WEBVTT 00:02.333 --> 00:06.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Students head back to the classroom in just weeks, along with books and backpacks, they bring renewed 00:08.066 --> 00:11.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% concerns about safety. That's often left to individual school districts, but there is some 00:11.500 --> 00:16.500 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% federal money to help. After the massacre this spring at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, 00:18.500 --> 00:21.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Congress passed the bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The gun provisions in that bill are one 00:21.733 --> 00:26.733 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% part of the issue. But let's take a look at the security piece. That law funds billions for new 00:28.666 --> 00:32.833 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% mental health and safety measures in schools and expansion of current federal funding. 00:35.233 --> 00:38.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% In December, the Department of Justice awarded nearly $126 million in security grants to schools 00:39.700 --> 00:44.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that included money for violence prevention training in 29 states. 00:44.100 --> 00:49.066 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% But overall, that money went to just a few dozen of the nation's 13,000 school districts. 00:51.100 --> 00:55.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So how are schools tackling this and what is working? To learn more, I'm joined by Lori 00:57.533 --> 01:01.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Alhadeff, who founded Make Our Schools Safe after her daughter was killed in the 2018 01:01.500 --> 01:06.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Parkland School shooting. And Amy Klinger from the Educator's School Safety Network. 01:08.466 --> 01:11.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Lori and Amy, thank you so much for joining us for this important conversation. Lori, 01:11.066 --> 01:15.933 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% I want to start with you. Your State Florida has a law now named after your daughter Alyssa's law 01:18.366 --> 01:21.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% that would provide panic buttons to teachers. But you're also focused on mental health as a key part 01:24.033 --> 01:26.733 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% of the safety needed. What do you think is needed there and what is working so far in that area? 01:29.233 --> 01:32.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% LORI ALHADEFF, President, Make Our Schools Safe: So we passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act, 01:34.766 --> 01:38.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and Alyssa law and Alyssa's law, panic buttons in school. So if there is a life threatening 01:40.566 --> 01:44.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% emergency situation, we want to empower our teachers to push a button on the phone, 01:46.066 --> 01:48.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% or something they wear around their neck, and it's directly linked to law enforcement, 01:48.166 --> 01:52.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% geo-fence the area so they can get on the scene as quickly as possible. 01:52.433 --> 01:55.433 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% So we believe that in that life threatening emergency 01:57.466 --> 02:01.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% time equals live and to get health care as quickly as possible will save lives. 02:02.700 --> 02:06.533 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And, of course, mental health is a huge part of the conversation. 02:07.933 --> 02:09.966 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% You know, especially after COVID, we really need 02:09.966 --> 02:14.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to provide services for our students to be able to get the help that they need. 02:14.133 --> 02:19.133 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: Is that a case of looking at the trauma on students who may be worried about 02:21.166 --> 02:25.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% violence or what about mental health in terms of dealing with students who may become violent? 02:26.600 --> 02:29.433 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% LORI ALHADEFF: So we definitely want to be very proactive 02:29.433 --> 02:34.433 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% about being making sure that students know how to access their mental health services. Here 02:36.500 --> 02:39.700 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% in Broward County, we have a talk app on every student computer so they can be able to access 02:41.766 --> 02:45.066 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% that information if they need help. And that we will then provide that help for every student. 02:47.033 --> 02:50.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Also see something, say something, it's so important that students be able to 02:50.566 --> 02:55.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% reach out for help as themselves or anonymously. We had someone that 02:55.533 --> 03:00.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% wanted to commit suicide and told me and I was able to report it through the app, 03:02.500 --> 03:05.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and they were able to find that person and get them to help before they committed suicide. 03:08.100 --> 03:10.200 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: Amy, there's a good example. But this is still an area with a lot of stigma, our 03:10.200 --> 03:15.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% schools nationwide doing enough to look at mental health as a component in potential violence? 03:17.100 --> 03:19.166 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% AMY KLINGER, Director of Programs, Education's School Safety Network: I think we always need to 03:19.166 --> 03:22.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% do more. I think we need to look at a continuum of options and services and tools. And that's 03:24.433 --> 03:28.600 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% been part of the problem is we have only looked at school safety through a very narrow viewpoint. 03:31.100 --> 03:34.266 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And we have not expanded and broadened. We need to look at a comprehensive approach that is all 03:36.233 --> 03:40.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% hazards that takes into account mental health and all kinds of both prevention and response 03:43.000 --> 03:47.300 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% activities. And that's how we really solve these problems is to go at them from a variety of means, 03:49.166 --> 03:52.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% rather than just taking one thing and saying that's enough, because it's not enough. 03:52.233 --> 03:56.833 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: And then also in that mix. I know a lot of your educators in schools are looking at 03:56.833 --> 04:01.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% the physical plan, you know, we've seen metal detectors receive changes in school structure, 04:01.666 --> 04:04.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% what have you learned about what's working? And are there things that 04:04.866 --> 04:09.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% are just sort of adding to the sense of fear? What's good, what's bad in that area? 04:12.433 --> 04:14.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% AMY KLINGER: It's a very delicate balance. Because we're not running prisons, we're running schools, 04:14.433 --> 04:19.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% but yet, we need to have appropriate access control, we need to have some of those 04:21.766 --> 04:24.600 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% hardware mechanisms in place. But that can't be the only thing we have. We know that relationship 04:26.533 --> 04:30.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% based cultures that a positive culture, students who are able to make disclosures, 04:30.133 --> 04:35.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% we know that all of those relationship activities that are not law enforcement based, but they are 04:35.100 --> 04:40.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% education based, those are the things that really make a difference. So it is easier 04:42.000 --> 04:45.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and may seem easier to just buy something, or to put a piece of hardware into a school. 04:47.233 --> 04:50.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But that can't be the only tool in the toolbox. And I think that's the big takeaway 04:50.700 --> 04:55.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% from all of these events, is we have to do an array of things because frankly, I don't 04:55.266 --> 05:00.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% know what else we're doing in schools that is more important than saving kids' lives. It is literally 05:00.133 --> 05:04.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% the most important thing we should be doing as educators and law enforcement and mental health. 05:04.800 --> 05:06.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% LISA DESJARDINS: Lori, I see you nodding, 05:06.466 --> 05:09.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% what do you think is most important right now, what's needed most? 05:09.833 --> 05:14.300 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% LORI ALHADEFF: So I think it's -- you know, it's going to be layers and layers of school safety 05:14.300 --> 05:19.300 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% protection. I think it's very important that we give professional development to our teachers, 05:21.866 --> 05:26.600 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% for Mental Health First Aid so they are able to see if a child is having issues in their class, be 05:29.000 --> 05:33.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% able to identify it and then connect them to the resources that that student will need. And it's 05:36.100 --> 05:39.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% especially important that we provide mental health services for students starting in the elementary 05:41.933 --> 05:44.600 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% school level, so that they don't, you know, grow up and become teenagers and commit violent acts. 05:46.500 --> 05:49.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LISA DESJARDINS: This is something on so many parents' minds, including my mind, 05:49.333 --> 05:54.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% as well. Thank you both so much, Lori Alhadeff and Amy Klinger.