How We Work
A methodology built on data,
not assumptions.
Every Northern Star engagement follows the same five‑step process — GIS‑mapped, community‑driven, and evaluated using the Kirkpatrick Model. Built on 27+ peer‑reviewed sources and aligned to federal grant standards, our approach produces safety plans your district owns and can implement independently.
- GIS‑Mapped Data
- 27+ Peer‑Reviewed Sources
- Kirkpatrick Evaluation
- Federal Grant Aligned
The Research Behind the Work
Evidence‑based isn’t a tagline. It’s a requirement.
Northern Star's methodology draws from 27+ peer‑reviewed sources across criminology, public health, educational psychology, and trauma‑informed practice. Every recommendation we make is grounded in research that grant reviewers, school administrators, and law enforcement partners can verify.
CASEL SEL Framework
Social‑Emotional Learning curriculum design aligned to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning standards.
RAND Corporation Research
Youth empowerment and school safety research informing the LEAD Ambassador Program design and community engagement strategy.
CDC Youth Violence Prevention
Prevention guidelines and YRBS data informing Northern Star's threat recognition training, behavioral assessment, and intervention protocols.
GIS‑Mapped Data Collection
Geographic Information System mapping of community demographics, crime trends, and risk factors — giving every engagement a precise, data‑driven foundation.
CPTED — 2nd Generation
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, including Second Generation CPTED principles advising physical security assessments across all school and community sites.
Kirkpatrick Evaluation Model
Four‑level training evaluation framework used to measure reaction, learning, behavior, and results — providing the documented outcomes required by BJA, SAMHSA, and DHS grant reviewers.
Put the Methodology to Work
The five steps work because they start with your community, not ours.
Every engagement is built around your specific data, your stakeholders, and your community’s unique risk factors. The result is a safety plan you own — not one you depend on us to maintain.