WHO SHOULD ATTEND (TARGET AUDIENCE) | FORUM LOCATION AND HOURS l REGISTRATION AND LODGING | AGENDA |PRE-CONFERENCE REGISTRATION | MAIN CONFERENCE REGISTRATION | VENDOR REGISTRATION |STUDENT AMBASSADORS AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIELD SUBMISSIONS
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is pleased to partner with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), the Virginia Association for School Superintendents (VASS), the Virginia D.A.R.E. Association, and the Virginia Risk Sharing Association (VRSA) to offer the 2023 Virginia School Safety Training Forum. This year’s Forum will be held in Hampton, Virginia on July 24-27, 2023. The Forum will feature engaging keynote speakers and interactive workshops for as many as 1000 participants in the fields of school and division leadership, school security, law enforcement, PreK-12 counseling and mental health, and others with a role in ensuring schools are safe places to work and learn.
The theme of the Forum, “Fostering a Culture of Trust, Collaboration, Awareness, and Safety,” highlights the critical importance of relationship building among all stakeholders, particularly as a result of the challenging past three years for our students and school communities. Trust that we know how to respond appropriately in an emergency, ensuring that we are fully participating in drills and providing necessary support, that the school culture encourages connection and support, and building partnerships to ensure a safe and supportive school environment, have never been more important. During this event participants will have the opportunity to hear from renowned experts on a multitude of topics related to school safety including, but not limited to:
The Virginia School Safety Training Forum is intended for those with a role directly impacting school safety. The target audience includes K-12 division and school leaders, school counselors and mental health professionals, division and school safety audit team members, crisis management team members, threat assessment team members, K-12 school resource officers and other law enforcement working in or with schools, school security officers, and juvenile detention center staff and juvenile probation officers.
Hampton Roads Convention Center1610 Coliseum DriveHampton, VA
Half Day Morning Session will run from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. Check in begins at 8:00 am.
Half Day Afternoon Session will run from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Check in begins at 12:30 pm.
Check in begins at 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Forum runs from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. Forum runs from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm on Thursday.
Keynotes will be featured from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Workshops will be held from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Law enforcement officers will receive partial in-service credit hours for this forum.
The registration fee to attend the conference is $125. Click here to register and pay the $125 registration fee now.
Host Hotel
Embassy Suites Hampton Roads – Hotel, Spa and Convention Center1700 Coliseum DriveHampton, VA
1-800-EMBASSY (Code - VSS) The room block is full, please see the Overflow Lodging below.
Newport News Marriott at City Center740 Town Center DriveNewport News, Virginia 23606
The group rate is $98 per night, plus tax. Free wi-fi, indoor pool. Cut-off date is June 23.
Online ReservationsReservations may be made online: RESERVE A ROOM FOR THE FORUM
Comfort Inn & Suites Hampton near Coliseum1551 Hardy Cash DriveHampton, VA, 23666
The group rate is $98 per night, plus tax. Free wi-fi, free hot breakfast, indoor pool. Cut-off date is June 30.
Online Reservations: The room block is full.
Holiday Inn: Newport News-Hampton980 Omni BoulevardNewport News, VA
The group rate is $98 per night, plus tax. Free wi-fi, indoor pool. Cut-off date is June 30.
Reservations may be made online: RESERVE A ROOM FOR THE FORUM
The Landing at Hampton Marina, Tapestry Collection by Hilton700 Settlers Landing RoadHampton, VA 23669
The group rate is $98 per night, plus tax. Free wi-fi, outdoor pool. Cut-off date is June 30.
Hilton Garden Inn
1999 Power Plant ParkwayHampton, VA
The group rate is $98 per night, plus tax. Free breakfast, free wi-fi, indoor pool. 48 hour cancellation.
SpringHill Suites
1997 Power Plant ParkwayHampton, VA
The group rate is $98 per night, plus tax. Free breakfast, high-speed internet access. 24 hour cancellation.
Residence Inn Newport News531 St. Johns RoadNewport News, VA 23602
The group rate is $98 per night, plus tax. Free breakfast, high-speed internet access. 15 minutes from the conference site. Cut-off date is June 30.
