N.C. Center for Safer Schools2016 REPORT

2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR 1

Table of ContentsLetter from the Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Background Information: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Historical Overview: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Year One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Year Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Year Three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Year Four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Major Accomplishments of the Center & Collaborative Partners (FY 2014-16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

What Makes a Safer School? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Four Major Strategy Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Intervention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Crisis Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools Background and Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Our Partnering Agencies’ Roles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Needs for On-going Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Future Priority Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

The Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools & Center for Safer Schools’ Staff in 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

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2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR 3

Dear Partners in School Safety:

We are very pleased to share the 2016 Report of the N .C . Center for Safer Schools and the Task Force on Safer Schools . It has been my honor to serve as the Executive Director of the Center for Safer Schools since it opened in March 2013 .

The N .C . Center for Safer Schools is comprised of dedicated staff from diverse backgrounds representative of the broad scope of issues that schools in the state are faced with in providing a safe and secure learning environment for students . These backgrounds include:

education, law enforcement, mental health, emergency management, teen-dating violence and domestic violence, research and grant development, and criminal justice investigation . The Task Force on Safer Schools’ members are a remarkable group of North Carolinians who have selflessly devoted their time, talents, and expertise to help ensure that students in our schools have a school environment that is conducive to learning . The Task Force has worked with the Center for Safer Schools’ staff to consider a wealth of information about the complex issues facing schools today .

When the Center opened in March 2013, we were charged with evaluating the status of school safety across the State, collaborating with other state and local agencies, and reviewing current best practices . Accordingly, this report contains a summary of the work to date, with special emphasis on 2016 .

One of the benefits and challenges of the safer school initiative, is that different aspects of the work are done by disparate government agencies . We have had success in our role as a Center, in bringing agencies with different missions together to work on a common goal: that all 1 .5 million students in the State are safe while learning in school . I look forward to continuing to work with all of you toward this common goal .

Sincerely yours,

Kym Martin, Executive Director N .C . Center for Safer Schools

LETTER FROM THE Executive Director

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Background Information

The North Carolina Center for Safer Schools was established as an agency within the Department of Public Safety in March 2013 . In the wake of the incidents that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012, the need for an evaluation of the status of school safety across the state was apparent . The newly formed Center responded to this need through partnering with key agencies to conduct a series of community forums, where system gaps, best practices, and innovative approaches were discussed with local stakeholders and observed through school tours . To supplement the listening tour, Center staff conducted a literature review to bolster the knowledge base and to strengthen the findings. Following the community forums and literature review, a consolidated report of recommendations was provided to the Governor .

In September 2013, through Executive Order 25, the Governor’s Task Force On Safer Schools was created . This Task Force is a multidisciplinary

advisory board comprised of stakeholders including: parents, students, teachers, school administrators, law enforcement officers, juvenile justice professionals, and mental health professionals, which provide guidance to the Center for Safer Schools . Other roles of the Task Force are to consider future policy and legislative actions that are needed to improve school safety in North Carolina . The leadership for the Task Force provides for law enforcement and public school partnerships, with the Chair currently being a sheriff, and the Vice Chair, a middle school English teacher .

The Center’s work is aimed toward the vision that all schools in the state are safe, secure, and offer an environment conducive to learning . The Center strives to build collaborative partnerships with state and local agencies and other advocacy groups to identify strengths and weaknesses in promoting school safety and to provide appropriate resources . The needs range from insufficient numbers of personnel, to physical security upgrades or improvements, to challenges with communication and staff training, among other issues . For the last three years, the Center has worked to meet these needs by facilitating collaborations through State agencies, convening and supporting its advisory board (the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools), filling gaps in research, training and information-sharing, and seeking grant and legislative backing to increase support personnel at schools and enhance school safety planning .

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The Center for Safer Schools (CFSS) is uniquely positioned in the Department of Public Safety to identify and foster collaboration between many disparate agencies and individuals to promote issues related to school safety . Through work with their advisory board, the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools, the Center has been able to involve specialists from multiple disciplines across the state in the work of the Task Force and Center . Center staff have looked for gaps in the service system to determine where to put their efforts, and have collaborated with partnering agencies on joint projects .

The CFSS is currently staffed by an Executive Director, Deputy Director, Grants and Research Coordinator, three School Safety Specialist, Special Projects Coordinator, an Administrative Assistant and Student Intern(s) . These staff, along with providing guidance and assistance to the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools and its standing committees, bring a wealth of diverse backgrounds and knowledge to guide the CFSS in its activities .

This report focuses on accomplishments, to date, of the N .C . Center for Safer Schools, the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools, and its partnering agencies . The following is a brief timeline summary of some of the activities over the past three fiscal years are:

YEAR ONE • March 2013: Center for Safer Schools is

founded in the NC Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice

• March 2013: Executive Director named

• April-June 2013: Community forums held and statewide needs report developed

• September 2013: Report to Governor presented

• September 2013: Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools Created

• November 2013: First full-time employee added

• December 2013: First meeting and swearing in of members of the new Task Force and members assigned to one of three standing committees;

– School Climate & Discipline – Mental Health & Special Needs of Students – Physical Security & Emergency Preparedness

• December 2013: Second full-time employee added

• January 2014: Work begins in collaboration with North Carolina Emergency Management to provide GPS data and digital school information in a web-based, rapid response database for first responders.

• January 2014: Request for proposals to provide a smart phone application so students can provide anonymous tips on unsafe or inappropriate activities

• March 2014: Unveiling of a new video of North Carolina Critical Incident Response for School Faculty and Staff protocol and training manual with a 5-month plan to provide training in all 115 school districts in the state .

Historical Overview

2013 COMMUNITY FORUMS

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• May 2014: The Center develops a bullying

presentation for communities and holds a train-the-trainer program

• July 2014: Review of anonymous tip line proposals and selection of a vendor

YEAR TWO • August 2014: Community seminars on

school safety and mental health are held in collaboration with the NC Justice Academy, Department of Health and Human Services, local management entities/managed care organizations, and the Center across the state .

• September 2014 due to excessive costs, the Center scales back its statewide provision of an anonymous tip line and focus of developing the app toward a pilot for middle and high schools in a few selected counties .

• October 2014: The Governor signs an Executive Order naming October “Bullying Awareness Month”

• November 2014: A directory is developed of all NC school resource officers (SROs) and their assigned schools .

• December 2014: The Center moves to the Law Enforcement Division and the physical location of Joint Force Headquarters .

• January 2015: Conducted a census of demographic information from the listing of school resource officers through a survey of existing SRO’s

• March 2015: Published the findings of the SRO Census

• March 2015: Approval to contract with the vendor to develop the student anonymous tip application

• April 2015: Staff begins a concerted effort with the vendors to develop the anonymous tip application to be known as “SPKUP NC” .

• June 2015: A fourth standing committee was added to the Task Force to investigate prevention strategies for students involved in – Substance Abuse and Gang Involvement

• July 2015: A student school safety advisory group was convened and met for the first time at the Museum of Natural History in Raleigh .

