Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM): A Guide for Educators

Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) is a systematic, evidence-based process used by schools, workplaces, and law enforcement to identify, assess, and manage individuals who may pose a threat to themselves or others. The model provides a structured way to notice warning signs, understand what they mean, and take action before anyone gets hurt. BTAM helps answer important questions like: Is this person in crisis? Are they at risk of hurting themselves or others? What support do they need right now? 

A key function of BTAM is to help schools understand the difference between someone who makes a threat and someone who poses one. A student may say something threatening when they’re upset or angry, like “I hate this place! I’m going to kill everyone here!” Statements of anger or frustration alone are not an actual plan. When a student poses a threat, they often exhibit warning signs that indicate they may be planning violence. These include sudden behavioral changes or researching weapons and school shootings. BTAM provides schools with a framework to respond appropriately to each situation. 

This framework does not replace student support programs or involve zero-tolerance policies. Instead, BTAM works alongside other school resources to provide help to individuals, connect them with counseling and other resources, and prevent violence before it happens. 

BTAM is meant to be proactive, and it works best when different groups collaborate, including teachers, school administrators, counselors, social workers, law enforcement (when appropriate), and specially trained threat assessment teams. Teachers and students are often the first to notice when something is wrong, such as when a student becomes withdrawn from friends or expresses feelings of hopelessness.

There are numerous resources, training programs, and funding opportunities to help schools build their threat assessment capabilities and establish BTAM teams.

• SchoolSafety.gov provides training, resources, and grant opportunities for educators and administrators interested in learning more about threat assessment and preventing violence.
• The U.S. Secret Service's National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) provides training and resources on threat assessment and preventing school violence.
• The Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP) and its regional chapters provide training, resources, and support to help schools develop and implement BTAM practices.
• The FBI’s Making Prevention a Reality outlines best practices for developing well-trained BTAM teams. Additional resources can be found at fbi.gov/prevent.

ADL also provides resources regarding emerging extremist threats and trends, including swatting attacks, online extortion networks (such as the Com and 764 networks), and various extremist ideologies and movements.