Schools in Chattooga County and across Georgia have a new tool available aimed at identifying concerning behavior and intervening before situations potentially escalate into violence.

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency announced this week that it is rolling out a statewide Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management model, known as BTAM, for public and private K-12 schools.

The program provides a structured process for schools to identify concerning behavior, gather information, assess the situation and determine what type of intervention or assistance may be appropriate. Locally, the training and framework are available to schools in both the Chattooga County School System and Trion City Schools.

GEMA/HS says the approach is designed to focus on behavior and facts rather than simply reacting to a threat after it has been made. A BTAM team can include representatives from education, law enforcement, mental health and other community resources.

The state says the objective is not only preventing violence but identifying people who may need help and connecting them with appropriate resources before a situation becomes more serious.

Development of Georgia’s model began about six years ago. GEMA/HS established a trainer program in 2022, and several Georgia school systems have already received BTAM training. According to the agency, some participating systems have reported interventions involving people exhibiting behaviors associated with a potential pathway toward violence.

The new model expands those efforts by giving schools a framework for developing and maintaining their own programs.

Georgia law already requires public-school safety plans to address areas including violence prevention, threat assessment and mental-health awareness. Schools are also required to conduct annual intruder-alert drills.

GEMA/HS says schools and local agencies can request BTAM training and technical assistance through the agency’s school-safety program.