Harmony Amidst Chaos: Mental Wellness and Risk Prevention
Format
Individual Presentation
Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
Volusia County Schools, Florida
First Presenter’s Email Address
mdkraft@volusia.k12.fl.us
First Presenter's Brief Biography
Mark Kraft, M.Ed., is currently the District Threat Management Coordinator for Volusia County Schools in DeLand, Florida. He completed his master’s in educational leadership at Grand Canyon University. Mark has significant experience working with youth at all levels, elementary, secondary, and undergraduate. He was an instructor at Salisbury State University, St. John’s County Juvenile Detention Center, and Silver Sands Middle School. He took on administrative roles at the middle and high school levels, where he focused on discipline and MTSS. With his relevant background, he was selected to be Volusia County School District’s Threat Management Coordinator for the new Florida Harm Prevention and Threat Management Model. He is dedicated to ensuring Volusia County Schools, its students, staff and all community members are kept safe, and the students of concern are provided with the assistance that is needed.
Second Presenter's Institution
Volusia County Schools
Second Presenter’s Email Address
jlmcinty@volusia.k12.fl.us
Second Presenter's Brief Biography
Jessica McIntyre, LMHC, QS, is currently the Coordinator of Mental Health Services for Volusia County Schools in DeLand, Florida. She completed her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Stetson University. Jessica has been in clinical and leadership roles in levels of care ranging from private practice to inpatient care, and now focuses on children and adolescents in crisis in the school system. Jessica's work focuses on managing her district's Mental Health Response and Intervention Team, promoting advocacy and education to students of all ages and their parents, and collaboration with school personnel and external agencies in the formation and administration of programs designed for improvement of student-related problems and school safety. Jessica is consistently called upon to consult, provide training, create policy and curriculum, and coordinate the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs locally and at the state level. She is a strong and passionate leader with a clear commitment to students, staff, and all community members who contribute to the well-being of the youth we serve.
Submitter
I am submitting this proposal as one of the presenter(s)
Location
Sloane
Strand #1
Hands: Safety & Violence Prevention
Strand #2
Health: Mental & Physical Health
Relevance
The relevance of this presentation on the integration of threat management and mental health is directly connected to safety and violence prevention and mental health. We will effectively demonstrate the importance of collaboration between the two departments to reduce the possibility of violence on our campus and provide the assistance many of our children need.
Brief Program Description
The number one priority for our schools MUST be safety! We cannot teach our children unless we keep them safe. An effective way to help maintain safety is to integrate mental health and threat management to work collectively. Together, we can identify concerning behaviors, investigate, and provide the necessary supports to assist our children and keep our school campuses safe. This presentation will demonstrate how we can effectively accomplish this responsibility.
Summary
Mental health plays a critical role in effectively managing threats within schools. Today, more than ever, our goal is to create a safe and supportive environment for students while addressing prospective dangers and concerning behaviors. This presentation aims to foster a holistic approach that ensures student safety while addressing potential threats. Through an Interconnected Systems Framework we can combine systems and practices to improve outcomes for our students. This presentation will discuss the integration of mental health in enhancing school safety and management. For this to occur, we must understand the framework of behavioral threat management teams and the importance of multidisciplinary teams. Additionally, the role of mental health with early interventions and promotion of well-being must not be understated when outlining the threat management process and looking at behavioral indicators and gathering data. The symbiotic relationship between mental health and school safety is crucial for fostering a supportive and conducive learning environment. By supporting students who experience mental health challenges, school can promote better academic and behavioral outcomes. Providing access to mental health services can reduce difficulties related to mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being among students at risk. This comprehensive approach emphasizes the importance of addressing students’ emotional needs alongside safety measures. Through use of the identified risk assessment tool, the school district systematically identifies and evaluates potential threats, demonstrating a proactive approach to student safety. Partnered with training in mental health awareness and de-escalation techniques, empathy and understanding within the school community is fostered. Prioritizing mental health and safety creates a positive feedback loop: when students feel mentally well, they are more likely to engage in safe behaviors, and when schools prioritize safety, students’ mental well-being improves.
Evidence
Florida Youth Survey - Florida Health CHARTS - Florida Department of Health. (n.d.). https://www.flhealthcharts.gov/ChartsDashboards/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=SurveyData.Overview Kirk, V. (2024, January 11). 6 Strategies to Help Schools Improve Mental Health in students. Our Children. https://ptaourchildren.org/six-strategies-to-help-improve-student-mental-health/ Solodev. (n.d.). Florida-Specific Youth Survey. www.fldoe.org. https://www.fldoe.org/schools/k-12-public-schools/sss/fl-youth-survey.stml Swearingen, R., Arenal, A., Blackman, P., Bradshaw, R., & Dembinsky, S. (2021). Florida's Strategy for Targeted Violence Prevention. Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The Florida Harm Prevention and Threat Management Model became effective on January 1, 2024. This model is required in all public and charter schools in the State of Florida. This model focuses on identifying concerning behaviors and implementing interventions to assist the student in times of crisis.
Learning Objective 1
Review the research and basic principles regarding the history and importance threat assessment and threat management.
Learning Objective 2
Identify the steps, developmental procedures, and protocols necessary to develop a tiered, multi-disciplinary, multi-agency threat management system.
Learning Objective 3
Understand the legal and ethical responsibilities within behavioral threat management in schools (i.e. privacy laws, reporting obligations, FERPA, and state legislation/requirements).
Keyword Descriptors
threat, mental health, concerning behavior, stressors, protective factors, pathway to violence, interventions, harm to self, harm to others
Presentation Year
2025
Start Date
3-4-2025 2:45 PM
Recommended Citation
Kraft, Mark D. and McIntyre, Jessica L., "Harmony Amidst Chaos: Mental Wellness and Risk Prevention" (2025). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 67.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2025/2025/67
Harmony Amidst Chaos: Mental Wellness and Risk Prevention
Sloane
The number one priority for our schools MUST be safety! We cannot teach our children unless we keep them safe. An effective way to help maintain safety is to integrate mental health and threat management to work collectively. Together, we can identify concerning behaviors, investigate, and provide the necessary supports to assist our children and keep our school campuses safe. This presentation will demonstrate how we can effectively accomplish this responsibility.