A Review of the Working Dynamics of the Salem-Keizer/Cascade Student Threat Assessment and Willamette Valley Adult Threat Advisory Team Models

This chapter outlines the step-by-step procedures for collaborative threat assessment in K–12 schools and communities. Focusing on the Salem-Keizer/Cascade model for student threat assessment and the Willamette Valley Adult Threat Advisory Team model for adult threat assessment, this chapter lists the sequential instructions and protocol for investigating and assessing threatening situations involving both youths and adults. The chapter also provides guidelines for conducting threat assessment through a collaborative process that involves both youth-serving and community-serving public agencies, such as K–12 education, higher education, law enforcement, public mental health services, youth and adult parole and probation, the courts, victim advocacy, and the district attorney’s office. While this chapter does not provide data, the model is currently being reviewed by three research projects that examine referral and intervention outcomes, including impacts on underserved and at-risk populations, overidentification of students of color, and the effectiveness of preventing the school-to-prison pipeline and expulsion. One of those projects has initially found that the model supports all students with inclusion and decreases the chances of arrest and expulsion. Finally, the chapter provides links to examples of assessment protocols with assessment questions.