The Intersection of School Suicide Risk Assessment and Behavioral Threat Assessment & Management

Advanced BTAM Half Day Workshop

Date(s) & Time(s)

April 28, 2026   ~  8:30 am - 12:30 pm

Workshop Description

Dr. Melissa Reeves, a nationally certified school psychologist, licensed special education teacher, licensed clinical mental health counselor and former district coordinator of social/emotional/behavioral services, will be conducting this workshop, which explores the shared and distinct aspects of assessing and responding to suicidal and homicidal ideation in students. While both can represent last-resort coping behaviors that sometimes require a combined suicide risk and behavioral threat assessment, the two processes are not interchangeable. The session clarifies when a dual assessment is appropriate, emphasizing that suicide risk screening is often included in BTAM protocols, but threat assessment should not automatically accompany every suicide concern. Participants will learn how to determine when a combined approach is warranted, what it entails, and how to develop safety plans that address both suicidal and homicidal ideation. Participants will:

- Gain knowledge of the similarities and differences between the individual who presents as a danger to themselves and the individual who is a danger to others;
- Identify the similarities and differences between suicide risk/safety screening and a behavior threat assessment;
- Recognize when both a threat and suicide risk assessment need to be conducted; and
- Learn how to conduct a suicide risk safety screening and assessment, and develop a safety plan that addresses both harm to self and harm to others.

This training is intended for K-12 school employees and staff members. There is no fee to attend this presentation, however, seating is very limited and registration is required. Registration must be completed using a valid school-issued email address. Individuals who are not properly registered with a valid school email will not be admitted into the training.

School Safety Specialists will receive training hours for attending this presentation.

Location

Morris County Public Safety Academy
500 W Hanover Avenue
Room 139
Morristown, NJ 07960

Registration

Capacity Reached

Contact Information

Karen Carella
Office of School Preparedness & Emergency Planning
200 Riverview Plaza
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-376-3574

>> school.security@doe.nj.gov