NaBITA Newsletter
October 1st, 2014
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In NaBITA's monthly newsletter we share a Tip of the Week, spotlight a resource relevant to the field, provide news, and share information about our upcoming events. In addition, each NaBITA newsletter brings you information relevant to the field of behavioral intervention and prevention, with current events and relevant resources. If you like the newsletter, we hope you will join NaBITA so that you can receive the weekly version of this great member benefit. Click here for more information.
Our Phone Number has Changed!
For any NaBITA questions, please feel free to contact us at our new telephone number, 484-321-3651.
Resource Spotlight
NaBITA is pleased to spotlight the 2009 article, Behavioral Intervention v. Threat Assessment: Best Practices for Violence Prevention, by Brett A. Sokolow, J.D. and W. Scott Lewis, J.D.
Tip of the Week
What's in a Name?
Staff working in higher education certainly like to name things, and naming the teams that address at-risk student concerns are no exception. One of the questions on the 2014 NaBITA BIT survey (available in November) addressed team names. As to be expected, “BIT” topped the list, with around 25% of schools using BIT to refer to their campus team.
To read the complete Tip, click here.
2014 Annual Conference and Campus Threat Management Institute
Registration Deadline is Friday, November 7th.
Now in its sixth year, the Annual NaBITA Conference and Campus Threat Management Institute is the leading conference in the field of higher education threat assessment and behavioral intervention. Each year the conference provides valuable, substantive, sustaining, and energizing dialogue for professionals from various disciplines who are engaged in the essential function of behavioral intervention in schools, on college campus, and in corporations and organizations.
Dates: November 19th – November 23rd, 2014 (Wednesday evening to Sunday afternoon). The NaBITA Institute runs concurrently with the NaBITA Annual Conference, and then continues for two additional days. Institute registrants will attend the NaBITA Conference (included in the Institute registration fee), in an optional special track for Institute registrants.
The NaBITA conference begins with the Opening Keynote on Wednesday, November 19th, at 7:00pm. The conference runs through Thursday, November 20th until 1:00pm on Friday, November 21st. The Institute continues for the remainder of Friday the 21st, all day on Saturday the 22nd, and then concludes at 1:00pm on Sunday, November 23rd, 2014. For more information on the Campus Threat Management Institute, including certification opportunities, click here.
Conference Keynote Speaker
NaBITA is honored to announce Dave Cullen as the Keynote Speaker at this year's Conference. Mr. Cullen is the author of the New York Times bestseller Columbine, a haunting portrait of two killers and their victims. Columbine won several awards, including the Edgar Award, Barnes & Noble’s Discover Award, the Goodreads Choice Award. The keynote presentation, Understanding the Gradual Evolution of How and Why Troubled Kids Become Shooters, will be Wednesday, November 19th beginning at 7:00pm. For more information on the 2014 conference keynotes and featured speakers, click here.
The Downward Spiral: Understanding the Gradual Evolution of How and Why Troubled Kids Become Shooters
Presented by Dave Cullen, author of Columbine
Most shooters plan their attack for weeks, but the real danger begins months or years earlier, as they spiral downward. This long, slow gestation phase is our best hope for intervention. This session will identify three main types of shooters, and focus on the largest: How does a killer progress? What does his downward spiral look like? How can we identify at-risk kids and intercede?
This session will identify three main types of shooters, and focus on the largest: vengeful depressives. They are the easiest to treat, yet our least focus to date. What does their downward spiral look like? How does a killer progress? Why? Columbine shooter Dylan Klebold vividly documented his 2-year battle with suicide. Scanned passages from his journal, stories, etc. will help participants get inside a killer’s mind, seeing the world from his perspective. We will widen out to put Dylan in context of other vengeful depressives, using FBI and Secret Service data, as well as perspectives from top forensic psychologists on other prominent shootings.
The speaker will be available for book-signing after the session.
Featured Speaker Sessions
The 2014 NaBITA Annual Conference features presenters chosen for their topical expertise by the conference committee.
A sampling of Featured Speakers sessions include:
Bring Your Scenario to the Table Town Hall
Presented by W. Scott Lewis, J.D., NaBITA 2013-2014 President; Partner, The NCHERM Group, LLC and Brett A. Sokolow, J.D., NaBITA Executive Director; President & CEO, The NCHERM Group, LLC
Truth is often stranger than fiction, and we learn from our experiences. To that end, bring your real-life cases to this town hall, where - in a safe, “vaulted” conversation - the presenters will guide the participants through the cases, offering debriefing and suggestions for future cases. Participants are welcome to email the fact patterns to NaBITA ahead of time at nabita@nabita.org. In order to preserve anonymity, institution names will not be shared.
Mental Health: It’s Not Just for Crazy People Anymore!