Travel and Meals
Lunch will be served on Tuesday, July 25 and Wednesday, July 26. Participants are responsible for travel and all other meal costs.
Participants will have an opportunity to register for a Morning Half-Day Session and/or Afternoon Half-Day Session during the registration process.
Click the links below for session descriptions.
K-12 Basic Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Training - Bryan Carr and Dr. Jim Russo *This session will start at 8:00 am. (Check-in begins at 7:30 am.)* THIS SESSION IS FULL.
Handle With Care Overview and Understanding and Responding Appropriately to Trauma Responses - Betsy Bell and Kaylee Powell THIS SESSION IS FULL.
Basics of School Security for SSOs and School Administrators - Carlton Gerald and Cidel Peters
Standard Response Protocol - Stacy Avila
AM Session: SRO Focus Group - Kim Simon *This session will start at 8:30 am. (Check-in begins at 8:00 am)*
AM Session: School Administrator Focus Group - Kim Simon *This sesion will start at 10:30 am. (Check-in begins at 10:00 am.)*
K-12 Basic Behavioral Threat Assessment Case Management Training - Bryan Carr and Dr. Jim Russo
Poverty’s Impact on the Brain - Horacio Sanchez THIS SESSION IS FULL.
Public Speaking for Public Safety - James Kingman
Standard Reunification Method - Stacy Avila THIS SESSION IS FULL.
PM Session: SRO Focus Group - Kim Simon *This session will start at 1:00 pm. (Check-in begins at 12:30 pm.)*
PM Session: School Administrator Focus Group - Kim Simon *This session will start at 3:00 pm. (Check-in begins at 2:30 pm.)*
Pre-registration is required.
Click here to register.
Note: Again this year, Afternoon Breakout Sessions on July 25 and July 26 will also require pre-registration. Registration information for Breakout Sessions will be emailed through Sched to all main conference registrants.
Virginia Members of the Target Audience: Unless a registration scholarship is requested and approved, the registration fee to attend the conference is $125.
Click here to register and pay the $125 registration fee now.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Participants who receive a scholarship for registration, but are unable to attend must cancel or submit the name of a replacement attendee no later than July 15 or be responsible for the $125 registration fee.
Click here to cancel registration or name a replacement.
Attendees Outside Virginia/Outside the Target Audience: Those outside Virginia and/or outside the target audience are invited to attend the conference at a registration fee of $125 if paid via credit card at the time of registration. A $20 processing fee will apply to payments not made by credit card at the time of registration. Payment must be received prior to conference attendance.
CANCELLATION POLICY: No refunds will be given for cancellations made after July 15, 2023. Substitutions will be accepted.
Vendors with school safety related products and services are invited to participate in the conference. The registration fee for VENDORS is $500 per vendor (for up to two (2) representatives) if paid via credit card at the time of registration. A $20 processing fee will apply to payments not made by credit card at the time of registration. Registration fee includes open skirted table, electricity, admission into conference sessions, and lunch at the Convention Center. Wi-Fi is available upon request for an additional charge.
Note: Vendors who are non-profits or SWaM certified are eligible for discounted rates: $125 for nonprofits and $250 for SWaM. Please contact Denae Griffin at 804-225-3948 or denae.griffin@dcjs.virginia.gov to be registered at the discounted rate.
CLICK TO REGISTER AS A VENDOR
We’re Seeking Student Ambassadors!- We’re inviting students and staff to showcase their efforts at making schools safer in one of two ways:
By creating and sending in a video of what school safety means to them. Select videos will be shown at the conference. For more information and to submit a video, visit the 2023 Student Ambassador Program - School Safety Video page.
By introducing presenters at the conference and showcase their ambassador skills. For more information, visit the 2023 Student Ambassador Program - Presenter Introduction page.
Highlights From the Field - We want to highlight the great work you’re doing! We're calling all conference participants to showcase how you or others are supporting school safety in your school, division, or locality. For more information and to submit a video, visit the 2023 Highlights From the Field page.
Shellie Evers804.629.7042Email Shellie
Denae Griffin804.225.3948Email Denae