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  • Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) Training: Working together on common training to keep our communities safe

    Posted on    Posted in BGSD, General

    Black Gold Regional Division No. 18 along with its community partners joined together October 5 – 6, 2017 for common training to work together to protect our children and keep our communities safe. Recognizing that traumatic events have impacted, and may continue to impact, many schools and communities across North America, approximately 50 people representing RCMP, local school divisions, Probation, Mental Health, and Family and Community Support Services took part in the Level 2 Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) – Data Analysis and Strategic Interviewing Training.

    Over the past three years, the Leduc and Area Region has locally trained 313 professionals from schools and partner agencies in Level 1 VTRA alone. Of those professionals, 197 have continued on to be trained in Level 2 VTRA.

    The two-day training was to support the Leduc and Area Regional Collaborative Service Delivery Violence Threat Risk Assessment Community Protocol.  The protocol, which was signed in 2015, has all partners agreeing to work together for the common goal of threat reduction and school and community safety by proactively sharing information, advice, and support that assists in the prevention of a potential traumatic event.   At the time, the signed protocol partners included:

    • Alberta Health Services Child, Youth and Family Addiction and Mental Health
    • Black Gold Regional Division No. 18
    • Canadian Center for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response (CCTATR)
    • City of Leduc
    • Evergreen Catholic Separate Regional School Division No. 2
    • Leduc County
    • RCMP
    • St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic School Division No. 38
    • Town of Beaumont
    • Town of Calmar
    • Town of Devon
    • Town of Thorsby
    • Village of Warburg

    “Our Leduc and Area protocol gives community partners a framework and the confidence to address threats of violence and to plan appropriate interventions in support of children/youth and their families,” stated Dianne Butler, Director of Student Services.

     

    Throughout the two-day training, the group worked through real case studies to help hone their own assessment skills and learn how to assess risk and develop treatment/intervention plans for persons at risk. Attendees in the training must have already taken Level 1 VTRA – Theory and Practice.

    The VTRA model is intended to support agencies and professionals work collaboratively as multidisciplinary teams focusing on best outcomes for children and youth, using early intervention, prevention, and aftermath strategies for crises, trauma, violence, and conflict.

    The training offered in early October helps to provide a comprehensive skill-based structure for professionals in school jurisdictions and community systems who are, or will be, conducting the actual risk assessments for violence or threats in order to prevent serious crimes and traumatic events.

    “Although the training topic at first can be worrisome, it is important to remember that the work the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response, Kevin Cameron and our team is doing is very important,” stated Superintendent of Black Gold Regional Schools, Norman Yanitski. “The training reinforces that we must work together, collaboratively, as a team to support our community and youth in order to help to prevent future traumatic events.  I am extremely proud of what we are doing to be better prepared along with our community partners.”

    To learn more about the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response, as well as VTRA training, visit: http://www.cctatr.com/training.

    Level 1 VTRA – Theory and Practice will be offered by the Leduc and Area Regional Collaborative Service trainers again in December 2017.

    To view the entire Leduc and Area Regional Collaborative Service Delivery: Violence Threat Risk Assessment Community Protocol, visit: http://www.blackgold.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2014/05/LA-VTRA-Protocol.pdf.

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