YEAR THREE • July – November 2015: Intense work by Center

staff of three to implement the SPKUP NC app; develop training protocols, work with vendors/developers, and share marketing materials with local education agencies and schools

• October 2015: Governor proclaims October Bullying Awareness month, Center staff compile awareness and prevention materials to be distributed through superintendents to schools

• November 2015: Training held in Avery county for their middle and high schools to go online with the anonymous tip app for students (SPKUP NC)

• December 2015: Additional work with vendor/developers to improve shortfalls in the app and streamline training protocols .

• February 2016: Johnson, Lenoir, and Macon counties added schools to the SPKUP App

• March 2016: Forsyth county added schools to the SPKUP App

ACCORDING TO AWAREITYS 2014 STUDENT SAFETY REPORT

– 90% of students would use an anonymous reporting tool to report school safety concerns .

– 80% of school shooters tell one or more people of their intentions before they act .

THIS MEANS: 80% of schools shooters could possibly be prevented.

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YEAR FOUR • July 2016- First Crisis Intervention Teams for

Youth (CIT – Youth) pilot course was held in Chapel Hill for 12 officers

• August 2016 – First presentation of Policing Outside the Box (POTB) was offered to juvenile justice personnel and school resource officers in Lenoir county

• September 2016 - The Governor signed a proclamation naming October 2016 Bullying Awareness Month . Center staff compiled awareness and prevention materials to be distributed through blogs, web pages and newsletters to superintendents

• October 2016- Iredell County schools joined the pilot for SPKUP NC and presented it to students at the Ignite Bullying Summit .

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE CENTER & COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS (FY 2014-16) • The General Assembly has worked to

incorporate many elements that the Center for Safer Schools has offered to promote safe and healthy schools in FY-2015 and FY-2016 legislation . Some of these programs are:

– Each local school is encouraged to develop and operate an anonymous tip line in coordination with local law enforcement and social services agencies . The Department of Public Safety shall implement an anonymous tip line application and a statewide panic alarm system by July 1, 2018 . See 2015 S .L . 2016-123 Section 7 .3; 2015 S .L . 2016-94; 2015 S .L . 2015-241 Section 8 .26(d), 8 .26(n)

– By March 1, 2017, each local board of education shall, with local law enforcement and emergency management agencies, adopt a School Risk Management Plan (SRMP) as required under N .C .G .S . 115C-47(40) in each school in its jurisdiction, using the School Risk and Response Management System (SRRMS) established in N .C .G .S . 115C-105 .49A . See 2015 S .L . 2015-241 Section 8 .26(a), 8 .26(k)

– Charter and regional schools are encouraged to adopt an SRMP by March 1, 2017 as provided under N .C .G .S .

115C-218 .7 and 115C-238 .66, to provide schematic diagrams and emergency response information requested by local law enforcement and the Division of Emergency Management, to provide keys to buildings to local law enforcement, to adopt a policy against bullying, to provide crisis kits, and, at least annually, to hold a full school-wide lockdown exercise with local law enforcement and emergency management agencies that are part of the charter school’s SRMP . See above for additional details . See 2015 S .L . 2015-241 Section 8 .26(h), 8 .26 (l), 8 .26(m)

– Each local school administrative unit shall provide schematic diagrams to local law enforcement and the Division of Emergency Management . Schools shall provide updates to schematics when modifications are made or new facilities are built . Schools shall provide keys to the main entrance of all facilities to local law enforcement agencies or provide emergency access to key storage devices such as KNOX boxes . See 2015 S .L . 2015-241 Section 8 .26(f), 8 .26(g)

– Once annually, each local school admin-istrative unit shall require every school under its control to hold a full school-wide tabletop exercise and drill based on the procedures documented in its SRMP . The drill shall include a school lockdown due to an intruder on school grounds . Schools are strongly encouraged to include local law enforcement and emergency management agencies in their exercises and drills . See 2015 S .L . 2015-241 Section 8 .26(b)

SPKUP NC VERIFIED INCIDENT TYPESData from Student Tipline App

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– All LEA’s and schools under their control shall have a policy against bullying or harassing behavior that is consistent with N .C .G .S . 115C Article 29C . The schools shall, at the beginning of each school year, provide the policy to staff, students, and parents as defined in N.C.G.S. 115C-390 .1(b)(8) . Charter schools are strongly encouraged to adopt the same policies as outlined in the Article .

– Grants for SROs in Elementary and Middle Schools Grants to local school administrative units, regional and charter schools for to employ and train SROs in elementary and middle schools will be matched at $2 .00 in state funds for every $1 .00 in local funds . See 2013 S .L . 2013-360 Section 8 .36 .

– The Principal of a school, in coordination with law enforcement agencies as part of its SRMP, may place one or more crisis kits around the school . At a minimum, kits should include basic first aid supplies, communication devices, and other items recommended by the international association of chiefs of police . See 2015 S .L . 2015-241 Section 8 .26(e) .

• Critical Incident Response for School Faculty and Staff training: The Center completed statewide training of Critical Incident Response for School Faculty and Staff with at least one training to all 115 Local Education Agencies (school districts) . This video and accompanying training manual have been accepted and promoted as the standard for schools in North Carolina by the

Department of Public Instruction . Expansion of training continues for charter schools, private schools and it is being adapted for use in community colleges and universities . The training has been incorporated into the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) .

• The Department of Health and Human Services facilitated the expansion of Mental Health First-Aid for Youth training which educates teachers, parents, juvenile court counselors and other service providers of the impact mental health challenges play in the behavior patterns of youth in our schools .

• The N .C . Justice Academy prioritized training

for School Resource Officers (SRO’s), scheduling several course deliveries ranging from one to five days in length. Several of these classes are offered during summer months .

• The Department of Public Instruction worked with Center for Safer Schools’ staff and other Development Team members to develop online modules for teachers and other school support staff . These modules include Understanding Student Behavior in The Classroom, Understanding the Role of School Resource Officers in Schools, Understanding the Schools’ Role in Suicide Prevention, and

BULLYING FACTS

Nationwide 160,000 kids per day are absent from school due to bullying issues .

SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

42 .7% of middle school students and 20% of high school students in North Carolina have been victims of bullying .

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Preventing Substance Abuse and Underage Drinking Among K12 Students .

• The Center for Safer Schools completed an original research study entitled 2015 North Carolina School Resource Officer Census . The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of who School Resource Officers (SRO’s) in NC are by providing them with a vehicle to give their input . The census provided a baseline of demographic information as well as what SRO’s need to be effective . This information has helped the Center focus its efforts for School Resource Officers.

• The CFSS also published a document Anonymous Tip Reporting Tools Standards and Guidelines of Any System so schools and school systems that seek to implement an anonymous reporting app would have a template of what should be included in such an app . This document also provides guidance to school districts for developing an anonymous safety tip line application in response to the requirements of legislative directive §115C-105 .51 .

