unsafe situation Preparedness tools to utilize in a crisis Simple and familiar actions that students and staff can follow during a crisis to increase their chance of safety Supplemental protocols and procedures to support policies already in place, such as SRP, SRM, and EOPs Active discussion, exploration, learning, and practice designed to build confidence and competence Leveraging the expertise of your multi-disciplinary team Training Details The Staying Safe training program is an 8-hour training that is filled with hands-on activities and discussions to prepare individuals to implement this program with high fidelity. The training covers: The foundation of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) program and their Civilian Response to Active Shooter (CRASE) model. How to educate and teach staff and students in the most age and developmentally appropriate manner. How to implement this program successfully in various grade level bands. We also provide additional resources and hands-on support in this training to assist you in implementing Staying Safe with fidelity . Dive Deeper Learn more about Staying Safe and how it can help you equip every member of your school community stay safe in a crisis. LEARN MORE Bring Safe and Sound Training TO YOUR SCHOOL, DISTRICT OR ORGANIZATION! Our expert team is dedicated to empowering school safety stakeholders across the U.S. and beyond with training and tailored consulting. If none of our existing programs are the perfect fit, we also offer customized consulting to help you strengthen your school safety efforts. Please complete the form below to get started, and a member of our team will be in touch soon!

Michele Gay is joined by Alana O’Grady, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at Verkada, for an in-depth conversation on current safety trends and actionable steps to make your school safer. What's Working in School Safety: Trends, Tools, and Success Stories for the School Year BACK Michele Gay is joined by Alana O’Grady, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at Verkada, for an in-depth conversation on current safety trends and actionable steps to make your school safer. With the school year resuming, educators, parents, and security leaders are asking: how can schools and communities create safe environments that inclusively protect every student? In this special webinar, Michele Gay, Founder and Executive Director of Safe and Sound Schools, shares her personal journey from tragic loss to a path of advocacy, and how her organization is helping schools implement practical, compassionate safety solutions across the country to keep kids and communities safe. Michele is joined by Alana O’Grady, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at Verkada, for an in-depth conversation on current safety trends, innovative programs like Especially Safe , and actionable steps to make your school safer.

Now one of Safe and Sound’s signature programs, Bright Futures brings together faith-based organizations, human services agencies, and businesses in partnership with families and schools for a shared purpose: to quickly meet basic needs and create new opportunities for children and youth so they can succeed in school and beyond. Bright FUTURES BECOME A BRIGHT FUTURES COMMUNITY WHAT IS BRIGHT FUTURES? The Bright Futures Program at Safe and Sound Schools brings together faith-based organizations, human services agencies, and businesses in partnership with families and schools for a shared purpose: to quickly meet basic needs and create new opportunities for children and youth so they can succeed in school and beyond. EVERY CHILD DESERVES A CHAMPION What started as a locally led initiative in Joplin, MO, has now become a national effort that serves more than 70 communities in 8 states, supporting the health, wellness, and safety of over 250,000 students nationwide. HOW IT WORKS The Bright Futures Community Resiliency Framework© takes a whole-community approach to raising the next generation of citizens and is grounded in three foundational principles that support the growth of our kids and strengthen the resolve of our communities: Create communication and resource structures to meet any child’s basic needs within 24 hours. Strengthen community resiliency by building the local leadership and resource capacity to improve problem solving capabilities to address the greater challenges faced by today’s youth. Provide opportunities for children and youth to serve the community through curriculum-based, hands-on service experiences to grow generations of service-minded citizens. Bright Futures Website MEET THE FOUNDERS Dr. C.J. Huff Co-Founder Bright Futures at Safe and Sound Schools Kim Vann Co-Founder Bright Futures at Safe and Sound Schools Start a Bright Futures Community IN YOUR AREA! Want to help meet the basic needs of children and families in your community? Complete the form below to learn more, and a member of our team will be in touch soon! Dive Deeper Learn more about Bright Futures and how it can equip your school community to meet students' basic needs and provide the support they need to flourish. LEARN MORE

The Averted School Violence (ASV) Project provides foundational evidence-based research to support efforts to stop targeted school attacks by building sustainable, community-based prevention and intervention services, education, and consultation services The AVERTED SCHOOL VIOLENCE PROJECT The Averted School Violence Program creates a data-driven approach to stopping targeted school attacks by building sustainable, community-based prevention and intervention strategies. GET TRAINING Frank Straub, PhD Senior Advisor of Violence Prevention Research WHAT IS The Averted School Violence Project? Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing (COPS) convened a national school safety advisory group to provide recommendations on how to prevent future school shootings and other acts of violence on school campuses. One key recommendation stood out among the others: Build a national repository of cases where school violence was stopped before it occurred. Based on these recommendations, the DOJ’s COPS Office allocated funding for the National Policing Institute (formerly the Police Foundation) to establish and maintain the Averted School Violence (ASV) database. From 2015 to 2023, the National Policing Institute built a strong foundation of research and reports that shaped school safety practices nationwide. In 2023, Dr. Frank Straub, who previously served as the founder and director of the National Policing Institute’s Center for Targeted Violence Prevention, as well as ASV’s project lead, secured a new home for the database right here with Safe and Sound Schools. The transfer, improvement in functionality, and expansion of the Averted School Violence Database was made possible through Prevent 2 Protect, a Michigan Department of Education Pilot Project. ASV and Safe and Sound, founded out of the same tragedy and on the same mission to protect every school, every student, every day, are now united to create a more powerful, data-driven tool that empowers school safety leaders to prevent tragedy before it occurs. EXPLORE THE DATABASE The Enhanced ASV Database and New Website With ASV’s move to Safe and Sound Schools, and the expanded support of partners like the Motorola Foundation and National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), we’ve enhanced the platform’s value by making it more accessible, more actionable, and more useful in the day-to-day work of preventing violence in our schools. With a new website and streamlined submission process, it’s now easier for SROs, school officials, and safety professionals to securely share cases of averted or completed violence. Additionally, we’ve added new filters and features to help users sort through cases by variables like school type, intervention type, threat source, and more. Most importantly, we’ve focused on ensuring the database isn’t just a storage tool—it’s a living resource that fuels evidence-based training and community conversations. CHECK IT OUT Take Action Join our mission to improve school safety and prevent future violence by anonymously and securely submitting an averted incident for review. SUBMIT A CASE PROGRAM PROGRAM Highlights The Averted School Violence Project helps safety leaders keep their communities safe by: Establishing a place where school personnel, law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, and others involved in school safety can share their averted school violence stories and lessons learned, in order to improve school safety and help prevent future tragedies. Providing real-life scenarios that can help guide the development of sustainable, community-based prevention and intervention strategies. Providing evidence-based research to support efforts to stop targeted school attacks by building sustainable, community-based prevention and intervention services, education, and consultation services. Keeping submissions anonymous, secure, non-punitive, and confidential. Bring Safe and Sound Training TO YOUR SCHOOL, DISTRICT OR ORGANIZATION! Our expert team is dedicated to empowering school safety stakeholders across the U.S. and beyond with training and tailored consulting. If none of our existing programs are the perfect fit, we also offer customized consulting to help you strengthen your school safety efforts. Please complete the form below to get started, and a member of our team will be in touch soon! Dive Deeper Learn more about the Averted School Violence Project and how it can help keep you build sustainable, community-based prevention and intervention strategies LEARN MORE Lessons in Prevention: A Free Webinar Every day, students, parents, educators, and school-based law enforcement officers take actions — big and small — that prevent tragedies in K-12 communities. These moments of awareness, courage, and coordination often go unseen, yet they hold powerful lessons for those seeking best practices to prevent future violence. This webinar explores the Averted School Violence (ASV) Project and recognizes these meaningful acts. The discussion features real-world cases analyzed for key takeaways to help attendees recognize warning signs, strengthen safety systems, and build more resilient schools.

The Sound Off on School Safety features carefully selected guests whose expertise and lived experience align closely with our mission to advance prevention, preparedness, and whole-community safety in schools. We are a small but mighty nonprofit with limited bandwidth therefore, at this time, guest participation is by invitation only. Although we are not currently accepting guest pitches, we value the voices and insights of our broader community. There are many ways to stay connected and contribute to the conversation — including sharing episodes with your network, engaging with us on social media, sharing reflections on past episodes on your channels, exploring sponsorship opportunities, and engaging with Safe and Sound Schools’ programs and initiatives. We’re grateful to be part of a growing community committed to protecting students and strengthening school communities.

Join Michele Gay, Founder and Executive Director of Safe and Sound Schools, and Tom McDermott, K-12 Safety & Security Coach for CEIA USA, for an engaging and informative session designed for parents, educators, and community stakeholders committed to school safety. School Safety: How to Start Productive Conversations in Your Community BACK Join Michele Gay, Founder and Executive Director of Safe and Sound Schools, and Tom McDermott, K-12 Safety & Security Coach for CEIA USA, for an engaging and informative session designed for parents, educators, and community stakeholders committed to school safety. This webinar explores how to foster productive conversations and collaboration between schools and community members, including key questions to ask, how to apply lessons learned, and strategies for building effective, layered safety solutions in your local schools. What This Session Covers: Addressing Modern Challenges: Gain insights into the current school safety landscape, understanding both recurring issues and new threats, and learn the key questions you should be asking. Engaging the Community: Discover effective strategies for parents and community members to initiate and participate in meaningful conversations with schools about safety protocols and concerns. Building Strategic Solutions: How to apply lessons learned from past incidents of school violence, as well as successful averted cases and current best practices, to help develop and support strategic, layered safety plans in your local schools. To learn more about how to have successful, respectful, and productive conversations around school safety, download our free Conversation Guide for Parents .

