At the time of this writing, there are grant programs at the state and federal levels created to support the establishment of BTAUs and related functions, including funds for behavioral threat assessment training and for the development of bystander reporting programs.
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For example, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program is dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of local communities to prevent targeted violence and terrorism.
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TVTP grants support the DHS approach to violence prevention, which focuses on providing local communities with evidence-based tools to prevent violence while protecting civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy rights.
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The TVTP Grant Program is open to state, local, tribal, and territorial government agencies; institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations.
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The TVTP Grant Program has named “Enhancing Local Threat Assessment and Management Capabilities” as one of its top priorities.
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Establishing a BTAU policy within the broader agency’s policy allows the organization to establish the guiding principles and parameters of the program.
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The agency can articulate the legal authorities under which the unit will operate, specify unit objectives, and clarify the threshold for case initiation.
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Drafting a written policy should begin with a policy statement, through which the agency will establish a shared vision of the program’s mission and ensure the BTAU members work within the program’s intended scope.
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Defining the parameters of the program can also assist an organization with educating the larger community and other interested partners on the purpose of behavioral threat assessment and the role community members play in prevention.
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[Name of agency/organization] is committed to [list objectives]. In support of that commitment, this policy specifically addresses the implementation of [name of BTAU], which will be dedicated to taking a proactive approach to the prevention of targeted violence in [community/jurisdiction]. Staffed by [operational makeup of BTAU], [name of BTAU]’s mission is to identify, assess, and manage individuals of concern within [community/jurisdiction] before the risk of potential violence escalates to physical harm. [Name of agency/organization] will achieve this mission by [describe BTAU approach/process].
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