Peace River School Division (PRSD) is committed to maintaining a safe and caring school environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours. For this reason, we have worked with community partners to adopt a Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) protocol.

When a student displays high risk behaviour that may indicate a risk of violence, PRSD initiates the VTRA protocol. This is a collaborative and trauma-informed approach to threat assessment designed to assess risk, connect students with the supports they need, and keep all members of our school community safe. The intent of the VTRA process is not to exclude students from school, but to understand what is driving the behaviour and respond with appropriate intervention and care.

The VTRA process is initiated and managed by school administrators who have received VTRA training from the Center for Trauma Informed Practices.

Duty to Report

Preventing youth violence is a shared community responsibility. Anyone who becomes aware of a threat is expected to report it, and anyone who comes forward can expect to be believed, to have their identity protected, and to know their information will be acted on.

All high-risk behaviour that may result in a risk of violence must be reported to the school Principal or another PRSD administrative level staff member.

What is a Threat?

High risk threats are not a common occurance in our schools, but in order to protect sutdents we do take all potential threats seriously. A high risk threat is an expression of intent to do harm or act out violently against someone or something. Potential threats may include: 

• Serious violence or threats of violence with intent to harm others;
• Verbal or written threats to cause significant harm or property damage;
• Threats made through social media, texts, or other online platforms;
• Possession of weapons, including replicas;
• Bomb threats or incidents involving explosives;
• Acts of fire setting;
• Sexual intimidation or assual;
• Severe bullying or harrassment;
• Gang-related intimidation or violence;
• Rehearsal behaviours or evidence of planning harmful actions; and
• Hate Incidents motivated by factors such as race, culture, religion, or sexual identity

Who is on a Threat Assessment Team?

Each high risk threat assessment team is multi-agency. The team may include school staff, a psychologist, police, child protection agencies, community mental health workers, hospitals, and other professionals.

What is the Main Purpose of a Threat Assessment?

• To protect the safety of students, staff, parents, and others.
• To gain a full understanding of the context of the threat.
• To begin to understand the factors that contribute to the threat maker’s behaviour.
• To view the student as in need of intervention rather than to be disciplined.
• To be proactive in developing an intervention plan that addresses the emotional and physical safety of the threat maker. It may include disciplinary action but will include appropriate supports to aid the student in developing and using positive strategies.
• To promote the emotional and physical safety of all.
• To enable a process where all school and agency partners are working together with a common understanding and protocol.

What happens in a Student Threat Assessment?

All high risk behaviour that may result in violence must be reported to the relevant school Principal, who will activate the protocol for the initial response. The protocol requires contacting 911 if the possibility for imminent danger is present. 

When the VTRA team is activated, data is reviewed and interviews may be held with children/youth, the threat maker(s), parents and/or guardians, staff, and/or partner agency personnel to determine the level of risk and develop an appropriate response to the incident.

An intervention plan is then developed and shared with parents and/or guardians, staff, and the person of concern as required and is apprpriate. The RCMP officer assigned to the VTRA team will determine whether or not to lay charges and the VTRA protocol will not interfere with any potential criminal investigation.

While it is important for all parties to engage in the process, if for some reason there is a reluctance to particiapte in the process by the threat maker or the parent/guardian, the VTRA process will continue to preotect a safe learning environment for all our students and staff.

The Partners & Community Supports

• Peace River School Division
• Holy Family Catholic Regional Division
• Conseil scolaire du Nord-Ouest
• Local RCMP Detachments
• Recovery Alberta - Mental Health and Addiction Services
• Children and Family Services