A Collaborative Response to

An Individual of Concern’s Threat Making Behaviours

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 A Community
Threat Assessment Protocol

A Collaborative Response to An Individual of Concern’s Threat Making Behaviours

The 2022 edition builds on the protocol developed by

a 2010 dedicated group of City of Greater Sudbury Community Partners

The 2022 Community Threat Assessment Protocol strengthens

the commitment from the Boards of Education

and community partners to be responsive to the ever-changing needs and dynamics of the region.

April 2022

4th Edition

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Primary Author of the 10th Edition of NACTATR Protocol
Primary Developer of VTRA Process

J. Kevin Cameron
Executive Director, North American Center for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response (NACTATR)
M.Sc. R.S.W., B.C.E.T.S., B.C.S.C.R.
Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress; Diplomate, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress

Major Contributors to the 10th Edition of NACTATR Protocol:

Darwin Skretting
Pat Rivard
Tom Connolly
Kerry Cameron
Theresa Campbell
Sherri Mohoruk

Primary Authorship for 4th Edition of Community Threat Assessment Protocol

Anna Maria Barsanti

Major Contributors:
Sylvie Courchesne
Elaina Groves
Mary Jago
Nadine Helgason
Cst. Cheryl Kennelly
Cst. Robert Lewis
Joshua Negusanti
Carole Paquette
Geneviève Rivard
Chauntelle Wolff

Special Thanks:
Jackie Balleny
Carole Paquette
Lora Wright

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 Protocol Partners

• Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of the City of Greater Sudbury

• Cambrian College
• Canadian Mental Health Association – Sudbury/Manitoulin/Association canadienne pour la santé
mentale – Sudbury/Manitoulin
• Canadian Shield Health Care Services
• Children’s Community Network/Réseau communautaire pour enfants
• City of Greater Sudbury/Ville du Grand Sudbury
• Collège Boréal
• Compass / Boussole / Akii-Izhinoogan
• Conseil des Services du District de Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board
• Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario
• Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario
• Future North/ Futur du Nord
• Greater Sudbury Police Service/Les Services policiers du Grand Sudbury
• Health Sciences North/Horizon Santé-Nord - Mental Health and Addiction/Santé mentale et
toxicomania
• Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services
• Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services/ Ministère des Services à l’enfance et des
Services sociaux et communautaires
• N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre
• Nogdawindamin Family and Community Services
• Northern Youth Services Inc.
• Ontario Provincial Police/Police provinciale de l’Ontario - Manitoulin
• Ontario Provincial Police/Police provinciale de l’Ontario - Nipissing West,
• Rainbow District School Board
• Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre
• Sudbury Action Centre for Youth
• Sudbury and Area Victim Services/Services aux victimes du Grand Sudbury
• Sudbury Catholic District School Board
• Sudbury District Restorative Justice/Reparatrice du District de Sudbury
• The Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury & Manitoulin/La Société d’aide à l’enfance
des districts de Sudbury et de Manitoulin
• United Way Centraide North East Ontario/Nord-est de l’Ontario
• YMCA of Northeastern Ontario Employment Services & Immigrant Services/YMCA du Nord-Est de
l’Ontario Services d’emploi & Services aux immigrants

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Community Threat Assessment Protocol

The 4th edition of the Community Threat Risk Assessment Protocol is representative of a
continued committed “Community Protocol”. The present model application of VTRA
recognizes all formal signed protocol partners as equal. This means that any signed partner can
activate the Community Threat Assessment Protocol and appropriate partners will assist in the
process.

Vision
All partners are accountable to the protocol purpose and have a shared obligation to actively take
steps to prevent violence.

In situations where data suggests a child, a youth, or an adult may pose a significant risk to
themselves or others, the partners agree to work together for the common goal of violence
prevention, threat management and safety planning by sharing information, advice and support
that assists in the reduction of risk.

