Abstract
The Networks Against School Shootings program (NETWASS) aims to prevent severe violence in schools and address critical psychosocial development of students by early identification and reliable evaluation of warning signs. Case analyses of school shootings conducted as part of the Berlin Leaking Project show that acts of severe targeted school violence result from complex interaction of psychosocial and emotional risk factors and life experiences. Such a development is accompanied by leaking behavior (threats, preoccupation with violence or weapons, suicidal intentions) which gives an opportunity to intervene—provided persons in the social/school environment recognize the warning signs. NETWASS is being implemented and evaluated (pre/post follow-up design) in more than 100 schools with approx. 3,500 teachers in three German federal states. Preliminary results of the evaluation study are reported and discussed.
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Notes
- 1.
In cooperation with Accident Insurance Berlin (UKB), Berlin Emergency Service for Child Protection (BNK), and the Institute for Work and Health (IAG) of the German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV). Early experience shows that the phone help-line is well accepted by school staff and parents.
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Leuschner, V., Schroer-Hippel, M., Bondü, R., Scheithauer, H. (2013). Indicated Prevention of Severe Targeted School Violence: NETWorks Against School Shootings (NETWASS). In: Böckler, N., Seeger, T., Sitzer, P., Heitmeyer, W. (eds) School Shootings. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5526-4_18
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