PBSO provides an informative look into Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (C.R.A.S.E). The CRASE presentation is designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend (ADD) plan by Texas State University. ADD provides strategies and guidance for surviving an active shooter or active aggressive event. Topics will include the history and prevalence of active shooter events, civilian response options, mindset, medical issues and responses, and 9-1-1 overviews. The PBSO Threat Assessment Unit members are trained instructors in CRASE. What is CRASE? What is the difference between "Avoid Deny Defend" and "Run Hide Fight?" Many schools and businesses prefer the terminology of Avoid Deny Defend, because it is more in line with their human resources department and educational standards. They believe that "Avoid" is a more palatable word than "Run," because "Run" disenfranchises those who are unable to physically run. "Deny," as in denying access to your location, is a stronger word than "Hide" and while "Fight" is an action that is forbidden on most school campuses, "Defend" is a last resort safeguard, a right and an opportunity to guard against life-threatening action. Ultimately, whichever plan you use, we encourage you to have a plan - and be aware of your surroundings, be safe, and know that What You Do Matters.

Assignments Managers get hundreds of emails every day—and if your news release doesn’t grab attention right away, it’s likely headed straight to the trash bin. In this powerful session, Sandy Collier, PR strategist and communications expert, shows nonprofit leaders how to craft compelling news releases that rise above the noise and inspire real community engagement. Learn how to find the story in your mission, write headlines that hook journalists, and position your organization for meaningful press coverage. Walk away with actionable strategies to make your next announcement not just newsworthy — but unforgettable.

Key Takeaways: The difference between free speech and job-protected speech—and why it matters How to assess the impact of employee expression on your mission, operations, and team dynamics Steps to ensure fair, consistent enforcement of workplace policies across all viewpoints How to train managers to intervene neutrally and avoid injecting personal politics into the workplace What legal protections exist for off-duty conduct, and how to avoid missteps in discipline Whether your organization is responding to internal tensions or proactively preparing for future challenges, this session will help you build a thoughtful, legally sound approach to employee speech. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to: ✅ Audit and update policies on political expression, social media, and dress codes ✅ Train managers to handle political tensions respectfully and neutrally ✅ Monitor enforcement for bias and consistency ✅ Prepare for protest-related absences and disruptions ✅ Seek legal counsel early in high-risk or high-visibility situations

Workshop Goals: Examine evidence for why plain language matters. (State and federal plain language directives, readability, accessibility, etc.) Identify common barriers to understanding, such as industry jargon and academic phrasing that may alienate or confuse your audience. Practice rewriting real examples from your organization’s materials to make them more conversational, welcoming, and impactful.

What It Covers Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges. Common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges. How to interact with a person in crisis. How to connect a person with help. Expanded content on trauma, substance use and self-care.