Comprehensive Consulting & Prevention Services

Suicide Prevention & HB 123

On March 24, 2021, Ohio's 133rd General Assembly enacted House Bill 123, the "Safety and Violence Education Students (SAVE Students) Act". The SAVE Students Act supports Ohio’s strategic plan for education with respect to school security and youth suicide awareness education and training. The SAVE Students Act was passed knowing that student success is dependent on whether students feel safe and supported in school. The state legislation calls for a comprehensive approach to school safety involving the Ohio Departments of Education, Public Safety, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Attorney General’s Office. A comprehensive approach includes meeting the physical and emotional safety of both students and educators. When implemented together, prevention curriculum, peer-led clubs, emergency management plans, and threat assessments can create safe and caring learning and working environments for all.
 CLICK HERE  for a further breakdown of the SAVE Students Act's emotional and physical safety requirements and initiation timelines.
The ESC of Northeast Ohio can offer support and guidance around District Suicide and Threat Protocols along with supporting the district’s implementation of HB 123, including consultation and team participation to assess underlying needs and explore services or supports.
Contact:
Mary P. Wise, MSCE, MSW
Student Wellness Coordinator
ESC of Northeast Ohio
Mary.Wise@escneo.org
216-901-4201 (Office)
216-524-3683 (Fax)

Denise Pietrzak, MSSA, LISW-S
Student Wellness Coordinator/System Navigator
ESC of Northeast Ohio
Denise.Pietrzak@escneo.org
216-525-2524 (Office)
216-524-3683 (Fax)

Crisis Prevention Institute


Crisis Prevention Institute Trainings-CPI training programs are designed to help your organization identify, prevent, and de-escalate crises. Each program provides clear, self-guided training paths, and can be customized to meet the needs of your organization, staff, and the individuals you serve.  

For training information please contact Anthony Pizzuti anthony.pizzuti@escneo.org


Meke Wiggins
meke.wiggins@escneo.org  
(216) 524-3000

Tom Hanicak
tom.hanicak@escneo.org
(216) 446-3821

Leah Euerle
leah.euerle@escneo.org
(216) 524-3000


Maddy Moser
maddy.moser@escneo.org
(440) 477-0249

Attendance & HB 410

Over 7 million students missed 15 or more days of school in 2015-2016, which translates to 16% of the student population — about 1 in 6 students (US Department of Education). This can lead to increased academic risk for students' success. Research shows that attendance is an important factor in student achievement.

Legislative Background

In December 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed HB 410 to encourage and support a preventative approach to excessive absences and truancy. HB 410's truancy provisions bring Ohio law in compliance with federal law and reduce the number of students referred for formal juvenile court processing for missing school.
HB 410 emphasizes early intervention and provides opportunities to:
  1. Eliminate schools from suspending or expelling students with truancy issues
  2. Limit a youth's exposure to the juvenile justice system due to truant behavior

Impact

Frequent absences from school can be devastating to a child's future. The effects start early and spiral dramatically over time.
  • A student is chronically absent if he/she misses as few as two days of school a month.
  • Children who are chronically absent in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade are much less likely to read on grade level by the third grade.
  • Students who cannot read at grade level by the third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.
  • By high school, attendance is a better dropout indicator than test scores.
  • A chronically absent student, in any year between eighth and twelfth grade, is seven times more likely to drop out of school.

The ESC of Northeast Ohio can offer support and guidance around the District Attendance Protocol along with supporting the district's implementation of HB 410, including consultation and team participation to assess underlying needs and explore services or supports.

Contact:
Denise Pietrzak, MSSA, LISW-S
Student Wellness Coordinator/System Navigator
ESC of Northeast Ohio
Denise.Pietrzak@escneo.org
216-525-2524 (Office)
216-524-3683 (Fax)

Violence Prevention and Threat Assessment

Violence Prevention and Threat Assessment

Meeting Information
The Student Wellness Department, in partnership with Ohio Schools Council, offers the following services related to violence prevention:
  • Audit of framework
  • Coaching and consultation
  • Professional Development using the CSTAG Model
  • Technical Assistance
  • Virtual hours

HB 123 Requirements

Ohio's 133rd General Assembly enacted House Bill 123, the " Safety and Violence Education Students (SAVE Students) Act ," regarding school security and youth suicide awareness education and training.
HB 123 requires each local, city, exempted village, and joint vocational school district to create a threat assessment team for each school building serving grades six through twelve. Each team shall be multidisciplinary, when possible, and may include school administrators, mental health professionals, school resource officers, and other necessary personnel. These teams aim to prevent violence and resolve conflicts that underlie threatening behavior.

