On April 28-29, the Washington State Regional School Safety Center (RSSC) teams landed at the Educational Service District 123 in Pasco, WA for off-Zoom networking and goal-setting. Over 30 professionals in school safety and behavioral health convened to advance the mission of safety and wellness in WA’s K-12 schools. The event was organized and led by ESD 123 staff, cohort leads, and our partners from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
Did you know that your regional ESD’s School Safety Center is one of nine teams throughout the state? Each team consists of (at least one each of) the following:
- Behavioral Health Navigator (BHN), who assists schools with suicide prevention and awareness of behavioral health resources in their region. Some BHNs (like here at the NWESD) assist with threat assessments and support for trauma-informed schools, as well.
- Comprehensive Safe Schools Coordinator (CSSC), who provides support and guidance to school leaders in emergency operations planning, safety drills, and other regional needs such as gang prevention and natural disaster preparedness. CSSCs also provide training and technical support for school-based security teams, including School Resource Officers (SROs) and School Safety Officers (SSOs).
- Threat Assessment Coordinator (TAC), who provides training and technical assistance for school-based threat assessment teams.
OSPI collaborates closely with each team and organizes monthly convenings to discuss regional trends and work on shared, statewide goals. We gather a few times annually in person, which provides a special opportunity to welcome newcomers and strengthen partnerships.
So much thanks to the incredible team at ESD 123, who hosted a terrific event for all!
Thank you to Amber Wynn for the photography!
