What We Do
Expert‑led school safety services.
At no cost to schools.
Every Northern Star service is free to qualifying schools and communities, underwritten by donors and sponsors who believe no school should face a safety crisis alone. All services follow our evidence‑based Five‑Step Methodology and are delivered by credentialed coalition members.
- Free to Schools
- Evidence‑Based
- Veteran Founded
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
School Safety Audit
For: K–12 schools, charter schools, private schools, higher education campuses, houses of worship, community facilities
A written vulnerability assessment covering physical security, access control, lighting, environmental design (CPTED), campus perimeter, and technology infrastructure — with specific, prioritized recommendations your district can act on immediately.
- DeliverableWritten vulnerability assessment report
- TimelineSite visit within [X] weeks · Report within [X] weeks of visit
- CostFree — underwritten by Northern Star donors & sponsors
Community Safety Plan Development
For: School districts, municipal governments, community organizations, faith communities, neighborhood coalitions
A customized, written School Safety Plan or Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) developed through our Five‑Step Methodology — co‑developed with your stakeholders, not imposed on them. Covers physical security, policy framework, social‑emotional learning infrastructure, and crisis response protocols.
- DeliverableFull written Safety Plan or EOP
- Timeline[X–X] weeks depending on community size
- IncludesCST & ART facilitated workgroup sessions
- CostFree — underwritten by Northern Star donors & sponsors
Social‑Emotional Learning (SEL) Training
For: Teachers, school counselors, administrators, paraprofessionals, coaches, and community youth workers
Structured, curriculum‑driven training in conflict resolution, trauma‑informed communication, emotional intelligence, trust‑building, cultural awareness, managing critical incidents, and building positive school culture. Each session is led by credentialed Northern Star coalition members.
- FormatsFull‑day PD · Half‑day · Lunch & Learn (1–2 hrs)
- CustomMulti‑session programs for district‑wide rollouts
- CostSubsidized or free for qualifying underserved schools
LEAD Ambassador Program
For: High school students, Grades 9–12, in partner schools and districts
A 32‑week, evidence‑based extracurricular leadership program that trains students in school safety, trauma‑informed peer support, civic leadership, and behavioral threat recognition. Graduates earn the LEAD Ambassador credential — recognized by partner law enforcement agencies, public health departments, and civic organizations.
- IncludesStructured curriculum + 8 practitioner guest sessions
- OutcomePortfolio‑based assessment + civil service career pathway
- ResearchCASEL SEL Framework · RAND · CDC youth violence guidelines
- Citations27 peer‑reviewed sources
Crisis Management & Leadership Training
For: School administrators, district leadership teams, law enforcement partners, community emergency coordinators
Structured training in Critical Incident Leadership — including Incident Command System (ICS) integration, crisis communication, rumor management, parent notification protocols, and post‑incident recovery planning. Includes tabletop exercises and scenario‑based simulation.
- FormatTabletop exercises + scenario‑based simulation
- CoversICS · Crisis comms · Parent notification · Recovery planning
- CostContact us for subsidized offerings for underserved districts
Congregation & Community Emergency Planning
For: Houses of worship, faith communities, community centers, neighborhood organizations
Customized emergency preparedness planning for faith‑based and community gathering spaces. Includes site vulnerability assessment, active threat response planning, communication protocols, and training for congregation members and staff — based on Northern Star's published Congregation Emergency Planning Guide.
- DeliverableCustomized emergency preparedness plan
- IncludesSite assessment + active threat planning + comms protocols
- CostFree assessments available for qualifying faith communities
Our Methodology
Evidence‑Based. Community‑Centered. Yours to Keep.
Every Northern Star engagement follows the same five‑step methodology — built around your community's specific data, not a generic template. The process is collaborative, research‑grounded, and designed to produce a safety plan your district owns and can implement independently.
Data Collection
We compile GIS‑mapped community and school data including demographics, crime trends, socio‑economic indicators, and physical risk factors — giving your team a precise picture of where vulnerabilities actually exist, not where we assume they do.
Team Formation
We build your Core Safety Team (CST) and Advisory Resource Team (ART) — inclusive groups representing educators, community members, law enforcement, and mental health professionals. The people who know your community lead the process.
Problem‑Based Learning
Teams research your specific safety challenges and develop evidence‑based recommendations — from gun violence patterns to teacher retention to mental health infrastructure. Solutions come from your community, grounded in peer‑reviewed research.
Plan Development
Your CST builds a customized safety plan covering physical security upgrades, policy reform, mental health infrastructure, and social‑emotional learning strategies. Every recommendation is specific, prioritized, and actionable — not a generic checklist.
Implementation & Monitoring
We train your teams, support rollout, and build an annual review cycle — so your plan evolves as your community does. Evaluated using the Kirkpatrick Model, aligned to federal grant reporting standards.