Partners will work together for the benefit of any individual of concern (children, youth, or
adults) who come within the scope of this protocol to:
● Building collaborative working relationships based on mutual respect and trust.
● Work in ways that promote safe, caring, and restorative practices for schools, protocol
partners and the community.
● Prioritize the need for promotion, prevention and intervention strategies that demonstrate
effectiveness in providing coordinated and integrated support and services for the person
of concern and as appropriate for their families.
● With children and youth, involve their families in planning for services and support.
● Recognize that every individual of concern has unique strengths and needs that should be
considered when developing supports, interventions, and services.
● Realize that working together successfully requires persistence and is a process of
learning, listening, and understanding one another.
● Ensure the Fair Notice of policies and procedures regarding Violence Threat Risk
Assessment (VTRA) is provided to all protocol partners staff and the students, patient,
subject, or client served.
● The Protocol partners are committed to be a learning organization that adapts to the
contextual needs of the community.

As part of the implementation of the Community Threat Assessment protocol, partners commit
to ongoing participation in the process, staff development, and protocol review.

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The protocol is designed to enhance communication between all partners. It is incumbent upon
the partners to share necessary information that may initiate or facilitate a VTRA process.

The Community Threat Assessment Protocol Partners comprise the membership for the formal
Community Threat Assessment Committee (agency/program leads). This Committee will meet
annually to review an annual report prepared by the VTRA Steering Committee. This report
should contain such items as the successes and challenges of VTRA collaboration, as well as any
recommendations for revisions of the protocol. The annual report should also include statistical
data of VTRAs conducted.

The VTRA Steering Committee, sub-committee to the formal Community Threat Assessment
Committee, are pre-determined designates of the VTRA Committee and are the backbone of the
Community Threat Assessment Protocol. The sub-committee meets monthly between September
and June.

Each Protocol Partner will have an internal organization VTRA Team to facilitate the
organizational awareness of the Community Threat Assessment protocol and process.

Thresholds for Community Threat Assessment Protocol activation addressed in this protocol
include, but are not limited to:
● Serious violence or violence with intent to harm or kill
● Verbal/written threats to kill others (“clear, direct and plausible”)
● The use of technology (e.g.: computer, mobile phone) to communicate threats to
harm/kill others or cause serious property damage (e.g. “burn this office down”)
● Possession of weapons (including replicas)
● Bomb threats (making and/or detonating explosive devices)
● Fire setting
● Sexual intimidations and violence
● Chronic, pervasive, targeted bullying and/or harassment
● Gang related intimidation and violence
● Hate incidents motivated by factors including, but not limited to race, religion, and/or
sexual or gender diversity.

Working with Cultural Diversity

OHRC (Ontario Human Rights Commission) Policy will be the guide for this section of the
Protocol. The global pandemic, COVID-19 clearly brought forward the realization and
recognition that the most vulnerable groups are being disproportionately negatively impacted.

People with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, refugees, migrants, newcomers, international
students are all around us. That’s the nature of the increasingly diverse and beautiful world we
live in. Awareness of cultural diversity and appreciating the customs, lore, and codes of
behaviour of a particular cultural group and a way of conducting business will bring those
initiating the VTRA process to show respect to one another.

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Consent and Information Sharing

The four school boards and community partners are committed to the sharing of relevant
information to the extent authorized by law. The general intent of access to information and
protections of privacy legislation is to limit the sharing of personal information without the consent
of the person. Wherever possible and reasonable, informed consent should be obtained. For valid
informed consent, the individual should be aware of the purpose of the consent and understand the
consequences of the intended disclosure. The person must be made aware that the consent can be
withdrawn at any point in time by giving written or verbal notice.

It is vital to note, however, that legislation allows the release of personal information if there
is an imminent threat to health and safety. To make parent(s)/guardian(s), children/youth aware
of the protocol to be followed in such cases, the District School Boards will communicate the
District School Boards Risk Threat Assessment Fair Notice to families of all children and youth
at the beginning of every school year. This notification will also be posted permanently on the
District School Boards’ websites. Community partners will provide the Risk Threat Assessment
Fair Notice to parent(s)/guardian(s), children/youth during the intake session. The notification will
also be posted permanently on the Community Partners websites.