Presented by Paul E. Jones, Comedian and Mental Health Educator
This program shows that many of the issues plaguing a campus such as drugs, alcohol, student drop outs are centered around the general mental health of their students. The presenter will discuss the difference between Mental Health and well being and Mental Illness. The overall objective is to show that by taking better care of one’s Brain Health we can be far more productive as well as make better choices. Diet, exercise, proper sleep will be emphasized in this program.
Threats to Kill: Statements of Future Intent
Presented by Paul Szych, Lieutenant, Albuquerque Police
Threats to kill involving domestic violence and/or stalking related cases must be viewed as statements of future intent. The entire judicial system has been de-sensitized to view threats to kill as just one’s constitutional right to free speech and therefore legal. Legal, yes. Lethal, maybe. Most humans think, speak and then act as a natural progression towards the action. Very often threats to kill are only revealed after a domestic violence and/or stalking related homicide has already occurred. For this reason threats to kill must be evaluated for lethality and the rapid loss of conduct inhibitors in an attempt to predict high-lethality offender conduct, as well as potential windows of opportunity. Threats to kill have proven to be of significant importance in working to proactively prevent domestic violence and stalking-related homicides.
Pre-Conference Sessions
NaBITA will host three half-day pre-conference sessions on Wednesday, November 19th. Pre-con sessions are not included as part of your conference or Institute registration and require an additional payment. Conference or Institute registration is required in order to attend a pre-con session.
Pre-con 1: How to Conduct a Threat Assessment
Presented by Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D., Senior Vice President for Professional Program Development, The NCHERM Group, LLC; 2015 NaBITA President-Elect
Based on his upcoming book in partnership with the American Counseling Association, Harm to Others: The Assessment and Treatment of Dangerousness, Dr. Brian Van Brunt will present a half day training to teach the foundational skills needed in order to conduct a threat assessment on a student of concern. This workshop will include video demonstrations to highlight interviewing skills, explain concepts and use role-plays to assist participants to improve their efficiency during the threat assessment interview.
Pre-con 2: BIT Implementation and Operational Guidelines: From Implementation to Operationalization at a Large Multi-Campus Institution
Presented by Adrian Rodriguez, M.Ed., Vice President for Student Development Services, Tarrant County College; Louann Schulze, Ed.D., Director of Counseling,Tarrant County College; Lori Leach, M.Ed., Counselor, Tarrant County College; W. Scott Lewis, J.D., NaBITA 2013-2014 President and Partner, The NCHERM Group, LLC
In this session we will discuss how our BIT teams came into being and how they function at our large multi-campus community college. We will discuss the actualization and implementation of a BIT approach, its organizational structure, how a BIT referral moves through the process, and we will guide the group through case studies. This will allow the audience to participate in the implementation of the BIT process. This is a hands-on training. It will take the theoretical framework and put the tools into practical use by engaging the audience in working through a typical case using the tools provided. We will address questions and encourage discussion throughout the presentation.
Pre-con 3: Management and Treatment Approaches for the BIT
Presented by Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D., Senior Vice President for Professional Program Development, The NCHERM Group, LLC; 2015 NaBITA President-Elect
Based on his upcoming book in partnership with the American Counseling Association, Harm to Others: The Assessment and Treatment of Dangerousness, Dr. Brian Van Brunt has put together a half day training for counselors, conduct officers, law enforcement and student affairs administrators to learn the foundational skills needed in order to address at-risk behaviors following a threat assessment. This session addresses what to do with students who remain on campus once the assessment is complete. Dr. Van Brunt will address case management, overcoming resistance, working with defensive students and reducing behaviors in order to stay enrolled at the institution. Brian will review treatment approaches from humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, Gestalt, existential and narrative therapy perspectives.
For more information on pre-conference session schedules and registration, please click here.
Location and Hotel
The NaBITA Conference will be at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa. NaBITA has blocked rooms at the conference hotel, and the block will close on October 30, 2014. Reservations made after October 30th will be subject to the standard rate and based on availability. Lodging reservations can be made directly with the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa by clicking here or by calling 888-421-1442.
Registration
Click here for information on registering for the Annual Conference.
Click here for information on registering for the Campus Threat Management Institute.
Conference Information
For more information, please visit our 2014 Conference website, or contact Samantha Dutill, samantha@nabita.org or 484-321-3651.
Keep Your Certification with NaBITA Up-to-Date
Introducing the Continuing Certification Credit (CCC) Program
Have you completed a certification training with NaBITA? Are you considering obtaining these
certifications? Do you benefit from ongoing professional development from The NCHERM Group? If so, the CCC program is for you. We have heard your requests to update and renew your certifications online, and we are excited to announce our online professional development platform called the Continuing Certification Credit (CCC) program.
Who can earn CCCs? Our CCC program allows clients of The NCHERM Group, including those certified by NaBITA, to track, maintain and extend their professional development through our programs. CCCs are a cost-effective way to stay current and maintain your certification from the nations leader in higher education risk management.
Learn more about our new program here.
