Building on the success of the 1st and 2nd National Student Safety & Security Conferences, which were attended by more than 500 delegates and covered by CBS News, ABC News, Spanish TV Network and other leading networks, New-Fields Exhibitions is continuing its series of events on student safety and security.

The 3rd National Student Safety & Security Conference that will be held on April 15-16, 2010 highlights leaders who will model a community process to help eradicate all forms of school violence, such as shootings, bullying, dating violence, vandalism, gang activity and catastrophic events such as school mass murder.

Special workshops will examine latest community resources to fight teenage suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, and aggressive driving among high school and college students.

Studies to be presented in this two-day conference will impart significant findings regarding incidents of school violence, their cost to society and how they influenced local prevention, preparedness, response and recovery process.

Table-top exercises, skillfully moderated by risk communicators, will encourage extended audience participation and explore effective methods of communication, coordination and collaboration at the local level.

TOPICS INCLUDE:

Response: activating the emergency response infrastructure, warning signals, student complaints, first response, protecting targets and hostages, types of violence, survival techniques, news by cell phone, regaining control, chain of command, emergency response routes, evacuation procedures, school closings, notifying parents, anticipating escalation, law enforcement information sharing, medical procedures, dealing with the media, reaction on the Internet.

Recovery: overcoming fear of returning to class, debriefings, victim needs, survivor needs, families of offenders, call-in lines, grief counseling, health services and resources, statements to students and parents, academic support, investigation procedures, removing names, funerals and anniversaries, signals for closure, how to orient new students and their families.

Prevention: school crime watch, drug-free zones, gun-free zones, zero-tolerance messages, gang apparel and student dress codes, mentoring, parent cooperation, law enforcement resources and presentations, information kits and advisories, engaging the business sector, restrictions in hallways, locker areas, bathrooms, parking lots, cafeteria and other high-risk areas.

Preparedness: what you can do right now, assessing threat and potential victims, designating crisis planning and crisis management teams, exercising the student safety plan, reviewing civil and criminal options, patrols and security systems, video monitoring, crime maps, creating a school safety who's who, photo ID database, including private sector resources, dealing with outside threats, media relations, legislative actions, town hall meetings, releasing information, crisis kits, preparing the lines of communication, sharing best practices, taking preemptive action.