• Using data analysis of the 2015 North Carolina School Resource Officer Census, the Center noted that school resource officers could benefit by receiving training in the mental and emotional health issues of youth . The study found that 57 % of SROs had already received basic Crisis Intervention Team training (CIT) that focuses on mental and emotional crisis and provides tools for deescalating crisis and community services that might be more appropriate than entry into the criminal justice system . The CFSS wrote a grant to develop a Crisis Intervention Team training that would focus specifically on how mental and emotional health issues

present in youths . The course is entitled Crisis Intervention Team for Youth (CIT-Y) . A developmental committee of mental health and law enforcement specialists, who were involved in local CIT programs, were brought together to design an 8-hour youth specific course designed as a follow-up to basic CIT . The hope is to gain a reduction in the “school to prison pipeline” by helping officers recognize problems that might be better resolved outside of the juvenile or adult justice systems . The program training materials are to be made available to the Local Management Entities –Managed Care Organizations (LME-MCO) and law enforcement agencies to help guide them in implementing local CIT-Y training . This program is currently being piloted by the CIT-Y Developmental Committee to officers in select locations.

• Anonymous Reporting App for Students: Through a grant from the Governor’s Crime Commission, assistance from Emergency Management’s Homeland Security grants, and Center for Safer Schools budget contributions, a contract has been entered into to pilot an application for smart devices (smart phones, tablets, and computers) in seven school systems (Lenoir, Johnston, Macon, Avery, Winston Salem/Forsyth, Iredell, and Wayne counties) . This app will allow students the ability to send anonymous information by text, along with images, voice recordings, and social media posts . When received at the school, the tips will

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NUMBER OF SCHOOLS COVERED BY GRADE LEVEL

GANG PRESENCE IN SCHOOLS

INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM 2015 NC SRO CENSUS

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be routed to the appropriate personnel to both investigate the tips and in some cases review and oversee the process of managing the incoming information (principals, school resource officers, counselors, administrative staff, and others) . The App also provides direct telephone access to a 24-hour suicide hotline with calls received and processed by trained mental health counselors .

• Student Advisory Committee to the N .C . Center for Safer Schools: This committee is composed of middle and high school students from across the state and has met twice in Raleigh . The committee is chaired by Emily Davis, former high school student who is currently working part-time with the CFSS as the Student School Safety Coordinator . The purpose of the committee is to be a student-driven discussion group that focuses on the development of a marketing plan that encourages the use of the Anonymous Reporting App for Students . It also encourages student engagement and involvement in making their schools safer places through education about school safety related issues . Some goals of the committee include producing short videos that tell stories of incidents that occurred where the student app would have been helpful; establishing relationships and coordination with existing student groups to share information about the student app and school safety education; and explore web-based communication as a venue for sharing information with students .

• Critical Incidents on School Buses Video: The Center worked with the NC State Highway Patrol and RSM Consulting to develop a video

to illustrate prudent actions and reactions for school bus drivers in the event of several critical incident and multi-hazard scenarios . The Center focuses on the philosophy that training and preparation are the best tools to produce positive outcomes if critical events occur .

• School Violence Prevention and Response Symposiums: The Center collaborated with the NC Justice Academy and the Department of Health and Human Services to hold six forums across the state for law enforcement agencies, first responders, mental health providers, school resource officers, school administrators, and other stakeholders in making our schools safer for children . The Justice Academy coordinated registration and training for the symposiums . This partnership touched on supporting mental health in schools, reducing bullying, training on critical incident response in schools, roles of and training for school resource officers, and hostage and barricaded situations in schools .

• Safer Schools and Comm-unities Forum in Kinston: The Governor’s Office asked the Center to work with the Mayor and other key stakeholders in Kinston, NC on developing strategies for safer schools and communities . The goal was to bring together citizens, parents, and leaders to discuss strategies for reducing violence among youth in their schools and communities . The forum was one of a series of meetings, and included a presentation on “Bullying and Gang Prevention” and a keynote address from former NFL player and Kinston native Reverend Lin Dawson . This is an example of the Center’s community outreach and collaboration efforts .

• School Risk and Response Management System (SRRMS): The SRRMS system combines the efforts of the Division of Emergency Management with the Center for Safer Schools toward monitoring, planning & exercise, and responding to school safety concerns in schools . On the monitoring side, students and parents will be able to send anonymous safety tips to personnel at schools who will investigate and provide feedback . School Safety Analysts located at the FUSION Center

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To provide an environment that is conducive for learning, schools must be safe havens at all times for students, teachers, school administrators, staff and visitors . This guiding principle raises the fundamental question; what really makes schools safer? The CFSS and the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools are constantly examining this question through reviewing data, conducting research, and reaching out to partnering groups and agencies .

The end goal is to offer proactive strategies and best practice interventions for schools in North Carolina in order to prevent and deter avoidable acts . However, if a breach of safety does occur, training and preparation are of paramount importance to minimize harm .

Sandy Hook Elementary School is an example of a school that implemented numerous strategies toward preventing safety threats . The staff worked on a daily basis with their young students to foster an environment of kindness rather than bullying . They conducted the requisite drills to practice for lockdowns or escape from fires. They had a security system and required visitors to sign in and show photo identification. With all of this preparation they were the site of a horrendous act of violence costing the lives of twenty innocent children and seven innocent adults who all had expectations of being in a safe environment .

The violence at Sandy Hook came from an external source; a person with mental health concerns who had no legitimate reason to be there . The other side of this spectrum are internal threats such as was the case on April 20, 1999 in Littleton, Colorado where 2 students at Columbine High School shot and killed 13 fellow classmates, teachers and school staff, wounding an additional 20 before taking their own lives . On the college level, on April 16, 2007 a Virginia Tech student who had received mental health treatment went on a shooting rampage leaving 32 dead .

These examples show the importance of physical security and appropriate emergency response for students and staff . They also illustrate the need for mental health services to be available within

What Makes A Safer School?

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will monitor school social media postings for evidence of school safety risks and report to the Center for Safer Schools . For planning and exercise, building maps and schematics will be acquired from each school in the state . Then a first-generation School Emergency Plan that is digitally generated and maintained within the system will be developed for all 2,700 school facilities . Staff will assist schools with table-top exercises and drills to practice and test their school emergency plans . The plans will include response to natural hazards, man-

made hazards, and threats on school property . The last part of the system, or response, will enable school administrators and personnel, law enforcement, dispatch personnel, first responders, and emergency managers to have access to information digitally for response to safety concerns on school campuses . The Division of Emergency Management and the Center for Safer Schools will collaborate with the Department of Public Instruction and the North Carolina 911 Board in the design, implementation, and maintenance of SRRMS .

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FIGURE 1: According to the NC YRBS, 2015, 17.9% of students took prescription medication not prescribed to them by a doctor.