Prior to any violence threat/risk assessment protocol being implemented, all students, staff, and
parents should be provided with information about the protocol and procedures so that “fair
notice” is given that violence and threats of violence will not be tolerated. Partners need to take
the lead in presenting the protocol to ensure that students, clients, parents, guardians, and staff
are all aware that the Community Threat Assessment Protocol is a jurisdiction-wide policy and
that a consistent message is given regarding its use.

Commitment of Signed Partners:

Community Threat Assessment Protocol Partners are committed to the VTRA Process to provide
a helpful mechanism to create a safe and inviting community.

New protocol partners can sign on when they are able to commit to process.

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Une intervention concertée pour composer avec tout comportement menaçant
affiché par une personne préoccupant

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 Protocole communautaire d’évaluation de la menace

Une intervention concertée pour composer avec tout comportement menaçant affiché par une
personne préoccupante

L’édition de 2022 s’inspire du protocole élaboré par

un groupe de partenaires communautaires dévoués de la Ville du Grand Sudbury.

Le Protocole communautaire d’évaluation de la menace de 2022 renforce l’engagement pris

par les conseils de l’éducation et les partenaires communautaires à répondre aux besoins et
aux dynamiques en constante évolution de la région.

Avril 2022

4e édition

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 REMERCIEMENTS
Auteur principal de la 10e édition du protocole du NACTATR Développeur principal du
processus d’ÉMRV

J. Kevin Cameron
Directeur général, North American Center for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response (NACTATR)
M.Sc. R.S.W., B.C.E.T.S., B.C.S.C.R.
Expert agréé en stress post-traumatique ; médecin agrégé de la American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress

Importants collaborateurs à la 10e édition du Protocole du NACTATR : Darwin Skretting

Pat Rivard
Tom Connolly
Kerry Cameron
Theresa Campbell
Sherri Mohoruk

Auteur principal de la 4e édition du Protocole communautaire d’évaluation de la menace

Anna Maria Barsanti

Importants collaborateurs :
Sylvie Courchesne
Elaina Groves
Mary Jago
Nadine Helgason
Cst. Cheryl Kennelly
Cst. Robert Lewis
Joshua Negusanti
Carole Paquette
Geneviève Rivard
Chauntelle Wolff

Remerciements particuliers :
Aux personnes qui ont révisé le protocole Jason Seguin
Jackie Balleny
Lora Wright

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 Partenaires du protocole

• Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of the City of Greater Sudbury

• Cambrian College
• Canadian Mental Health Association – Sudbury/Manitoulin/Association canadienne pour la santé
mentale – Sudbury/Manitoulin
• Canadian Shield Health Care Services
• Children’s Community Network/Réseau communautaire pour enfants
• City of Greater Sudbury/Ville du Grand Sudbury
• Collège Boréal
• Compass / Boussole / Akii-Izhinoogan
• Conseil des Services du District de Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board
• Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario
• Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario
• Future North/ Futur du Nord
• Greater Sudbury Police Service/Les Services policiers du Grand Sudbury
• Health Sciences North/Horizon Santé-Nord - Mental Health and Addiction/Santé mentale et
toxicomania
• Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services
• Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services/ Ministère des Services à l’enfance et des
Services sociaux et communautaires
• N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre
• Nogdawindamin Family and Community Services
• Northern Youth Services Inc.
• Ontario Provincial Police/Police provinciale de l’Ontario - Manitoulin
• Ontario Provincial Police/Police provinciale de l’Ontario - Nipissing West,
• Rainbow District School Board
• Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre
• Sudbury Action Centre for Youth
• Sudbury and Area Victim Services/Services aux victimes du Grand Sudbury
• Sudbury Catholic District School Board
• Sudbury District Restorative Justice/Reparatrice du District de Sudbury
• The Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury & Manitoulin/La Société d’aide à l’enfance
des districts de Sudbury et de Manitoulin
• United Way Centraide North East Ontario/Nord-est de l’Ontario
• YMCA of Northeastern Ontario Employment Services & Immigrant Services/YMCA du Nord-Est de
l’Ontario Services d’emploi & Services aux immigrants

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Protocole communautaire d’évaluation de la menace

La 4e édition du Protocole communautaire d’évaluation de la menace est le reflet de

l’engagement permanent des partenaires à la collectivité. Tous les partenaires protocolaires
signataires, qui visent la mise en œuvre du processus d’évaluation des menaces et des risques de
violence (ÉMRV), sont au pied d’égalité, ce qui signifie qu’ils sont habilités à déclencher le
Protocole communautaire d’évaluation de la menace et à s’attendre à ce que les autres
partenaires appropriés participent au processus.

