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Behavioral Threat Assessment in Schools: Evidence, Fit, and Appropriateness
September 22, 2023
MHTTC Network Coordinating Office
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Medical Professional (Physician, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant)
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Mental Health Professional (Social Worker, Psychologist, Counselor, MFT)
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Pharmacist
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Researcher
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Recovery Specialist
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Student
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Administrator
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Criminal Justice Professional
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Addictions Counselor
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Educator
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Other

School violence, including school-based gun violence, is a major public health issue that has negative consequences for students, families, schools, and communities (Basile et al., 2020; Peterson et al., 2021). One approach that schools have adopted to address school violence is behavioral threat assessment (BTA). Based on a request from our funder, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), we developed a report on behavioral threat assessment and its intersection with youth mental health.

 

This report aims to:

  1. Describe the problem of school violence and how BTA became a widely implemented school violence prevention strategy; 
  2. Report on the current state of BTA implementation and its effectiveness; 
  3. Discuss considerations for the fit and appropriateness of using BTA in schools; and 
  4. Offer recommendations for schools, policymakers, funders, researchers, and SAMHSA on addressing BTA use in schools.