The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently awarded the UNMC College of Public Health’s Center for Preparedness and Emergency Response Solutions part of its $18 million dollar Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant.
CPERS, under the direction of the DHS Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, will develop Behavioral Threat Assessment Management training for health care organizations nationwide.
In fiscal year 2024, 35 public health entities applied for the program. CPERS was one of seven selected and, with the funds, will provide a crucial resource for health care facilities that face increasing risks of violence.
“Hospital workers face a variety of risks, from patient-to-caregiver violence to intimate partner violence to family-member violence,” CPERS Director Keith Hansen said. “This project will help address these risks and ensure safer environments for both patients and staff.”
CPERS will collaborate with the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals and the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals. UNMC Police Chief Charlotte Evans will be part of the advisory board that will create hospital-specific training designed to address the unique challenges that health care workers face.
“Chief Evans brings experience in threat assessment and hospital security,” Hansen said. “She is a fantastic addition to our board.”
The main objectives of the project are to develop a comprehensive Behavioral Threat Assessment Management training program for health care emergency managers and create a collaborative network between AHEPP, ATAP and the Center for Preparedness and Emergency Response Solutions. Additionally, the project aims to build sustainable support for health care Behavioral Threat Assessment Management professionals through ongoing education and resources.
“We are excited to contribute to the world of threat assessment,” Hansen said. “Health care providers devote their lives to helping others. We are thrilled to contribute to keeping them safe.”