Notre vision

Tous les partenaires sont responsables de l’objectif du protocole et ont l’obligation commune de
prendre des mesures actives pour prévenir la violence.

Dans les situations où les données suggèrent qu’un enfant, un jeune ou un adulte peut représenter
un risque important pour lui-même ou pour autrui, les partenaires acceptent de travailler
ensemble dans le but commun de prévenir la violence, de gérer les menaces et de planifier la
sécurité en partageant des informations, des conseils et un soutien qui aident à réduire le danger.

Les partenaires s’engagent à collaborer dans l’intérêt de toute personne concernée (enfants,
jeunes ou adultes) dans le cadre du présent protocole pour :
• Établir des relations de travail collaboratives fondées sur le respect et la confiance
mutuels.
• Travailler de manière à promouvoir des pratiques sûres, bienveillantes et réparatrices
pour les écoles, les partenaires du protocole et la communauté.
• Donner la priorité aux stratégies de promotion, de prévention et d’intervention qui
démontrent leur efficacité à fournir un soutien et des services coordonnés et intégrés à la
personne concernée et, le cas échéant, à sa famille.
• Faire participer les familles des enfants et des jeunes à la planification des services et du
soutien.
• Reconnaître que chaque personne concernée a des forces et des besoins uniques dont il
faut tenir compte lors de l’élaboration des soutiens, des interventions et des services à
fournir.
• Comprendre que la réussite d’une collaboration exige de la persévérance et qu’il s’agit
d’un processus d’apprentissage, d’écoute et de compréhension.
• S’assurer que l’avis raisonnable des politiques et procédures concernant l’évaluation des
menaces et des risques de violence (ÉMRV) est fourni à tout le personnel des partenaires
protocolaires et aux étudiants, patients, clients et autres personnes desservis.

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Les partenaires protocolaires signataires s’engagent à ce que l’organisation soutienne un
apprentissage évolutif qui s’adapte aux besoins contextuels de la collectivité.

Dans le cadre de la mise en œuvre du Protocole communautaire d’évaluation de la menace, nous

nous engageons, en tant que partenaires, à :
• Participer sur une base continue au processus, au développement du personnel et à
la révision du manuel et du guide.
• Améliorer la communication entre tous les partenaires.
• Partager les informations nécessaires qui peuvent déclencher un processus
d’ÉMRV et en faciliter son déroulement.
• Fournir des ressources en personnel pour siéger en tant que membres des comités
et des équipes d’ÉMRV, qui constituent l’épine dorsale du partenariat.
• Disposer d’une équipe d’ÉMRV interne pour faciliter la sensibilisation de
l’organisation au Protocole communautaire d’évaluation de la menace.
• Reconnaître que les groupes les plus vulnérables sont touchés de manière
disproportionnée.
• Soutenir le respect des personnes d’origines raciales et ethniques diverses, des
réfugiés, des immigrants, des nouveaux arrivants et des étudiants étrangers par le
biais du processus d’ÉMRV.
• Partager des renseignements pertinents tels qu’autorisés par la loi avec le
consentement des intéressés.

L’engagement des partenaires signataires :

Chaque partenaire du Protocole communautaire d’évaluation de la menace reconnaît que le

processus d’ÉMRV représente un mécanisme vital à la création de communautés sécuritaires et
accueillantes.

De nouveaux membres s’ajouteront au protocole de temps en temps au moment de pouvoir s’y

engager sans pour autant modifier l’engagement des partenaires protocolaires signataires

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Mary Lou Hussak
Executive Director
United Way Centraide North East 2022-11-29
Ontario

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