Safe and Sound Schools is now offering NASP’s evidence-based curriculum on school crisis prevention and response. PREPaRE helps build and refine comprehensive school safety frameworks through teaching coordinated readiness before, during, and after a crisis, addressing both physical and psychological needs. PREPaRE Training Safe and Sound Schools is now offering NASP’s evidence-based curriculum on school crisis prevention and response. PREPaRE helps build and refine comprehensive school safety frameworks through teaching coordinated readiness before, during, and after a crisis, addressing both physical and psychological needs. GET TRAINING WHAT IS PREPaRE? PREPaRE is the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), School Crisis prevention and response training curriculum. The trainings are designed to strengthen school crisis prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery while utilizing an all-hazards, multidisciplinary approach. Safe and Sound Schools will be offering the following PREPaRE Workshops and Training Options : Why Train with Safe and Sound Schools? Safe and Sound Schools delivers PREPaRE training, grounded in the core belief that school safety is a team sport. We work with multiple PREPaRE authors and lead trainers through our speakers bureau and program development teams, and the real-life application of PREPaRE is woven throughout many of our signature programs, helping teams translate learned concepts into concrete actions. PREPaRE is aligned with the Safe and Sound Schools Comprehensive School Safety Framework , addressing key domains including Mental and Behavioral Health, Culture, Climate, & Community, Operations and Emergency Management, Health and Wellness, and Safety and Security. This strong alignment ensures that prevention, response, and recovery are not address in isolation, but in a well-coordinated systems that strengthens the entire framework. At Safe and Sound Schools our emphasis is on equipping the multidisciplinary team with the tools needed to support comprehensive school safety. Bringing together educators, administrators, mental health professionals, safety personnel, and community partners creates a more sustainable safety ecosystem. Teams builds shared language, clarify roles, and have the opportunity to strengthen coordination in all phases of crisis. This approach ensures that safety planning and practice do not happen in silos. Instead, with a fully trained team, everyone is prepared to act together with confidence, clarity, and coordination Upcoming Training Dates Join us for a 1.5 day virtual training experience that combines PREPaRE Workshop 1 with our half-day Comprehensive School Safety Framework. June 23rd & 24th August 12th & 13th REGISTER TODAY Workshop 1: Comprehensive School Safety Planning: Prevention Through Recovery Workshop 1 equips participants with the tools needed to build and sustain comprehensive school safety systems. The training addresses both the physical and psychological components of safety and helps teams develop and evaluate emergency operations plans. Participant will have the opportunity to explore topics including communication, reunification, social media, cultural considerations, and supporting students with special needs. After the workshop, attendees will have a better understanding of how to equip their multidisciplinary teams for crisis response. Duration: 7 hours Workshop 2: Responding to an Acute Traumatic Stressor in Schools Workshop 2 focuses on providing immediate and ongoing mental health crisis intervention to school community members that have been impacted by an acute traumatic stressor, crisis. Participants will learn how to assess psychological trauma, recognize risk factors, and provide appropriate mental health interventions. The training builds confidence in supporting recovery post-crisis while strengthening the skills of the mental health team. This training is foundational to building trauma-informed aftercare before a crisis occurs. Aligned with Safe and Sound Schools Comprehensive School Safety Framework, this workshop supports coordinated team efforts across key school safety domains. Duration: 13 hours Training of Trainers Training of Trainer workshops allows participants to learn the necessary skills and knowledge needed to become a NASP certified PREPaRE trainer. These workshops offer a strong option for districts and communities looking to establish a cohort of trainers that can continue to build a sustainable comprehensive safety framework. Duration WS1: 12 hours Duration WS2: 15 hours Refresher Courses When you train with Safe and Sound Schools, you gain access to opportunities to revisit and strengthen your PREPaRE knowledge. Refresher courses are designed as a practical option for participants to build on their existing skills, reinforce key concepts, and apply the training with confidence. These sessions are ideal for teams that have completed a workshop within the past two years and can be customized to accommodate any time from one hour to a half-day Community of Practice For those who train with Safe and Sound Schools, we offer a PREPaRE Community of Practice for participants to come together and continue building skills beyond the initial training. The session is designed for professionals to discuss real-world application, challenges, and trends. Through this collaboration, participants have the opportunity to strengthen their PREPaRE knowledge and grow their networks. Save on PREPaRE Resources Through Safe and Sound Schools Through our partnership with NASP, participants have access to an exclusive discount on PREPaRE books and resources. These materials support training and help teams translate their learning into real-world application. Use Code SASS for 15% off your purchase. ORDER TODAY Bring Training to Your Community Eqiup your staff with the training to effectively support students in need. Dive Deeper Learn more about PREPaRE Training and how it can help your school community strengthen crisis prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. LEARN MORE