REFERENCES:1 . North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Injury and Violence Prevention

Branch . “Prescription & Drug Overdoses Fact Sheet” . http://www .injuryfreenc .ncdhhs .gov/About/PrescriptionFactSheet2015-Oct2016 .pdf

2 . Center for Disease Control and Prevention . “Opioid Overdose” https://www .cdc .gov/drugoverdose/index .html

3 . Narconon . “Why Suburban Teens are Most at Risk for Heroin Use” http://www .narconon .org/blog/narconon/why-suburban-teens-are-most-at-risk-for-heroin-use/

4 . http://www .nchealthyschools .org/docs/data/yrbs/2015/statewide/highschool/graphs .pdf , QN27

FIGURE 2: According to the NC YRBS, 2015, 40% of 12th graders consumed alcohol and is predominantly dominant among the white and black communities.

REFERENCE:1 . Talk It out . http://www .talkitoutnc .org/facing-the-facts/2 . Graph: http://www .nchealthyschools .org/docs/data/yrbs/2015/statewide/highschool/graphs .pdf, QN43

schools for students, and for school staff to be trained on identifying early warning signs . This all reverts back to asking ourselves, what can prevent future violent acts and make a safer school?

School safety has been a moving target with priority given in reaction to tragic events as described above then slowly moved aside as funding for initiatives dwindle as time moves on without a major incident . Support for law enforcement officers in schools shifts from a need for safety to faulty perceptions leading to criminalizing bad behaviors at schools . A high tech video monitoring system is installed in a school without funding for tech support, monitoring,

or upgrades . Additional social workers are hired but future budget cuts eliminate or reduce the positions after a few years . Areas of risk can be identified and resources focused on eliminating or mitigating those risks, but efforts must be sustained and the focus must remain clear .

No one thing makes for a safer school, but comprehensive efforts involving a cadre of collaborating community and state partners with the resolve to stay the course can give our students, teachers and school staff the reasonable expectation that their campus is a safe place to be . This resolve should stay focused on the physical security of the campus and buildings; the school and campus climate for students and faculty should remain positive; training for recognition of mental and emotional health early warning signs and timely provision of services to assist students in crisis are important; and finally there must be an understanding of intervening elements that can foster volatile behaviors . Examples of these elements are alcohol and drug abuse, gang involvement, hate talk, teen relationship violence, cyber bullying and other non-productive behaviors . There is no simple answer to the driving question of what makes a safer school; however, a planned rational for addressing school safety concerns can help reduce and mitigate potential events .

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SUBSTANCE USE AMONG TEENS IN NORTH CAROLINA:

– Nearly two-thirds of middle school- and high school-aged youth know people around their age who have tried alcohol .

– The average age that most youths try alcohol for the first time is just 14.

– Thirty-eight percent of eighth graders have had alcohol at least once .

– About 10 percent of 12-year-olds say they have tried alcohol . By age 15, that number jumps to 50 percent .

PERCENTAGE OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO EVER TOOK PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

WITHOUT A DOCTOR’S PRESCRIPTION*, BY SEX, GRADE^, AND RACE/ETHNICITY^, 2015

PERCENTAGE OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO CURRENTLY DRANK ALCOHOL*, BY

SEX, GRADE^, AND RACE/ETHNICITY^, 2015

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Four Major Strategy AreasSince its inception, the Center identified four major strategy areas that provide a methodology to focus on the foundations for safer schools in North Carolina . These relied on a model encompassing the four domains as graphically illustrated here .

PREVENTION is the broadest and most generalized of these strategies . It includes a broad focus on the general population of the students (and those around them) and can incorporate such things as “hardening” the physical environment, strengthening positive school climates, and reducing overall risk factors through education and curricula .

INTERVENTION includes more specific activities focusing on evidence-based practices that reduce risk or threats involving the recognition of students whose characteristics or behaviors have been identified as at-risk through a variety of screening, evaluation or observation methods . This includes a robust, 24-hour capability for anonymous reporting of school safety concerns. Specific activities or programs that are interventions may include mental health or substance use services to individual students or small groups, evaluation and referral to appropriate exceptional children’s services, direct parent engagement for specific behaviors, or altering supervision levels on a school bus due to credible information that a student may be planning a fight or other type of misbehavior.

CRISIS RESPONSE is a directed, urgent and comprehensive response to a known crisis . A school crisis could present in many forms: students with weapons, visitors to campus with threats/weapons, weather emergencies such as tornadoes or hurricanes, death of a student, or a chemical spill on or near a campus . Effective crisis responses require teams at multiple levels to plan, practice, prepare, and respond when called upon .

RECOVERY is the final dimension of the model . It includes the full range of mental health first aid, trauma-focused interventions, victim triage and treatment, crime or events scene management and restoration, media management, debriefing and a host of other well planned responses for any event .

Prevention

Intervention

Crisis Response

Recovery

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The Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools was established through Executive Order 25 in September 2013 and was tasked with providing guidance to the N .C . Center for Safer Schools and considering future policy and legislative action needed to improve school safety in North Carolina . Appointments to the Task Force were completed with the purpose of creating a multidisciplinary advisory board comprised of stakeholders including parents, students, teachers, school administrators, law enforcement officers, juvenile justice professionals and mental health professionals . The Task Force on Safer Schools supports the Center’s mission through four working subcommittees focused on key areas of school safety . The subcommittees draw on the expertise of task force members and other experts in the field with varying subject area knowledge to develop ideas, legislative and policy-related proposals, and promote school safety initiatives within their communities . The subcommittees are led by task force members with expertise in the subject matter pertinent to the overall mission of the group, and include other members of the task force and various subject matter experts from both community and state perspectives .

The four subcommittees of the Task Force met again in September of 2016 and established the following goals:

• School Climate & Discipline – Feeling safe at school not only encompasses physical safety, but social and emotional safety as well . This

committee looks at how schools create positive school climates where students feel safe, have positive relationships, and where high academic achievement is the norm . Creating these positive, safe school climates requires fostering positive behavior; establishing norms and values that support people feeling socially, emotionally, and physically safe; and minimizing threats of bullying and violence . The following are recommendations for fostering positive school climates that the subcommittee will address in 2016 and 2017:

– Develop a response to the cyberbullying law revocation and work with DPI to establish new legislation pertaining to Cyberbullying .

– Continue to develop methods to reduce bullying in schools by way of developing presentations for students and parents and develop new and innovative ways to present anti-bullying strategies and its’ negative impact to all stakeholders .

– Recommend and/or develop use of Social Emotional Learning Curriculum to assist in fostering positive school climates .

– Encouraging schools to put more alternatives to suspension in place

The committee continues to work on research related to bullying, discipline and school climate . Detailed analysis of these points will be completed

GOVERNOR’S TASK FORCE ON SAFER SCHOOLS Background and Accomplishments

2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR 15

during the next two calendar quarters . The goal is to have recommendations on these items complete prior to the 2017 Session of the NC General Assembly .

