Community securityAssessing security at schools, houses of worship

Office of Infrastructure Protection of DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate will be conducting a virtual roundtable on the topic of “Conducting Security Assessments: A Guide for Schools and Houses of Worship.”

The roundtable will be held on Wednesday, 1 May 2013, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (EDT).

The organizers note that following the Newtown, Connecticut and Oak Creek, Wisconsin mass casualty shooting incidents, assessing the security vulnerabilities of schools and houses of worship is more critical than ever. DHS, in support of the Presidential Initiative on Reducing Gun Violence, conducts this virtual roundtable to explore how to assess and strengthen security at houses of worship and K-12 schools.

Representatives from DHS and from religious and educational communities will discuss how to:

• Develop assessment teams
• Assess security measures
• Create a culture of security throughout the institution

This free, online, interactive roundtable will include panel discussions, a question-and-answer session, and additional resources.

Who should attend

• Leaders, administrators, staff, and volunteers from schools and houses of worship
• Law enforcement and Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial officials

Moderator
Andrea T. Schultz – Chief, Commercial Facilities Section, Office of Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security

Panelists

• Bob Hellmuth – Director, Department of School Safety and Security, Montgomery County, MD Public Schools
• Paul Goldenberg – Vice Chair Homeland Security Advisory Committee’s Faith-based Security and Communications Advisory Committee
• Matt Wombacher – Protective Security Advisor, National Capital Region, Department of Homeland Security

A limited number of phone lines will be available for participants, so those interested in participating should plan to listen online using their computer’s speakers or headphones.

To register, click here.