Report pages 40–43: 62 claims on pp. 40–43 (fact 5, statement 45, evidence 9, definition 3).
Developing sound programmatic infrastructure for a workplace BTAM program is important to creating an effective process for targeted violence prevention.
Developing sound programmatic infrastructure for a workplace BTAM program is important to creating an effective process for targeted violence prevention.
This infrastructure should include two components: policy and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
This infrastructure should include two components: policy and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Organizational policy should establish the BTAM program, while SOPs should outline day-to-day operations and the roles and responsibilities of personnel.
Organizational policy should establish the BTAM program, while the program's SOPs should outline the day-to-day operations and the roles and responsibilities for personnel involved in the BTAM process.
A BTAM policy should be formalized alongside or within any broader workplace violence policies an organization already has.
A policy establishing the organizational BTAM program should be formalized alongside or within any broader workplace violence policies that an organization already has in place.
A dedicated BTAM policy can help create a more comprehensive prevention program capable of addressing a continuum of behaviors and concerns.
Having a dedicated policy for the BTAM program can help to create a more comprehensive prevention program capable of addressing a continuum of behaviors and concerns.
Policy is important in establishing clear expectations and a foundation upon which the more granular details of the program can be built.
Policy is important in establishing clear expectations and a foundation upon which the more granular details of the program can be built.
Some states have enacted legislation that requires certain employers to develop policies or plans to prevent workplace violence.
Some states have enacted legislation that requires certain employers to develop policies or plans to prevent workplace violence.
While these laws do not explicitly require BTAM policies, such policies can build upon legislative mandates and further promote workplace safety.
While not explicitly required by these laws, workplace BTAM policies can build upon these legislative mandates and further promote workplace safety.
On September 30, 2023, California passed S.B. 553, which requires most California employers to create and maintain a written workplace violence prevention plan. (Source: endnote 7.)
on September 30, 2023, California passed Senate Bill (S.B.) 553, which requires most California employers to create and maintain a written workplace violence prevention plan.
The plan must be specific to the hazards and complexities of each work area, and employers are required to maintain a workplace violence incident log. (Source: endnote 7.)
The plan must be specific to the hazards and complexities of each work area, and employers are required to maintain a workplace violence incident log.
The legislation sets standards for documentation, record-keeping, and employee training. It also mandates that the violence prevention plan be written and easily available to employees. (Source: endnote 7.)
This legislation also sets standards for documentation, record-keeping, and employee training, and it mandates the violence prevention plan be written and easily available to employees.
Since the passage of California's S.B. 553, many other states have actively worked to establish or expand their workplace violence legislative requirements.
Since the passage of California's S.B. 553, many other states have actively worked to establish or expand their workplace violence legislative requirements.
A BTAM policy should establish and articulate each of the listed elements. The listed elements begin with goals, principles, team authority, scope, and placement.
A BTAM policy should establish and articulate each of the following:
The policy should state the goal of BTAM to establish a clear vision and understanding of the program's intention.
State the goal of BTAM in order to establish a clear vision and understanding of the program's intention.
The policy should articulate key BTAM principles, including that the program addresses any behavior indicating potential risk, not only explicit or direct threats.
state that the program encompasses work to proactively address any behavior that indicates a potential risk to safety and is not limited to explicit or direct threats.
It is best practice that many of the essential functions of the BTAM program be carried out by a multidisciplinary BTAM team.
It is best practice that many of the essential functions of the BTAM program be carried out by a multidisciplinary BTAM team.
The policy should establish the BTAM team's authority to perform the functions needed to identify, assess, and manage individuals of concern before violence can occur.
Establish the authority of a BTAM team to perform the necessary functions to allow them to identify, assess, and manage individuals of concern before violence can occur
The policy should articulate who is subject to assessment and what actions may be taken, which may include current and former employees, frequent customers, and relatives.
Articulate who will be subject to a behavioral threat assessment and what actions may be taken during the BTAM process.
The policy should establish which department will house the BTAM program and how it integrates, with team structure based on organizational needs.
Establish which organizational department, component, or division (e.g., security, HR) will house the BTAM program and how the BTAM program will be integrated into the organization.
The structure of the BTAM team should be based upon organizational needs; Figure 6 sets out three potential structures (central team, local teams, regional teams with support).
The structure of the BTAM team (see Figure 6) should be based upon organizational needs.
The first element a BTAM policy should establish and articulate is the goals of the BTAM program.
Goals of the BTAM program.