• Mental Health & Special Needs of Students – The Center for Safer Schools is taking a holistic approach when addressing school safety . Most human caused safety concerns such as shootings, bomb threats, fights/riots and other forms of violence are caused by members of the school population rather than unknown external threats . For this reason, the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools and the N .C . Center for Safer Schools will take an in-depth look at how schools and communities can address the mental health needs of their students and staff to prevent school related violent incidents . The following are recommendations pertaining to mental health that this subcommittee will address:

– Provide suicide prevention plan and training to staff as well as toolkits to schools and encourage the use of the Columbia Suicide Scale .

– CIT-Youth implemented for School Resource Officers

– Be able to deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid for interested schools and their staff and faculty .

– Provide more information to students through counselors on conflict management, resiliency and anger management .

– Develop innovative ways to get special needs students more involved with their school .

The Mental Health Sub-committee has been actively involved in developing a five-year plan to bring a level of standardization and best practices for both faculty and mental health providers in schools . This includes a standardized suicide screening tool that in a few questions can help determine the urgency of a threat or concern . Additionally, a violence risk screening and assessment tools is being investigated as a potential for a grant . The committee’s ultimate goal is to equip schools with an identifying, screening, and access-to-care framework adaptable to each unique environment . Earlier in the year several committee members developed a webinar training, ‘Engaging Schools into Juvenile Justice Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Teams’ through the Center for Youth, Family and Community Partnerships . The

committee gave input into the Center’s anonymous tip reporting app for students related to how to process suicide tips, and hosted a presentation on an Early Intervention Truancy Program for the Governor’s Task Force . Lastly, the committee positioned several members on two other state department led task forces dedicated to children’s mental health needs so we are able to better collaborate on projects .

• Physical Security & Emergency Preparedness – Schools are soft targets because of their openness to the public, but with a few often inexpensive modifications, schools can make their environments a harder target . Low-cost security measures for school facilities should be implemented by all schools, including those that highlight the concepts of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) . Some of these measures include access control, natural and formal surveillance, and having well-defined school boundaries. School faculty and staff, law enforcement, dispatch personnel, first responders and emergency managers, should be provided with up to date training and tools to assist with response to natural hazards, man-made hazards and threats on school property and students and faculty . Other physical security and emergency preparedness recommendations that this sub-committee will address include:

– Continuing Critical Incident Response for Faculty and Staff in counties throughout the state and establishing a check off system for schools for completing the training yearly .

– Critical Incident Training for School Bus Drivers

– Develop a vulnerability assessment for school campuses

– Require that schools have a School Risk Management Plan and hold annual school-wide tabletop exercises and drills

– Continue to work with NC Justice Academy on the training of School Resource Officers.

The Physical Security and Emergency Preparedness Sub-Committee has been hard at work for the past year continuing to support the Critical Incident Response for School Faculty and Staff curriculum as well as developing new curriculum for Critical Incidents on School Buses . This group began discussions on how to better support the

16 2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR

school systems in their endeavors to meet the new statutory requirement for performing emergency drills (including active shooter drills) and tabletop exercises once per year in each school . The committee have also provided suggestions for updating the school resource officer (SRO) curriculum with our partners at the North Carolina Justice Academy .

• Substance Abuse & Gang Intervention – A fourth subcommittee to review the issues of substance abuse, underage alcohol consumption and gang involvement in schools was established at the June 2015 Task Force meeting and will begin their work in fiscal year 2015-2016 . They will look at the issues surrounding substance abuse, under-age drinking, and gangs both as separate and inter-related areas .

During this past year, the Substance Abuse and Gang Intervention Committee has established its mission, provided recommendations and set

forth goals for the following year . The committee’s mission is to identify, develop and/or promote prevention, intervention and educational materials that address the dangers of illegal substance abuse and gang involvement in young people, that may be utilized by schools, parents and community partners . Thus far, committee members have met with various community organizations, service providers, law enforcement and students; provided various presentations to students and parents in eastern North Carolina, and appointed leadership within its group to focus on gang intervention for the upcoming year .

Since this committee is still somewhat new and very broad in scope, this committee recommends to the Task Force:

• the continued support, expansion and funding for SPKUP NC which addresses school youth violence and risk behavior, including drug and underage drinking .

SUICIDE IN NORTH CAROLINA

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth ages 10 through 17 . According to the 2015 North Carolina Suicide Prevention Plan (NCSPP), youth and young adults have higher rates of suicidal behavior, visiting the emergency room or being hospitalized at greater rates than any other age group resulting in non-fatal injury than death . However, there were 329 suicide deaths in North Carolina of children 17 years and younger between 2005 through 2015; 35 suicides in 2015 alone, according to North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics . The NC Youth Risk Behavior Survey of 2015 reports 9 .3 % of NC high school students reported attempting suicide . This is nearly double the rate of previous years . Furthermore, 15 .9% of students reported to seriously have considered attempting suicide during the 12 months before the survey .

Of particular concern is that of the mental health . The most common circumstances surrounding suicide in NC are related to mental health illness at the time of death . Other common circumstances include life stressors, interpersonal and other suicide event circumstances, according to NCSPP . Although most youth are able to overcome life challenges and thrive, despite having a mental illness, it is increasingly important to equip students to resilient and increasing protective factors, while

reducing risk factors . Informing students about health practices in dealing with life’s stressors and coping skills for challenging times is a key factor against suicidal ideation . Among others, destigmatizing mental health and encouraging youth and parents to seek professional help earlier rather than later is critical and perhaps life-saving .

REFERENCES:1 . North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Injury & Violence Prevention Branch . “North Carolina Suicide Prevention Plan,

2015” http://www .injuryfreenc .ncdhhs .gov/preventionResources/docs/2015-NC-SuicidePreventionPlan-2015-0505-FINAL .pdf 2 . North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics . “Child Deaths in North Carolina Annual Report” 2005-2015 . http://www .schs .state .

nc .us/data/vital/cd/2015/CFinNC2015 .pdf 3 . http://www .nchealthyschools .org/docs/data/yrbs/2015/statewide/highschool/trend .pdf4 . National Council for Behavioral Health . Youth Mental Health First Aid . 2016 .

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2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR 17

• Increase funding to substance abuse treatment for minors, including increase inpatient availability

• A uniform assessment for administration by lay persons and professionals working with minors to identify possible youth risk behaviors that include underage drinking and substance abuse

• The development of a teacher training module on teen brain development and the effects of trauma and substance abuse on the brain, as it relates to recognition and alternatives to instruction

• Increase mental health and substance abuse specialists in schools

• Identify current drug trends among school aged children and gather statistics on substance abuse by young people in our state

• heighten drug and alcohol awareness by developing resource kits for schools, parents

and students that provide educational materials; provide a list of statewide resources and programs available to minors; in addition to student engagement materials for schools and communities .

• Evaluate the recovery high schools model, peer support, recovery coaches/clubs, and recovery court for youth .

• Identify possible insurance carrier barriers to access to treatment .

• Offer communities the ability to host Gang Free symposiums .

