Emily Torok is the Director at the Ohio School Safety Center. With a history in Ohio Homeland Security, Emily initially supervised multiple school safety efforts. Her career trajectory evolved with Governor DeWine's administration prioritizing school safety as a standalone focus, allowing her to dedicate her expertise solely to this area. Emily has effectively channeled her initial interest in counterterrorism into creating safer educational environments across Ohio.

Join host Amanda Hampton on "School Wellness," presented by the Ohio School-Based Center of Excellence at Miami University, as she dives into the crucial topic of school safety with guest Emily Torok from the Ohio School Safety Center. Amanda and Emily discuss the inception, mission, and the expansive set of resources the Ohio School Safety Center offers to K-12 and higher education institutions across the state. This episode is rich with valuable insights into the pivotal role of safety planning and the Center's initiative to streamline communication and support for schools.

The Ohio School Safety Center, established under the direction of Governor DeWine, has created a centralized "one-stop shop" for school safety measures. By offering resources such as the Safer Ohio School Tip Line, behavioral threat assessments, and the annual School Safety Summit, the Center aims to prevent, prepare for, and respond to acts of violence and self-harm. Emily explains the importance of both physical and emotional safety in schools and illustrates how her team collaborates with various stakeholders to enhance student security.

• The Ohio School Safety Center was created to centralize safety initiatives, providing schools with streamlined access to resources such as threat assessments, grants, and training.
• Behavioral threat assessment teams play a crucial role in identifying potential threats and offering preventive solutions, encompassing both intent and capability evaluation of students.
• The Center actively involves students in safety discussions through initiatives like the State Student Safety Advisory Council, emphasizing the importance of student voices in decision-making.
• October is designated as School Safety Month, presenting an opportunity for schools to engage in various awareness activities and remind the community of available safety resources and measures.
• A strong emphasis is placed on building trusted relationships within schools, as they form the foundation of effective safety and violence prevention strategies.

1. "Just because you're not the school resource officer doesn't mean that you don't have a role to play—it's those relationships with your students."
2. "Our mission here is to help both schools and first responders prevent, prepare for, and respond to acts of violence through a holistic solutions-based approach."
3. "The Ohio School Safety Center is, in essence, a one-stop shop for all things school safety."
4. "When students report bullying, suspicious activity, or self-harm, it's important they feel their concerns will be acted upon without retaliation."
5. "Safety is everyone's priority… It's about having information that can be helpful."

• Ohio School Safety Center: safer school tip line
• Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
• Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
• Behavioral Threat Assessment Training: Available on the Ohio School Safety Center's website

Listen to the full episode for comprehensive insights into enhancing school safety and learn how these initiatives can benefit and safeguard educational communities across Ohio. Be sure to stay tuned for more episodes from "School Wellness" for in-depth discussions on crucial educational topics.

Discover more resources from the Ohio School-Based Center of Excellence for Prevention & Early Intervention at OhioSBCOE.

Evi Roberts is a dedicated youth program and policy manager at the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF). With a robust background in public administration and addiction counseling, she transitioned into preventative mental health work through mentorship with notable figures such as Dr. Holly Raffle. Since joining OSPF in 2021, Evi has been instrumental in managing youth suicide prevention efforts, coordinating grant proposals, and implementing impactful marketing initiatives. Her commitment to reducing the risk of suicide is evident through her leadership in developing comprehensive strategies that advocate for mental health awareness across various age groups and demographics in Ohio.

In this episode of School Wellness, host Amanda Hampton invites Evi Roberts from the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation to discuss the critical importance of suicide prevention efforts within Ohio's communities and schools. The conversation digs deep into the systemic challenges and innovations surrounding mental health support and suicide prevention, providing listeners with a detailed overview of contemporary practices and data trends.

Evi Roberts delivers an insightful exploration of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation's mission—bringing best practices in suicide prevention to local communities. As the conversation unfolds, Evi highlights alarming Ohio suicide statistics, focusing particularly on youth and young adults. Strategies like lethal means safety, the essential role of school counselors, and comprehensive educational programs such as Sources of Strength are examined. Evi emphasizes the significance of understanding protective and risk factors in suicide prevention, underscoring that community involvement and structured support systems are vital in saving lives.

