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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*

Since the tragedy at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, OR most every news anchor, parent, student, education leader and government leader has been asking the same question…is there a SOLUTION to prevent future tragedies like what happened at Umpqua Community College? The answer is YES, tragedies can be prevented and are being prevented. A real proven SOLUTION does exist and it is proven in the real world by real organizations. The SOLUTION for PREVENTION involves a real-time community-wide effort of continuously collecting, assessing and connecting the dots. The SOLUTION for prevention requires proven tools like those found in the “Community-based Threat Assessment, Incident Management andRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*

Data is powerful and a valuable asset for organizations. Data can make organizations leaders in their industry. Data is the best way, and arguably the only way, to prevent unwanted, embarrassing and expensive incidents, tragedies and liabilities. Simply put…you cannot prevent things you don’t know about it. Based on overwhelming data from lessons learned, evidence and extensive research; threat assessment teams (TAT) need a lot more data, more specifically community-based threat assessment teams need more community-based data, to proactively and effectively PREVENT incidents, lawsuits, tragedies and liabilities. DATA on PREVENTING Everyone agrees preventing an incident or tragedy is far better than reacting to an incidentRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Success

Switching gears back to education, Rick met with Bradley County Public Schools Safety and Security Director, Scotty Hernandez. Scotty is really leading the way in providing his school and SRO team with the TIPS secure platform to both report concerning behaviors and document all investigation efforts and daily activities to create an ongoing database of information that can be used to ensure all students are being responded to appropriately. As Scotty mentions in the interview, ensuring all incidents are tracked from beginning to end to show what steps were taken to prevent incidents from escalating provides the accountability necessary for a school community. An excerptRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Success

Moving over to the financial sector and connecting with the Chief Operating Officer for Cornhusker Bank, Steve Lindgren! Financial institutions and their customers continue to be defrauded by increased incidents of account takeover, ACH and wire fraud incidents that have led to the theft of millions of dollars. So, how can institutions meet new requirements and improve their abilities to prevent fraud and detect and respond to suspicious activities? Cornhusker Bank has been utilizing Awareity’s TIPS platform for over 9 years and continues to evolve and take advantage of all the system has to offer. They are leading the way and allowing all bank employeesRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Success

These counselors are making a huge difference! Another interview, this time with High School Counselor, Christina Miller from Twin Rivers Schools in Missouri. After the Twin Rivers Schools participated in a student survey following the Stand for the Silent anti-bullying presentation, it was clear the students were asking for solutions. TIPS was a perfect fit for their school community, and the customization capabilities allowed Twin Rivers to make it their own and reach their students in a whole new way. Christina is very forward thinking, and TIPS is allowing her team to immediately handle small situations when they start, whether that be comments made onRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Success

Another great interview with Middle School Counselor, Craig Spinner, from Westfield Washington Schools. In 2014, Westfield Washington Schools had the honor of participating in a presentation by David and Tina Long, of Everything Starts with One and featured in the “Bully” movie, in which they spoke about their son’s tragic suicide. Tina shared that she believed the TIPS platform may have helped prevent Tyler’s death. Westfield had also recently experienced a suicide of their own and Craig recognized that the school needed to be more proactive. Awareity’s TIPS platform now allows Westfield Washington Schools to not only receive incident reports (anonymously or non-anonymously) from allRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Success

I know I am biased, but I am excited to share this recent interview with one of my favorite MOAT Administrators! Amy Roper is the Policy and Content Administrator and Legal Liaison for Virginia Lottery and has really taken advantage of the system in a big way to ensure policy compliance and accountability for all agency employees. As a state agency, Virginia Lottery has to maintain compliance with a continuous list of requirements and regulations. The agency is able to utilize the existing Virginia State Contract for MOAT and automate a lot of daily efforts spent tracking and documenting employee acknowledgements and providing on-demand progressRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Success

Although this interview was conducted before the recent tragedy in Oregon, this is great example of a community college working hard to improve student safety and prevention efforts ongoing. Rick spoke with George Okaty, Safety and Security Manager of Tidewater Community College. Okaty is a true leader who is dedicated to helping his staff become more efficient and keeping their campus safe. Tidewater Community College is using Awareity’s TIPS platform to provide all security officers a secure way to submit and keep track of all safety incidents on campus. The college will also be expanding use of the platform in the next few months toRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Success

Rick also recently sat down with Amanda Agguire, former state senator and CEO and Founder of the Regional Center for Border Health (RCBH). Agguire helped create the Yuma County Anti‐Bullying Task Force in 2008 in an effort to raise awareness regarding such a sensitive and difficult issue in rural Yuma County, Arizona. Through the use of Awareity’s TIPS, the Community Action Group is encouraging students, parents, staff, and community members to report incidents of bullying, threats of violence, weapons, drugs/alcohol, vandalism, sexting, suicide and other risks. Proper personnel from the school district selected, as well as counselors from RCBH and appropriate city/county law enforcement, areRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*

Are you attending ASIS 2015 in Anaheim this year? Are you concerned about Student Safety? Social media seems to be a big challenge for every school, as well as violence, sexual misconduct, depression, bullying and numerous other incidents that can make your school’s learning environment difficult for everyone. Administrators know the gaps can get you, so how do you eliminate these potential risks and liabilities? Students, faculty, staff, parents and community members all know things you don’t… You can maximize your ROI and ROP (Return on Prevention) by attending one of the intensive pre-session programs on Sunday, September 27th. Awareity’s founder and CEO Rick Shaw,Read More →