• Provide Community gang assessments

• Encourage the ability of the SRO access to Gang Net to input intelligence and information

• Possibly develop and help implement a school reward system for positive behavior

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18 2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR

DRUG TRENDS IN NORTH CAROLINA

FIGURE 3: Medication/Drug vs. Non-Medical Types of Unintentional Poisoning: NC Residents, 2015

Of these unintentional poisoning deaths, 92 .6 percent caused by drugs and medications (over-the-counter, prescription and illicit) (Fig . 2) . Seven percent are toxins or chemicals (non-medication/non-drug) .

Medication/Drug 93%Opioids/Cocaine 47%Other/Unspecified Drugs 43%Anti-epileptic and sedative-hypnotic drugs 2%Non-opioid 1%

FIGURE 4: Unintentional Prescription Opioid & Drug Overdose Deaths by Year: NC Residents 1999-2015

REFERENCE:1 . North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch . “Prescription & Drug Overdoses Fact Sheet” . http://www .injuryfreenc .ncdhhs .gov/About/

PrescriptionFactSheet2015-Oct2016 .pdf 2 . Center for Disease Control and Prevention . “Opioid Overdose” https://www .cdc .gov/drugoverdose/index .html 3 . Narconon . “Why Suburban Teens are Most at Risk for Heroin Use” http://www .narconon .org/blog/narconon/why-suburban-teens-are-most-at-risk-for-heroin-use/

Aside from alcohol abuse, the most commonly abused drug and the leading result of teen deaths- more than any other illicit drug combined, prescription and drug overdose has become the number one public health crisis in North Carolina . Four North Carolinians die daily from drug and medication overdoses . According to North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, unintentional poisoning deaths has increased by more than 391% between 1999 to 2015, claiming 297 lives in 1999 to 1,370 live in 2015 . Forty-seven percent of these deaths involved prescription opioids, heroin and cocaine, while 92 .6% involved overall drugs and medicine, including over the counter medicine . (Figure 1 and 2)

Opioid abuse, both heroin and prescription drugs, has become a national and North Carolina epidemic, claiming the lives of thousands . According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 33,000 deaths are attributed to opioid, including prescription opioid and heroin . Prescribing doctors have come under scrutiny after the revelation of high quantities of opioid dispensing, or over prescribing, which result in

an increase access of the controlled substances into communities . Studies indicate many opioid medications are not always consumed by patients and left in medicine cabinets, readily available to curious teens . This can result in an addiction to medication originally prescribed for true pain . Reports reveal that adolescents and young adults have easy access to these medications in their parents or relative’s homes and report to believe they are safer than street drugs . The CDC identifies nearly half of young people who use heroine previously abused prescription opioids .

Of increasing concern is the growing trend of fentanyl laced heroin – heroin that is fifty times more potent than heroin itself . This trend can be attributed to the sharp rise in unintentional deaths, as many times people are unaware the drug has been laced with the synthetic opioid (fentanyl) and/or are seeking more powerful drugs . This in part is due to the increasing availability and affordability of heroin . Many people, including young adults, may develop an addiction to prescription medication and then move onto heroin as it is cheaper and more readily available . Such growing trends are of grave concern .

93%

7% Prescription opioid analgesics, heroin and cocaine are the cause of death in nearly half (47 percent) of these poisoning deaths (Fig . 2) .

Prescription opioid pain medications include such drugs as oxycodone, hydrocodone and methadone .

Prescription opioid pain medications are responsible for more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined (Fig .3) .

If current trends continue, unintentional poisoning deaths will surpass motor vehicle deaths as the leading cause of injury death in North Carolina by 2017 .

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2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR 19

Our Partnering Agencies’ RolesThe Center for Safer Schools and the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools are dependent on successful collaboration with partnering agencies to attain broader acceptance of focused school safety initiatives among the Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and their schools . Below are many school safety-related accomplishments of our partnering agencies over the past twelve months . Many programs are one-time events, some are in varying points of development, and some are continuous or ongoing .

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETYState Highway Patrol has conducted “Operation Drive to Live” for approximately 10 years, always focusing efforts around the prom season . Troopers are pro-active in providing educational presentations to high schools throughout the state, concentrating on teen driving initiatives . The Patrol has also imple-mented our new “state of the art” driving simulator . The simulator is used across the state to provide teen drivers an educational opportunity through a hands on approach . The students will experience driving simulations that provide them with decision making tasks, evasive action maneuvers, distracted driving scenarios, and speed monitoring practices .

In efforts to encourage law enforcement officers to maintain high visibility around schools, the N .C . Highway Patrol routinely stops at schools to complete paperwork, have lunch, conduct appropriate business and offer an effective visual deterrent to criminal activities .

Every day in North Carolina, more than three-quarters of a million children ride the school bus to and from school with more than 2,300 drivers violating school bus stop arm law . To combat this problem, the Highway Patrol conducts a coordinated campaign called Operation Stop Arm to promote school bus safety . During these campaigns, the Highway Patrol aggressively enforces stop arm violations and other traffic violations in and around school zones . The Patrol expects the Operation Stop Arm activities to decrease violations and reduce school bus collisions . Across the state, troopers will be working school zones and others will be following the buses . Troopers will be driving marked and unmarked patrol cars during these operations . Passing a stopped school bus is a Class 2 misdemeanor. If convicted, a person will receive five driving points on their driver’s license and is subject to fines up to $200.

OPERATION DRIVE TO LIVE

20 2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR

ABC Commission through their Talk It Out NC initiative builds upon the work done, the challenges faced, and the successes earned by many underage drinking initiatives conducted throughout the country . Underage drinking is an issue that cuts across all boundaries, and has an impact on every group and in every corner of North Carolina . Imploring family and friends to talk with youths about the problems and risks associated with alcohol consumption, Talk It Out aims to spread the message that “teens aren’t prepared to deal with the risks of alcohol on their own .” See more at: http://www .talkitoutnc .org/facing-the-facts/#sthash .kt0dRcDz .dpuf .

Juvenile Justice is empowering local youth violence prevention planning bodies to integrate services through collaboration and to use mixed funding streams, DPS is working with DHHS to encourage greater collaboration and blending of state resources through the Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils .

Emergency Management continues to assist local school districts and local emergency management offices with web-based emergency planning and drills . This is accomplished through a two-part web-based portal for schools and first responders that has been developed for state public schools . This program will allow first responders to critical incidents to have a virtual toolbox of information about each school available via secure link to their data terminals in responding patrol and emergency vehicles .

Governor’s Crime Commission has greatly assisted the Center for Safer Schools with grant funding to develop new initiatives .

State Bureau of Investigation provides an information resource via their fusion center to keep the Center for Safer Schools informed on ongoing events of concern .

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTIONSafe and Healthy Schools has developed and maintains web-based Professional Development Modules: Each of these online courses are 5 hour self-paced courses, and earn .5 CEUs, when completed . Each course was developed by a statewide team of North Carolina professionals . DPI continues to help school districts identify and seek grant funding to make safety improvements .