Learn More about CSTAG Training Guidelines

The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), developed in 2001 (formerly Virginia Student Threat Assessment Guidelines until 2018), is an evidence-based model for schools to use in conducting threat assessments of students. For information about workshops with Dr. Cornell, go to this website.

Upcoming Trainings & Registration

  • December 9, 2024
  • February 18, 2025
  • April 11, 2025
  • May 27, 2025
  • June 3, 2025 (Level 3 Refresher Training)
 Click here  to register for any of the upcoming trainings.

Training Requirements

Upon appointment and once every three years thereafter, each team member shall complete an approved threat assessment training program from the approved list.
If members of the team have completed a training program any time after March 24, 2019, that was later approved by the OSSC, this can qualify as the initial training required under this legislation. Any new members of the team are required to complete an approved training program upon appointment.

Resources

Contact

Denise Pietrzak, MSSA, LISW-S
Student Wellness Coordinator/System Navigator
ESC of Northeast Ohio
Denise.Pietrzak@escneo.org
216-525-2524 (Office)
216-524-3683 (Fax)

Verbal De-Escalation

Handle With Care

The Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio, Student Wellness Department, has partnered with Ohio Handle With Care (HWC) to bring this trauma-informed, cross-systems initiative to Cuyahoga County. HWC (a system approach to trauma) utilizes a collaborative strategy aimed at ensuring that children who are exposed to adverse events receive appropriate interventions and have opportunities to build resilience through positive relationships with teachers and first responders. Handle With Care aims to promote safe and supportive schools, homes, and communities that protect children and help traumatized children heal and thrive.

Benefits of HWC

  • Universal strategy which benefits all children
  • Provides teachers with the support they need to address trauma’s impact on learning
  • Looks at a child’s behavior from a different perspective
  • Improves relationships, communication, and collaboration between law enforcement, schools/child care agencies, and mental health providers, and connects families, schools, and communities to mental health services
  • Provides teachers with a heads up so they can provide care instead of a consequence
  • Connects children with mental health services if needed
  • Training safeguards trauma-informed implementation and responses
  • Builds resiliency!

Handle With Care Districts
Handle With Care Partners
Bay Village
Bay Village Police Department
Parma
Lyndhurst Fire Department
Richmond Heights
Lyndhurst Police Department
South Euclid-Lyndhurst
Ohio Highway Patrol


Ohio Schools Council


Parma Fire Department


Parma Police Department


Parma Heights Fire Department


Parma Heights Police Department


Richmond Heights Police Department


Seven Hills Fire Department


Seven Hills Police Department


South Euclid Fire Department
Ohio Handle With Care Website
https://handlewithcareoh.org/

South Euclid Police Department










The ESC of Northeast Ohio Student Wellness Department offers the required training and assistance in the implementation of Handle with Care. Please contact us for a free consultation to determine what current needs exist in your building, district, or community.
Contact:
Amanda Nowak, LPCC-S
Student Wellness Consultant
Amanda.nowak@escneo.org
216-264-1634 (Office)

School Counselor/Social Worker Network

teachersThe Northeast Ohio School Counselor and Social Worker Network brings together elementary, middle, and high school counselors and social workers dedicated to advancing their professional growth and impact. This network provides ongoing opportunities for learning, collaboration, and sharing of best practices to strengthen support for students’ academic success and social-emotional well-being. Members gain access to valuable resources, tools, and connections that help them better serve students, families, and school communities across Northeast Ohio.
Meeting Information
The 2025-2026 School Counselor/Social Worker Network meetings will take place on the following dates:
The meetings will run from 12:30 until 2:00 and will be in person at the ESC.
Contact Information:
Amanda Nowak, Student Wellness Consultant
amanda.nowak@escneo.org
Anthony Battaglia, CTE and Workforce Consultant
anthony.battaglia@escneo.org