Resources

Dr. Amery Bernhardt is the inaugural director of the Connecticut Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparation. With expertise in law enforcement and emergency management, he champions evidence-based strategies for safer schools. We are humbled that Amery has volunteered his time, knowledge, and experience to support our work. To learn more about Amery and theRead more ⟶

The Crawl Phase is the initial step in the Reunification Foundation’s training methodology. During this phase, schools establish a foundation for their reunification capabilities by concentrating on vital elements such as planning, team training, and resource acquisition. A key objective of the Crawl Phase is to develop a comprehensive reunification plan. This involves bringing togetherRead more ⟶

Watch our latest episode of “Just Chatting With Dr. Dan,” where he discusses the importance of defining your terms.

Effective school safety relies on robust and adaptable reunification plans. To achieve this, the Reunification Foundation has developed a dynamic training methodology that builds on the traditional “Crawl, Walk, Run” model. This enhanced approach, known as “Crawl, Walk, Run, Refresh,” transforms the linear progression of skill development into a continuous cycle of improvement, ensuring sustainedRead more ⟶

School reunification events present complex challenges that demand careful coordination between various responding agencies. While the primary goal is always the safety and well-being of students and staff, conflicts can arise between groups due to differing priorities. As school safety teams develop reunification plans, it is critical to acknowledge these potential conflicts and develop strategies to navigate them.

The history of school safety is marked by a series of evolving concerns and responses, shaped by societal events and a growing understanding of the need to protect students and staff. While early school safety measures focused primarily on fire safety, the scope has significantly expanded to include many potential threats. In the early yearsRead more ⟶

One of the most common traits of any successful organization is constantly seeking improvement. Additionally, they are never afraid to look within and ask the hard questions. Are we doing enough? Is this the correct approach? How can we be better? Should we rethink this? To help us uphold the highest standards and to encourageRead more ⟶

Carly Posey is a nationally recognized speaker and passionate advocate for school safety and community preparedness, a path ignited by the harrowing experience of December 14, 2012, when two of her four children were present during the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. Witnessing her youngest son’s escape and her daughter’s hiding while her older childrenRead more ⟶

Claire Marie is the Founder and Executive Director of Sammy & Friends, a company that offers training and resources to help school communities implement trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate emergency drills for children. With more than thirteen years of professional experience, which includes serving as a reserve police officer, holding a degree in Public Health, andRead more ⟶

One of the most common questions that come up when speaking to schools and other organizations about reunification is, “What do we do when XYZ occurs?” or “Can we do that?” In response, we usually look at them, put our hands up, and shrug. That’s because we can guide you towards a best practice, butRead more ⟶

Reunification is an all-hazards tool that can and should be used anytime it is no longer safe to remain on school grounds. Practicing the process often will ensure that staff, students, and the community know what it entails when you pick up a student from any location where they are under the care and supervisionRead more ⟶