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESDMHDDSAS staff collaborated with DPI on their School Mental Health Initiative (NCBMHI) that began meeting in September 2015 . It is the mission of this partnership to develop recommendations for policy and/or legislative change to ensure that public school students in North Carolina have equitable access to a full continuum of high-quality and well-coordinated services supporting social and emotional well-being . For more information on the NCSMHI visit http://ec .ncpublicschools .gov/instructional-resources/behavior-support/mental-health .

DHHS continues to grow public awareness of and greater involvement of consumers and advocates in NC Families United and Youth M .O .V .E . chapters across the state (including the development of new chapters) . Families United is supported by DHHS and other resources as a family support and advocacy organization that helps link families to

“The NC ABC Commission takes the issue of underage drinking very seriously and our Talk it Out campaign will continue to aggressively promote the positive message to parents that talking early, often, and honestly to their children about the dangers of alcohol can prevent underage drinking .” – Chairman

The good news is that our children can see what’s going on around them, and they’re not happy about it . The vast majority of North Carolina’s youth – 94% – say underage drinking is a problem . More than half of them think it’s a serious problem . The bad news? Less than half of North Carolina parents share that view .

Through our research, we confirmed that there is, in fact, a problem: Too many kids are drinking . Too many parents are unaware of the scope . Neither group feels comfortable dealing with the issue or has a good handle on the facts .

But we also identified a solution: Kids want and expect to hear from their parents . Parents want to be better prepared . And better communication can go a long way toward reducing underage drinking .

That’s why Talk It Out exists – to fill the gap with real information and honest discussion . And to start the long, challenging process of reducing underage drinking, and all the harm it causes in North Carolina .

2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR 21

services in their home communities that include mental health, physical health, social services, and educational needs . See www .ncfamiliesunited .org .

Youth M .O .V .E ., supported through Families United, is a nationally acclaimed and recognized youth advocacy group dedicated to giving a voice to and improving the lives of

youth involved in mental health, substance abuse, juvenile justice and child welfare systems (http://www .ncfamiliesunited .org/m-o-v-e/) . DHHS will work to increase consumer and citizen awareness of this resource so that families and youth have supportive networks to assist in the recognition of and management of issues related to mental illness, substance abuse and developmental disabilities .

DHHS is also working to involve more families & communities in the parent-centered education resources & activities provided by NC Parent Resource Center (www .ncparentresourcecenter .org) . This resource focuses on the prevention of child and youth substance abuse through education and empowerment approaches targeting parents and caregivers . Through the managed care entities and other system collaborations, the department will help parents locate the resources needed for effective parenting strategies and interventions . Seen as intervention on the continuum, DHHS hopes to engage and educate parents concerning parenting practices, how to seek and maintain support, and what to look for in terms of risk, etc . are the goals for this action step .

DHHS seeks to develop and maintain resources to ensure access to training in Youth Mental Health First Aid (see http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/youthmental-health-first-aid) . This training is for any adult or older adolescent that has regular interactions with children and youth, and is designed to help trainees recognize risk or warning signs associated with various mental health or substance abuse related crises . It also teaches helpful strategies to effectively respond to these warning signs . Youth Mental Health First Aid is taught by certified trainers in local communities . Fees are associated with the training, and the recommendation includes a call for the Center for Safer Schools, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, and others to work towards seeking grants or other funding to help support training for educators, parents and volunteers . Through the local System of Care coordinators and other outreach activities involving the LME-MCOs and their network

partners, DHHS will work to expand knowledge about this resource .

DHHS works with local communities to create innovative strategies for integrating behavioral health and substance abuse services on school campuses or nearby . Given DHHS’s support for holistic care, and feedback from each community forum and key stakeholder sessions strongly supporting this recommendation, integration of these services appears to be a high priority for schools and school districts . Several sites, including schools in Carteret and Jackson counties, have unique, innovative arrangements with local providers to bring resources onto school campuses that allow for consulting, assessment, counseling, crisis intervention and recovery, evaluation and other related student behavioral health services . Schools consistently report a lack of qualified student support team members (psychologists, social workers, guidance counselors and others) and see the need for more immediately available behavioral health interventions as a very high priority .

DHHS hopes to increase resources for Crisis Intervention Team training (CIT) . CIT is a police-based, pre-booking jail diversion approach that provides law enforcement (including SROs) and other first responders the training and tools needed to understand mental health and substance abuse crises and symptoms, as well as helping them make decisions that get youth needed services in lieu of incarceration (see http://www .ncdhhs .gov/mhddsas/services/crisisservices/index .htm) . CIT is spreading across the state through the LME-MCOs through which NC’s mental health system is administered locally, in partnership with various local entities including law enforcement, community colleges, county commissioners, advocacy organizations and similar groups . To effectively expand CIT, DHHS will continue to educate police chiefs, sheriffs, LME-MCOs and other local entities as to the benefits of CIT and how various sites are identifying resources for the training and materials, as well as provide technical assistance regarding best practices for implementing CIT programs .

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICEThe North Carolina Justice Academy has developed a program on Preventing Substance Abuse and Underage Drinking Among K-12 Students . This initiative gives educators and community leaders action steps to help students

22 2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR

WHAT IS PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE?

Also known as:

Opioids: Hillbilly Heroin, Oxy, OC, Oxycotton, Percs, Happy Pills, Vikes

Depressants: Barbs, Reds, Red Birds, Phennies, Tooies, Yellows, Yellow Jackets; Candy, Downers, Sleeping Pills, Tranks; A-Minus, Zombie Pills

Stimulants: Skippy, The Smart Drug, Vitamin R, Bennies, Black Beauties, Roses, Hearts, Speed, Uppers

Prescription drug misuse has become a large public health problem, because misuse can lead to addiction, and even overdose deaths . For teens, it is a growing problem:

• After marijuana and alcohol, prescription drugs are the most commonly misused substances by Americans age 14 and older .

• Teens misuse prescription drugs for a number of reasons, such as to get high, to stop pain, or because they think it will help them with school work .

• Most teens get prescription drugs they misuse from friends and relatives, sometimes without the person knowing .

• Boys and girls tend to misuse some types of prescription drugs for different reasons . For example, boys are more likely to misuse prescription stimulants to get high, while girls tend to misuse them to stay alert or to lose weight .

COMMONLY MISUSED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

There are three kinds of prescription drugs that are commonly misused . Visit our separate Drug Facts pages to learn more about each of these classes of prescription drugs:

• Opioids – used to relieve pain, such as Vicodin, OxyContin, or codeine

• Depressants – used to relieve anxiety or help a person sleep, such as Valium or Xanax

• Stimulants – used for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), such as Adderall and Ritalin

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week and the National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week logo design are registered marks of the U .S . Department of Health and Human Services . SHATTER THE MYTHS & Design SM is a mark of the US Department of Health and Human Service .

and young people avoid the dangers of underage consumption of alcohol, abuse of prescription medication abuse and street drugs use .

