Gubernatorial Task Force for University Campus Safety Briefing July 8, 2008

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1 Gubernatorial Task Force for University Campus Safety Briefing July 8, 2008 William H. Janes Director, Florida Office of Drug Control Assistant Secretary for Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Department of Children and Families

2 Timeline of Events April 16, 2007 Virginia Tech massacre occurs April 21 President Bush directs U.S. Secretaries to travel to communities throughout nation April 30 Governor Crist signs Executive Order establishing Task Force May 3-23 Task Force conducts meetings throughout Florida May 24 Task Force submits Report on Findings and Recommendations to Governor Crist June 13 U.S. Secretaries submit Report to the President on Issues Raised by Virginia Tech Tragedy to President Bush

3 Members Bob Butterworth - Chairman/Secretary, Department Children and Families Bill Janes - Vice Chairman/Director, Florida Office of Drug Control Gerald Bailey - Commissioner, Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement Mark Rosenberg - Chancellor, State University System David Perry - Chief, Florida State University Police Dept. Craig Fugate - Director, Dept. of Emergency Management Cynthia Rogers-Vallely - Bureau Chief, Office of Attorney General Kevin Letourneau - President, Florida Community College SGA Marbely Hernandez - Student Body President, Florida International University

4 Meetings 5/3/2007: Tallahassee Florida State University 5/9/2007: Gulfport/St. Petersburg Stetson Law School 5/11/2007: Jacksonville University of North Florida 5/16/2007: Davie Broward Community College 5/18/2007: Orlando Florida A&M University College of Law 5/23/2007: Tallahassee The Capitol

5 Meeting Format The Task Force received testimony from local and state experts on four broad topics: Prevention Intervention Response Aftermath

6 Recommendations The Task Force s recommendations were based upon four charges: Charge 1: Identifying students who pose risk and improve information sharing Charge 2: Identifying methods of emergency communication Charge 3: Identifying strategies for improving cross agency communication Charge 4: Identifying improvements in training for first responders

7 Recommendations The Report of the Gubernatorial Task Force for University Campus Safety contained 63 recommendations and recognized 12 best practices. Of those recommendations, 39 were mirrored in the Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy.

8 Charge 2: Identifying methods of emergency (continued) The State Domestic Security State Working Group should articulate standards for emergency notification systems and devices and also promulgate a best practices guide for the use of such systems Upon the addition of any emergency notification systems or devices, the institution should undertake an extensive awareness campaign to educate the campus community about its use and provide emergency notification procedures to all emergency responders in the campus and adjacent communities

9 Charge 3: Identifying strategies for improving cross-agency communication Key Recommendations: Each campus should involve off-campus emergency response agencies in developing and exercising its emergency management and crisis response plans Law enforcement and mental health entities of each institution should develop and implement protocols for the sharing of information with their off-campus counterparts

10 Charge 4: Identifying improvements in training for first responders Key Recommendations: Training on policing the campus community should be included in the basic curriculum for all recruits attending the Basic Law Enforcement Program The Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission should develop an Advanced or Specialized Training Program focusing specifically on those individuals employed as certified law enforcement officers with a University Police Department

11 Charge 4: Identifying improvements in training for first responders (continued) All agencies charged with responding to violent events on a university or college campus should train and exercise their personnel, including medical responders, in the Active Shooter response All campus law enforcement and campus security agencies and local law enforcement agencies serving a campus should receive Crisis Intervention Team training and utilize a CIT-based response to mental health issues

12 Prevention: Campus Mental Health and Wellness Activities Key Recommendations: The State University System and the Division of Community Colleges should determine ways to increase the funding dedicated to campus mental health and wellness needs, including modifying state fee caps The State University System, Division of Community Colleges, and Association of Independent Colleges and Universities should jointly develop training material for senior campus executives and Board of Trustee members on campus safety and security

13 Prevention: Campus Mental Health and Wellness Activities (continued) Statewide strategies for improving mental health services should target K-12, college and university initiatives in preventing underage drinking, substance abuse, suicide, bullying, domestic and dating violence, and other violent or destructive behaviors Individual campuses should develop an Introduction to Mental Health course as part of its undergraduate curriculum and to educate all members of the campus community

14 Prevention: Campus Mental Health and Wellness Activities (continued) Each individual campus should implement programs to prevent underage drinking, substance abuse, suicide, bullying, domestic and dating violence, and other violent or destructive behaviors Each individual institution should encourage and foster the development of organized peer mental health support groups on campus

15 Prevention: The Role of Faculty, Staff, and Students Key Recommendations: Each university or college administration, faculty senate, and student governing body should promulgate formal statements defining their role in campus mental health The State University System and the Division of Community Colleges should jointly develop desktop/internet reference and scenario-based training materials concerning mental health early warning signs and campus intervention and response procedures which can be tailored by individual institutions for use by their faculty

16 Prevention: Florida s Gun Laws Key Recommendations: The report and recommendations of the working group being spearheaded by the Florida Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers and including appropriate stakeholders, including a representative from a mental health advocacy group, be submitted to the Governor and Legislature for consideration

17 Prevention: Impact of HIPAA/FERPA Key Recommendations: The State University System should establish a legal working group to provide guidelines and best practices for the sharing of mental health information concerning at risk students

18 Prevention: Local Mental Health System Support Key Recommendations: The Department of Children and Families through its Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Program should develop a long-term strategy to reduce the gap in available treatment and address the deficiencies in Florida s mental health system The Department of Children and Families, in conjunction with the Florida Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation and advocacy and provider organizations, should expand its efforts at communicating statewide strategies to improve mental health services and substance abuse statewide

19 Prevention: Local Mental Health System Support (continued) Each university and college should establish/expand its formal working relationship with local mental health systems in order to ensure adequate support for and communication about campus mental health issues.

20 Aftermath: Post Incident Capabilities Key Recommendations: Each college and university, as part of its emergency and critical incident planning process, should identify resources, including behavioral health and medical support, necessary and available following a critical incident or disaster

21 For an electronic copy of the Task Force Report: