Call for Presenters 2020 Safe Schools Conference
2020 Safe Schools Conference "Keeping our Children Safe: Strategies for Schools and Communities"
Virtual | #SafeSchoolsConf2020
Our 2020 Safe Schools Conference will now be a completely virtual event during the week of December 7. We are still finalizing our schedule, but we are pleased to announce now that the application deadline to submit presentation proposals has been extended to July 17.
High quality, effective presentations addressing best practices relative to school safety and youth violence prevention are needed. Based upon that criteria, and professional development needs expressed by Pennsylvania educators and administrators, the following conference themes have been identified: Bullying Prevention; Cybersecurity; Effective, Safe and Secure Virtual Instructional Programming; Emergency Response and Crisis Management; Positive School Climate; Student Wellness; Youth Violence Prevention; and Open Category.
Submission deadline: Friday, July 17, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET
Highmark Foundation 2020 School Grants and Awards Program
Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2020
Funds: Up to $7,500
Schools in Pennsylvania and West Virginia can apply for grants to support bullying prevention, environmental health, healthy eating, and physical activity, as well as school-based health.
2020 School Grants and Awards Program
The Highmark Foundation has extended the deadline for the School Grants and Awards program until further notice.
The Highmark Foundation understands that addressing students’ needs while schools are temporary closed is your top priority and they want to provide you with every opportunity to submit your application. Please check the Versaic and Highmark Foundation websites regularly for updates as to when the application process will close.
2020 Safe Schools Conference – Keeping our Children Safe: Strategies for Schools and Communities
This high quality event will offer professional development focused on school safety, bullying prevention, emergency and crisis response, and other relevant topics. Hear state and national experts present the latest research and trends in school safety, youth violence prevention, evidence-based program models, promising practices, and more.
This conference is designed to provide quality professional development opportunities for school administrators, school cyber and technology professionals, cybersecurity experts, virtual instructional programming experts, student support personnel, teachers, alternative education staff, school nurses, student assistance team, and school counselors, school psychologists, school safety coordinators, local law enforcement, school resource officers, and community partners.
Follow us @Center_Schools for updates on #SafeSchoolsConf2020.
Bullying Prevention Research Symposium Proceedings Paper
Convened by the Center for Safe Schools and the Highmark Foundation, the Bullying Prevention Research Symposium was held in April 2018 to engage stakeholders in reflecting on progress made in Pennsylvania's bullying prevention efforts during the past decade. Representatives from the education, health care and justice sectors, policy-makers, researchers, prevention program providers and grant-makers reviewed recent developments in the field and identified priorities for the future. This proceedings paper summarizes the workgroup discussions, common themes and identifies seven recommendations for advancing bullying prevention in the commonwealth.
A Public Health Approach Demonstrates Positive Outcomes Related to Bullying Prevention
A new report released by the Center for Safe Schools examines the impact of Highmark Foundation funded bullying prevention initiatives. For more than ten years, the Highmark Foundation has worked with community partners to expand and enhance Pennsylvania’s bullying prevention programs, creating the largest and most comprehensive effort to be implemented and studied to date. This work is viewed as a national model for creating changes in school culture.
Press Release | Report
Free Resources Available from the Pennsylvania State Police
The Domestic Security Division of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) provides free services to assist schools. For technical assistance, other requests or to sign up for active shooter training contact PSP at ra-pspoffdomesticsecurity@pa.gov.
Risk and Vulnerability Assessments
In an effort to keep our schools safe, crime-free environments and to protect them from a terrorist attack, the Center for Safe Schools would like to make all school administrators aware of RISK AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS (PDF), an initiative of the Pennsylvania State Police, offered free of charge. Assessments provide comprehensive examinations of physical facilities and operational procedures; identify critical assets, threat potential and vulnerabilities; and offer recommendations to improve security.