The illegal diversion of prescription drugs is the fastest growing drug problem in America . Approximately 1,000 North Carolinians die due to prescription drug abuse each year . This illegal drug use strains our economy, healthcare and criminal justice systems . Deaths from unintentional poisoning – mostly prescription drug abuse – have jumped nearly 300 percent in the past decade . From 1999 to 2012, deaths from the most addictive prescription drugs spiked 400 percent .

The North Carolina Justice Academy’s mission it to improve the quality and effectiveness or criminal justice services to the citizens of North Carolina through research, education, training, and support for criminal justice and related personnel . In 2015/2016 FY, the North Carolina Justice Academy coordinated and delivered classes specifically designed to train North Carolina School Resource Officers. These coordinated training efforts have resulted in a majority SROs receiving crucial specialized trainings . The NC Justice Academy strives to keep theses training protocols fresh and updated to meet the relevant demands of SROs in current school environments .

2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR 23

The Center is funded in part through a direct appropriation from the state Legislature, along with grants from the Governor’s Crime Commission and state Homeland Security funding .

Given the meager funding for administrative activities, grant funding has become imperative for the Center to function and provide our mission . A campaign to seek additional legislative funding for the Center failed in 2016 . New legislative funding is important because these funds can be used to develop new programs . Grant funding is specific to the purpose areas of each grant and cannot always be guaranteed for the Center.

The NC Center for Safer Schools has been able to provide quality programing, collaboration and research for the state on a very small budget . To have a greater statewide impact, funding levels should be increased . The Center will continue to apply for competitive grant funding to supplement its mission .

The N .C . Center for Safer Schools (CFSS) is actively pursuing many avenues in promoting school safety through information sharing, training and technical assistance . Some of these projects include:

• Making the statewide model for Crisis Intervention Team for Youth training for school resource officers (SROs) and any officer that comes in contact with youths in crisis available online for any local mental health agency (LME/MCO) and law enforcement agency to develop a local individualized training .

• The CFSS will be utilizing 2 School Safety Analyst positions funded via a Homeland Security Grant . These two positions will be working with analysts of the State Bureau of Investigation’s Fusion Center, which compiles data from numerous law enforcement agencies to seek methods of predicting potential trouble areas or crimes in schools including colleges and universities .

• Collaborating with the Justice Academy along with partners from the N .C . School Resource Officer Association, Department of Public Instruction and Department of Health and Human Services to help ensure that the basic SRO curriculum is providing current and informative courses that benefit SROs’ professional development and ability to be a productive resource on multiple fronts within schools .

•

Planning and developing strategies and programming for a statewide or regional conferences on school safety to be held in either 2016 or 2017 . Investigating the future of collaborating with the Department of Community Colleges and then with our state’s four-year institutions on issues of campus safety and teacher education that would include critical incident planning and response and school violence prevention .

• Working with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission to develop programs that focus on reducing underage consumption of alcohol and other substance abuse issues among students . The CFSS will be sharing a contracted position with the Governor’s Under-Age Drinking and Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force to focus attention on these issues .

FUTURE PRIORITY CONSIDERATIONS

Needs for On-going Funding

24 2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR

The N .C . Center for Safer Schools has worked tirelessly to improve the safety of North Carolina’s students and school faculty over the past 12 months . The Centers’ staff brings years of training, research, and school safety experience to the table and continues to develop safety standards and collaborations . The Center is well positioned to help guide and foster relationships among all of the agencies and organizations involved in developing various school safety plans and initiatives . Along with the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools, our state-level partners: Department of Public Instruction, Department of Public Safety, Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice, and all local and individual partners, are

working together, to seek common resolutions to school safety concerns in our schools . The Center is providing leadership in these collaborations and will continue to foster new partnerships to enhance this effort and expand the number of schools we assist . Schools looking to the Center for Safer Schools to meet these demands are: • Public Schools • Charter Schools • Private Schools • Community Colleges

The Center will continue to strive to ensure that all schools in the State are safe, secure, and offer an environment conducive to learning .

Conclusion

• The Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools has formed a sub-committee to address the issues of substance abuse and under-age drinking and gang involvement among students and awaits this group’s findings.

• Evaluating the impact of current anti-bullying legislation and working with the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools on ways to enhance these laws .

• The Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools and the N .C . Center for Safer Schools will continue to investigate areas to encourage legislative action for school safety issues requiring state level leadership, through both the Center and the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools . Areas to be considered include continued support and expansion for SRO funding, new funding for expansion of school psychologists and social workers, and grants for local schools to update their security measures .

• Continue working with the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools, the Justice Academy and the Department of Health and Human Services to plan and implement new symposia geared toward training in rapid response and recovery, critical incident response for school faculty and staff, and supporting mental health in schools . The audience includes law enforcement, school administrators and teachers, and mental health providers .

• Working with the Division of Emergency Management to support and implement the School Safety/Statewide School Risk and Response Management System which includes the web-based applications for school maps and schematics, school risk management plans, tabletop exercises and drills, anonymous reporting student app, and integration of a statewide panic alarm system . This will be done with collaboration and coordination with the Department of Public Instruction and the N .C . 911 Board .

2016 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR 25

Sheriff Robert Holland (Chair) Caroline Daily (Vice Chair) Donna White Macon County Johnston County Johnston County Local Law Enforcement Public School Teacher School Board member

Buddy Collins Dr. Ben Matthews Wendy Jordan Forsyth County Wake County Richmond County State Board of Education At-Large Public School Administrator

Jeff White Richard Parks Greta Metcalf Halifax County Nash County Jackson County Public School Administrator Parent of public school student Public school psychologist

Officer Joe Pass Dr. Amy James William Lassiter Guilford County Craven County Wake County Public School Resource Officer At-Large Juvenile Justice professional

Evonne Moore Chief Patrice Andrews Karin Evanoff Richmond County Wake County Wake County Licensed Social Worker Morrisville Police Dept . At-Large

Matt Knight Mary Jane Ferguson Kolby Holland NC Alcohol Law Enforcement Jackson County Lenoir County School Board member Student member

Secretary of Dept. of Health & Human Services/their designee

Kym Martin Mike Anderson Richard Hayes Executive Director Deputy Director Grants & Research

Michelle Jernigan Karen Fairley Diana Rodriguez Administrative Specialist School Safety Specialist School Safety Specialist

Karen Everett Patrick Lake School Safety Specialist Program Developer

DEPARTMENTAL LIAISONS: General J.R. Gorham Clyde Roper Special Assistant to the Secretary Communications Officer

GOVERNOR’S TASK FORCE ON SAFER SCHOOLS Committee Members

NC Center for Safer Schools’ Staff

N.C. CENTER FOR SAFER SCHOOLSwww.ncpublicschools.org/cfss/ | 919.807.4001

Physical Address: 301 N. Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-2825 Mailing Address: 6372 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-6372

Twitter: @NCSaferSchools