Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has been awarded a $4.3 million grant from the Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute (NIJ) through the Comprehensive School Safety Initiative (CSSI). The funds will support school safety through the district's Campus Shield Initiative, implemented under the “If You See Something, Say Something,” U.S. Department of Homeland Security national campaign.
“The significant federal investment of $4.3 million will allow for the deployment of smart technology that will enhance safety and security in Miami-Dade Schools,” said Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho.
Campus Shield is an innovative program piloted by Miami-Dade Schools Police (MDSP) that provides a centralized location for receiving, managing, and disseminating information related to threats to school safety. The system enables information sharing between agencies that can benefit schools and students by addressing threats before they turn into action.
The program provides a unique way of addressing crime by bringing together law enforcement and mental health providers, a crime analyst and mental health specialist for example, to work shoulder to shoulder for the benefit of students. Students’ mental health crises are of particular concern. Campus Shield is likely to unearth instances where students may be discussing threats to their own safety and/or to others that derive from psychosocial stressors.
Campus Shield was implemented following a joint roundtable on youth safety with Carvalho, Mayor Carlos Gimenez, and Miami-Dade County police chiefs. The initiative is pivotal to how MDSP collects, stores and uses information to ensure a safe school and learning environment. The goal of Campus Shield is to address the magnitude of threats to school safety and to develop actionable information for an immediate and appropriate response to a school threat.