OHIO– While officers continue to investigate the shooting in Dayton, a training program meant to deter such events from happening is making its way to schools in Ohio. The modified safety program is a part of the ongoing efforts of Sandy Hook Promise, which aims to prevent gun-related deaths.

• Safety Assessment and Intervention training is funded through Stop Act grants
• Training will be completed in three years   ​
• Other Sandy Hook Promise programs have prevented school shootings and suicides in Ohio

The Safety Assessment and Intervention program was originally developed by the FBI, after the mass shooting at Virginia Tech back in 2007. Ohio is now one of seven states implementing the modified training. We know that Sandy Hook Promise programs have already proven to be successful in preventing at least five schools shootings, the stabbing of a teacher, and several suicides across the state. Now officials are hoping that this extra layer of training will give teachers the courage to take some additional next steps. 

It's been almost seven years since Mark Barden lost his seven-year-old son Daniel in the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting. "I will never get used to the fact that he's gone forever, and he's gone because of someone else's choice." While it's a daily struggle, Barden says it's fueled him and others to create and provide training to millions across the country. It's to interrupt and stop incidents like sandy hook from happening as much as possible. "We have stopped school shootings. We have prevented I don't know how many hundreds of suicides."

Many students and staff have now been trained and empowered. They're also adding one more layer of protection to help teachers by partnering with the Ohio Department of Education.

They are training teachers through what's called the Safety Assessment and Intervention program at more than 3,000 middle and high schools in Ohio. It's to help them recognize the warning signs, identify situations that are serious and then take the next steps to address it. "We do that by developing a multi-disciplinary team within the school who can act as touchpoints to evaluate the behavior, connect that student with the help of resources they need and get them help before it becomes more serious." It's all in an effort to protect students better. 

So far, it's already producing tangible results for teachers in states including Florida, New York, Indiana, and Michigan. Barden says 

"We see a reduced expulsion rate, reduced school to prison pipeline metrics, in addition to the case by case interventions that have saved lives. 

Barden believes that by having this training, it gives teachers and staff the advantage of interrupting behavior that could be harmful, all while helping someone before it's too late. Although it will take three years to complete the training, Barden hopes that the impact will be a lasting one. "We would hope over the long term, which is our intent all along, to look at this through a multi-generational lens is to really train everybody and actually change the culture." 

Teachers across the state started receiving training here in Ohio back in June. States like Ohio can get the training as a result of the grants provided through the Stop Act.