• Ohio's youth and young adults are significantly affected by suicide, emphasizing the need for comprehensive prevention strategies.
• The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation offers critical resources and programs such as Sources of Strength to bolster community and school efforts in reducing suicide rates.
• Understanding the nuances of warning signs and protective factors is key; schools play a pivotal role in fostering environments that encourage mental health discussion.
• The implementation of House Bill 123 requires Ohio schools to incorporate structured suicide prevention and violence prevention programs, highlighting Sources of Strength as a compliant option.
• Postvention is as crucial as prevention, offering resources and support to communities impacted by suicide and informing future prevention practices.

• "We do everything we can to bring suicide prevention best practices programs and resources to Ohio communities." – Evi Roberts
• "If somebody makes an attempt of suicide with a firearm, there's about a 90% likelihood that person will die from that mechanism." – Evi Roberts
• "Whenever we work together to promote this sense of hope and provide these resources, we can create a difference within our communities and our families." – Evi Roberts
• "Sources of Strength is named for these eight protective factors that have been found in the research to reduce the likelihood of youth suicide." – Evi Roberts
• "It's important… to take into consideration the developmental differences that can impact some of these risk factors." – Evi Roberts

• Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF)
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• Be Present Ohio
• Safe Students Act - House Bill 123 information at the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce website

Explore further insights and in-depth discussions on mental health, suicide prevention, and more by tuning into the full episode. Stay engaged with School Wellness for continued explorations into essential topics that empower our communities.

Discover more resources from the Ohio School-Based Center of Excellence for Prevention & Early Intervention at OhioSBCOE.

In this episode of School Wellness with Amanda Hampton, the focus is on supporting the whole child within the Ohio educational system. Amanda Hampton, a certified prevention specialist, engages Sarah Music from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to discuss effective strategies and programs that target the holistic development and prevention needs of school-aged children. By emphasizing mental health, social inclusion, and substance abuse prevention, they underline the importance of comprehensive school wellness frameworks.

Key themes explored in the conversation include the legislative mandates in Ohio schools regarding prevention education, the benefits of having a multi-tiered system of support, and the advantages of a community-based approach to student wellness. Sarah explains how schools can utilize data to inform their prevention strategies and highlights the critical role of trusted adults. The discussion also touches on the value of youth-led prevention programs and active participation from school staff, parents, and communities to foster a supportive educational environment.

• The Ohio Department of Education emphasizes a multi-tiered system of support in schools to address diverse prevention needs.
• Legislative mandates require schools to offer prevention education on topics like suicide prevention, dating violence, and social inclusion.
• Youth-led prevention programs are invaluable as they empower students and often resonate more deeply with their peers.
• Data collection from various surveys helps Ohio schools tailor their prevention programming effectively.
• Community engagement and coalitions enhance the support structure for students outside the classroom environment.

1. "The whole child framework broadens our focus beyond academics to include students' emotional, physical, and safety needs."
2. "Prevention programs focus on helping students develop knowledge and skills to engage in healthy behaviors and decision-making."
3. "Even when students may have more intensive or individualized needs at a high tier, they should still be receiving those foundational supports."
4. "Our office is here to provide technical assistance and make implementing your prevention programming as easy and effective as possible."
5. "Having a community-based approach ensures our students are supported even beyond the school environment."

• Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
• Ohio Youth Surveys: Comprehensive data source for school-level evaluations and decision-making.
• Second Step, Signs of Suicide, Zones of Regulation: Curriculum often used in Ohio schools to meet the prevention mandates.

In conclusion, this enlightening conversation provides valuable insights into the implementation and importance of whole child support systems in schools. Listen to the full episode for a deeper understanding of how Ohio is pioneering comprehensive student wellness and how similar approaches can be applied in other educational contexts. Stay tuned for more episodes packed with expert information from School Wellness with Amanda Hampton.

Discover more resources from the Ohio School-Based Center of Excellence for Prevention & Early Intervention at OhioSBCOE.