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Delaware Marks School Safety Achievements

Delaware Emergency Management Agency | Department of Safety and Homeland Security | News | Date Posted: Thursday, July 13, 2023

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SMYRNA, Del. – The Delaware Comprehensive School Safety Program (CSSP) is marking the completion of several significant safety initiatives, including: 1) new high-resolution maps for every public and charter school, 2) implementation of standard response and reunification training in all districts, and 3) the release of a new comprehensive school safety plan to all 231 public and charter schools in mid-July. The new school safety plan is the first major update since the creation of CSSP in 2012 and will provide schools with the most current guidance to keep students and staff prepared for a wide range of emergencies.

New School Maps Now Completed

Delaware is now the first in the U.S. to complete high-resolution digital blueprints of all school buildings and grounds for every public and charter school in the state. The new school maps will enable law enforcement and first responders to react swiftly in the event of an emergency. Funded by almost $1 million from Delaware’s School Safety and Security Fund, CSSP partnered with the Critical Response Group last fall to create easy-to-understand composite maps of school campuses that use gridded overlays that incorporate the same tactical and operational framework of specialized military units. The maps will be continuously updated and shared with state and county emergency officials, local law enforcement, and school staff.

Statewide Standard Response Protocol and Reunification Training

Delaware is also the first to complete statewide adoption of the “Standard Response Protocol” (Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter) and the “Standard Reunification Method” by the I Love U Guys Foundation, considered the gold standard in responding and reuniting students with parents or guardians during any crisis: fire, flood, tornado, power outage, bomb threat, accident, or act of violence. All state schools have now completed training and are forming reunification teams. A total of 221 instructors have finished their training and another 145 are scheduled for a two-day workshop on August 1 and 2 in the Lake Forest School District.

The Comprehensive School Safety Program (CSSP) was created in 2012 through the Omnibus School Safety Act, which aims to enhance public safety in all Delaware schools through comprehensive, site-specific, National Incident Management System (NIMS)-compliant safety and preparedness plans. The goal is to promote a coordinated approach between state and local emergency responders, education professionals, and other support agencies during a critical incident in a school setting.

CSSP is part of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, a division of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security. The CSSP team consists of two former law enforcement officers with many years of experience – including higher education administration, mental health, and behavioral science – who monitor and provide support to 231 public and charter schools with more than 140,800 students.

Currently, CSSP is also in the process of implementing a statewide Safety and Wellness Suite that includes anonymous reporting, basic needs resources, crisis texting, behavioral and suicide threat assessments, and a case management platform.

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ABOUT DEMA
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is the lead state agency for coordination of comprehensive emergency preparedness, training, response, recovery, and mitigation services to save lives, protect Delaware’s economic base and reduce the impact of emergencies. DEMA is a division within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) and authorized by Delaware Code.

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