As an example of a goal statement, the policy can describe the program's dedication to workplace safety and proactive prevention of violence.
For example, describe the program's dedication to workplace safety and proactive prevention of violence.
A BTAM policy should articulate the key principles of the BTAM program.
Articulate the key principles of the BTAM program.
A BTAM policy should establish and articulate the authority and staffing of the BTAM team.
Authority and staffing of the BTAM team.
The policy should specify which departments, roles, and job functions are required to serve as core BTAM team members and which might support the team in an ad hoc capacity (see Step 3).
Specify which departments, roles, and job functions are required to serve as core BTAM team members, and which might support the team in an ad hoc capacity (see Step 3).
Why inferred Typed statement, not conjecture: the 'may'/'might'/'can' is permissive guidance (what a team may do), not speculation about what is the case.
Program scope may include current and former employees; frequent or notable customers, clients, patients, and visitors; or current or former romantic partners or relatives of individuals connected to the workplace.
This may include current and former employees; frequent or notable customers, clients, patients, and visitors; or current or former romantic partners or relatives of individuals connected to the workplace.
Why inferred Typed statement, not conjecture: the 'may'/'might'/'can' is permissive guidance (what a team may do), not speculation about what is the case.
A BTAM policy should establish and articulate the program's placement and integration within the organization.
Program placement and integration.
In a central team structure, one BTAM team assesses and manages all incoming reports in an organization; for example, an organization with a modest volume of reports has one team stationed at headquarters.
CENTRAL TEAM | One BTAM team assesses and manages all incoming reports in an organization. | An organization with a modest volume of incoming reports has one BTAM team stationed in the organization's headquarters.
In a local teams structure, multiple decentralized teams each assess and manage incoming reports from local facilities; for example, local BTAM teams across several geographic regions respond to reports at numerous facilities in their area.
LOCAL TEAMS | Multiple decentralized teams each assess and manage incoming reports from local facilities. | An organization has local BTAM teams across several geographic regions to respond to reports at numerous facilities in their area of responsibility.
In a regional teams with support structure, multiple regional teams assess and manage reports while a centralized team consults and supports on difficult cases; for example, a large organization with a high report volume uses regional teams with coordination and assistance from a headquarters BTAM team.
REGIONAL TEAMS WITH SUPPORT | Multiple regional teams assess and manage incoming reports while a centralized team consults and supports with difficult cases. | A large organization with a high volume of reports uses regional teams, each serving several facilities in their region, with coordination and assistance available from a centralized BTAM team at the organization's headquarters.
The policy should describe concerning behaviors that should be reported to the BTAM program and how individuals, especially employees, can report their concerns.
describe concerning behaviors that should be reported to the BTAM program and how individuals, especially employees, can report their concerns.
The policy should set parameters for when the BTAM team convenes and responds to a report, and should allow a low threshold of concern.
Establish parameters for when the BTAM team will convene and respond to a report. The policy should allow for a low threshold of concern
The policy should establish what behaviors and reports should necessitate notification to law enforcement for assistance with a safety concern or a criminal matter.
Establish what behaviors and reports should necessitate notification to law enforcement for assistance with a safety concern or a criminal matter.
The policy should describe what safeguards protect individuals who share information during the BTAM process.
Describe what safeguards are offered to protect individuals who share information during the BTAM process.
The policy should establish provisions for sharing information internally and externally, and describe any public safety exceptions that apply.
Establish provisions for sharing information internally (i.e., between personnel, departments, and divisions) and externally (i.e., with outside partners).
A sample policy statement, established within or under a named overseeing department or division, gives the BTAM team the mission to identify, assess, and manage individuals who may pose a risk of harm to themselves or others in the workplace, either currently or in the future.
the mission of the [name of the BTAM team] is to identify, assess, and manage individuals who may pose a risk of harm to themselves or others in the workplace, either currently or in the future.
Developing SOPs can support a thorough, consistent, and standardized BTAM process. It also gives program continuity over time and through changes to team membership.
Developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) can support a thorough, consistent, and standardized BTAM process, and allows for program continuity over time and through changes to team membership.
Memorializing detailed SOPs can allow all BTAM team members to share an understanding of what is expected of them and what they can expect from others.
Memorializing detailed SOPs can also allow for all BTAM team members to have a shared understanding of what is expected of them and what they can expect from others on the team.
Documenting procedures allows an organization to assess programmatic and procedural strengths and to identify areas for continued improvement.
documenting procedures allows an organization to assess programmatic and procedural strengths and to identify areas for continued improvement.