Upcoming NCHERM Group Online Trainings
The NCHERM Group Online Trainings is a new endeavor to provide quality, distance learning education and discussion opportunities to colleges and universities across the country and around the world.
Bringing experts from numerous fields, The NCHERM Group and its affiliated associations, SCOPE, ATIXA and NaBITA, will bring you quality programs that address the most pressing needs in threat assessment, prevention education, sexual assault prevention, higher education legal issues, administrative best practices and risk management.
Fall 2014 Online Trainings
- October 6, 2014: BIT and Case Management Notes:101
- October 29, 2014: Addressing Risk Management in Study Abroad Programs
- December 18, 2014: Federal Changes In Policy Concerning Suicidal & Dangerous Students:
Fall 2013 and Winter, Spring and Summer 2014 Online Training Recordings Available for Purchase here
- October 16, 2013: Readmission Requirements Following a Psychological Crisis
- November 1, 2013: Addressing Disruptive and Dangerous Student Behavior in the Classroom
- November 6, 2013: Training Front Office Staff to Identify, Report and Manage Disruptive and Dangerous Behavior
- November 19, 2013: Managing the Suicidal Student on Campus
- November 20, 2013: Forensic Threat Assessment: Hire a Specialist or Train Existing Staff?
- January 7, 2014: Post-vention and Suicide Response
- February 11, 2014: The Role of Mental Health Professionals on the BIT
- February 13, 2014: Air Traffic Control for Helicopter Parents
- March 19, 2014: Fighting Mid-Semester Burnout and Stress
- March 25, 2014: Ten Practical Ways to Reduce Liability for Suicidal Students on Campus
- March 26, 2014: Addressing Two Dilemmas in Counseling: Mandated Treatment and Clery Reporting
- April 8, 2014: Title IX and BITs
- April 22, 2014: Counseling and Conduct: Working Together
- May 8, 2014: Should I Write this Down? BIT Documentation Do’s and Don’ts
- June 11, 2014: International Student Arrival: Preparing Your Campus's Faculty and Staff
- June 12, 2014: Update on Title IX and Compliance
- June 26, 2014: Separating Dangerousness from Anger: Assessing True Threat
- July 11, 2014: Issues of Gender Violence in LGBT Communities
- July 15, 2014: Responding to a Student Death
- July 16, 2014: Managing Faculty and Staff Expectations Following a BIT Intervention
- September 8, 2014: Update on the NaBITA Tool: What's New?
The Journal of Campus Behavioral Intervention
The National Behavioral Intervention Team Association announces the launch of its flagship, peer-reviewed academic journal, The Journal of Campus Behavioral Intervention (J-BIT). J-BIT is a multi-disciplinary journal intended to encourage academic research and scholarship regarding the function, design, operation, and assessment of campus Behavioral Intervention Teams (BITs) at two- and four-year colleges and universities.
The 2013 journal is available to members on the members-only materials page. Want a sneak peak? Click here to view the table of contents, preface, and introductory paragraph of each article.
The 2014 journal will be available at the annual conference in November.
Newly published faculty guide aids college professors addressing aggressive behavior in the classroom
College and university faculty are asked to serve an increasingly diverse and at-risk population of students. The classroom is now the scene of disruptive and dangerous behaviors that range from speaking out of turn to the misuse of technology to potentially aggressive and threatening behaviors. Written by Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D. and W. Scott Lewis, J.D., A Faculty Guide to Addressing Disruptive and Dangerous Behavior provides the practical ideas and guidance necessary to manage and mitigate these behaviors, from two respected professionals who've developed and implemented the field's best practices. Grounded in research and theory that addresses the interplay of mental health, substance abuse and aggression that may enter the college classroom, this accessible book serves as a necessary guide for busy faculty members facing challenging situations in their classrooms.
For more information on the book, click here.
To invite the authors to speak with your faculty, contact Alisha DiGiandomenico at (610) 644-3387.
Links to Relevant Articles
Safety On Campus: Security Measures Continually Updated for Colleges
William Paterson University Investigating Chat Room Shooting Threat, Police Say
Purdue Shooters Sentencing May Prompt Changes
Purdue University Killer Cody Cousins Sentenced to 65 Years
In Northwest Arctic, Teen leads the Way In Suicide Prevention
Job Board
Case Manager - Ithaca College
NaBITA has created a Job Board page on our website for you to share any BIT-related job openings on your campus. You can find this resource at http://nabita.org/resources/job-board/. Please email any position announcements to Samantha@nabita.org.
Membership Renewal Reminder
If your NaBITA membership expires in August, September or October, now is the time to renew. Renew your NaBITA campus membership or join for the very first time for as low as $639! Please download our membership renewal form here, or click here to renew online.
For more information on NaBITA, visit www.nabita.org or contact:
Samantha Dutill, Associate Executive Director
116 E. King Street
Malvern, PA 19355
Phone: 484-321-3651 *new*
Fax: 610-993-0228