The program will include 2 sessions: 

BeAware Situational Awareness – 60 minutes

BeAware improves situational awareness and provides the foundation for security training—benefitting personal and organizational security. Participants learn to recognize suspicious or potentially dangerous behavior and learn what actions to take—whether in synagogue, at school, or going about your day. BeAware is designed for every member of the community and provides tools to help protect yourself, your family, your institution, and your community.

Topics Covered:

• Enhancing Situational Awareness
• Identifying Safety and security threats
• Recognizing and reporting suspicious activity
• Learning how to be an active participant in the safety of your community

De-Escalation Training – 60 minutes

De-escalation Training equips participants with the knowledge, skills, and techniques to defuse or reduce tension, hostility, or conflict and increase personal safety. The training is beneficial to volunteer greeters, synagogue staff, school staff, and anyone in an outward-facing role.

Topics Covered:

• Identify the initial indicators of escalating behaviors, both verbal and non-verbal
• Demonstrate de-escalation best practices to include active listening, empathizing, verbal diffusion, de-escalation phrases, non-confrontational body language, and facial expressions.
• Develop techniques to manage personal emotions in challenging situations to maintain composure and clear thinking
• Review of how cultural and mental health sensitivity can help de-escalation effort

Light supper will be served.