SOPs should account for each phase of the BTAM process, including how concerns are identified and reported, how inquiries and full assessments are conducted, and what resources are available.
account for each phase of the BTAM process and what should be accomplished within each phase, including how concerning behaviors will be identified and reported, how the BTAM team will conduct an inquiry or a full assessment
A BTAM policy should establish how the program receives reports of concerning behaviors.
Receiving reports of concerning behaviors.
A BTAM policy should establish the threshold for initiating a BTAM inquiry and response.
Threshold for initiating a BTAM inquiry and response.
A BTAM policy should establish the threshold for law enforcement intervention.
Threshold for law enforcement intervention.
A BTAM policy should include an explanation of privacy protections.
Explanation of privacy protections.
When applicable, the policy should describe public safety exceptions that either facilitate or require information sharing.
When applicable, public safety exceptions that either facilitate or require information sharing should be described.
The sample policy statement begins by stating that the organization is dedicated to establishing and maintaining a safe workplace for all employees.
[Organization Name] is dedicated to establishing and maintaining a safe workplace for all employees.
The sample policy establishes a named BTAM program dedicated to the proactive prevention of targeted violence in the workplace.
In support of that commitment, this policy establishes [name of the BTAM program], which is dedicated to the proactive prevention of targeted violence in the workplace.
The sample policy states that the BTAM program will use a multidisciplinary team composed of specified personnel, departments, or units.
[Name of the BTAM program] will utilize a multidisciplinary team composed of [describe relevant personnel, departments, or units].
Under the sample policy, the BTAM team will receive, investigate, and assess workplace concerns and provide direction, management, support, and follow-up to address them before potential violence escalates to physical harm.
To achieve this mission, the [name of the BTAM team] will receive, investigate, and assess reports of concerns within the workplace, and provide direction, management, support, and follow-up to address concerns before the risk of potential violence escalates to physical harm.
SOPs should identify actionable steps and tasks, who is responsible for them, timeframes for completion, and documentation requirements.
identify what actionable steps and tasks must be taken to move through the process, who is responsible for completing them, timeframes for completion, and documentation requirements
SOPs should establish how often the team meets and who leads the meetings.
establish frequency of team meetings and who leads them
SOPs should establish program improvement cycle requirements and identify the data points used to judge program fidelity, effectiveness, and impact.
identify data points that will be used to determine program fidelity, effectiveness, and impact
SOPs should include a high-level process map and decision tree illustrating the overall BTAM approach.
include a high-level process map and decision tree illustrating the overall process of the organization's BTAM approach
Sample language says the team convenes twice per month, with the team lead and at least a security manager, HR representative, legal advisor, and mental health professional.
The Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) Team will convene twice per month to review and assess potential concerns.
Sample language requires that all meeting proceedings, attendance, decisions, and assigned actions be documented in a secure, access-controlled record.
All meeting proceedings, including attendance, topics discussed, decisions made, and assigned actions, will be documented in a secure, access-controlled record for accountability and future reference.
Organizations that already have workplace violence policies and procedures should consider conducting a gap analysis.
Organizations that already have established workplace violence prevention policies and procedures should consider conducting a gap analysis to:
The gap analysis should ensure alignment between existing policies and identify sources of conflict that may need to be addressed.
ensure alignment between existing policies;
The gap analysis should review resources for capacity-building opportunities and evaluate processes from initial report through case closure.
evaluate current processes, from initial report through case closure, to determine if changes are needed.
Organizations should evaluate awareness of the program and employee understanding of their reporting role, and provide training to enhance staff awareness.
It is also important to evaluate organizational awareness of the program, employee understanding of the role they play in prevention through reporting, and to provide training opportunities to enhance staff awareness.
The sample language requires the team lead and at least one security manager, human resources representative, legal advisor, and mental health professional to attend each meeting.
Required attendees will include the team lead, and at least one security manager, human resources representative, legal advisor, and mental health professional.
Under the sample language, each meeting covers recent reports of concerning behaviors, ongoing case updates, risk management strategies, and recommendations for intervention or support.
During each meeting, the team will discuss recent reports of concerning behaviors, ongoing case updates, risk management strategies, and recommendations for intervention or support.
Under the sample language, meeting actions may include assigning follow-up tasks, coordinating with external agencies, and updating case management plans.
Actions taken may include assigning follow-up tasks, coordinating with external agencies, and updating case management plans.
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