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U.S. National Counterterrorism Center and the Joint Counterterrorism Assessment Team
The
U.S. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) was founded after the September 11
th
terrorist attacks through the
passing of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The NCTC leads and integrates the national counterterrorism effort. It produces analysis, maintains the authoritative database of known and suspected terrorists, shares information, and conducts strategic operational planning. NCTC is staffed by more than 1,000 personnel, federal contractors, intelligence community members, and federal government employees. Forty percent of the total staff represent 20 different departments and agencies, a tribute to the recognition by the intelligence, homeland security, and law enforcement communities of NCTC's goal to merge counterterrorism efforts into one location.
NCTC also houses the Joint Counterterrorism Assessment Team (JCAT), the mission of which is to improve information sharing and enhance public safety. JCAT members are state, local, tribal, and territorial first responders and public safety professionals from around the country who work side-by-side with federal intelligence analysts from NCTC, Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to research, produce, and disseminate counterterrorism intelligence. JCAT works to:
- Produce clear, relevant federally-coordinated threat information on significant international terrorism or terrorism-related events that have the potential to impact local or regional public safety conditions in the U.S.
- Ensure terrorism-related information intended for state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) entities, including institutions of higher education, is presented in a usable format that is, to the extent possible, unclassified, to facilitate further dissemination.
- Advise and make recommendations to the intelligence community on how to tailor its products to satisfy the needs of SLTT consumers of intelligence.
- Conduct outreach to the intelligence community and strengthen partnerships with SLTT partners to further enhance the awareness and understanding of the SLTT role in counterterrorism.
- Maintain a working knowledge of relevant terrorism, homeland security, and weapons of mass destruction issues.
JCAT produces a number of
resources
for public safety personnel, including campus safety personnel, emergency management officials, or campus first responders who are responsible for these activities, such as the
Counterterrorism Guide for Public Safety Personnel
,
Intelligence Guide for First Responders
, and the Counterterrorism Digest, an
unclassified
compendium of international and domestic news focusing on CT information. The Counterterrorism Digest is produced by NCTC in collaboration with JCAT every Wednesday, and it includes relevant commentary on issues related to terrorism and CT. If you are interested in receiving the Counterterrorism Digest or one of the other "for official use only" publications, please contact
JCAT
.
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February 2019 Webinar Coming Up
Our February 19th webinar is just around the corner and there is still time to register!
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) on Campus
, led by guest presenter Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, director of the University of Vermont's (UVM) Spatial Analysis Laboratory and founder of the UVM UAS Team, will cover a variety of UAS topics including how to build a UAS program on campus.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or drones, are a revolutionary technology that is making it easier than ever to collect information from above the Earth's surface. For colleges and universities, UAS technology is offering exciting new opportunities for carrying out research, inspecting campus infrastructure, and improving safety on campus. UAS also pose a number of challenges, particularly on issues relating to federal regulations, privacy, and responsible use. Jarlath will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of UAS technology, from the operating platforms, sensors, and back-end analytics to the regulatory environment and campus policies. He will also discuss how UAS are used in action from disaster response and public safety efforts to traffic monitoring, infrastructure, and environmental research.
Register
by our deadline, Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 1:00 PM ET.
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View the new SPRC video series. |
Strategic Communication Planning for Suicide Prevention
Last week, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) released a new video series on strategic communication planning for suicide prevention. Strategic planning is key to developing effective communication materials for suicide prevention. Adapted from SPRC's Strategic Communication Workshop Series, the videos include free, downloadable worksheets to help you put these skills into practice in your community and on your campus. This series is available on YouTube and includes the following five-to-six-minute webinar clips:
This video features Kerri Nickerson, SPRC director of grantee and state initiatives, who discusses the importance of strategic communication planning and addresses questions such as: Does it make sense to use communication as part of your suicide prevention strategy? How can you best use your limited resources? Kerri also talks about how to identify primary and secondary audiences, the need for outlining key planning steps, and tying messaging to clear goals in a strategy. Download the accompanying worksheet on
developing your communication plan
(PDF).
Stephanie Craig Rushing
, project director at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, presents on how the We R Native campaign engages its target audience, tribal youth, to develop messaging that resonates with them. Stephanie goes over the development process for creating a social marketing campaign that focuses on campaign goals and objectives. Understanding your audience is an important step in communication planning. Use this
worksheet
(PDF) to better understand your target audience and develop a message that is aligned with the values and priorities of the people you want to reach.
In this video, Robert Cottingham
, suicide prevention trainer/coordinator at the South Carolina Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative, talks about engaging your audience in the planning process. He goes on to discuss incorporating cultural considerations into your work, using inclusive language, and considering your audience when choosing which platforms and outlets to use. Robert talks about reaching your target audience and methods the South Carolina Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative has used to evaluate this metric.
In the final video, Rajeev Ramchand
, senior behavioral scientist at RAND Corporation, speaks on evaluating communication efforts, specifically in regards to distinguishing between outputs and outcomes. Outputs are the amount, quality, or volume of good or services provided by the program. Outcomes are the changes in the target population expected as a result of engaging in the program activities. He also discusses measures to use to monitor campaign success and reach. The worksheet on evaluating your communication efforts (PDF) will walk you through some guiding questions to help you develop an evaluation plan.
Visit the SPRC's strategic communication planning webpage for additional resources that include a framework for successful messaging, a guide to creating linguistically and culturally competent suicide prevention materials, an archived strategic communication workshop series, and an interactive communications toolkit.
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Professional Development Opportunities
Title: College Prescription Drug Study
Organization: Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse and Recovery
Date: February 20, 2019 at 2:00 PM ET
Location: Online
Fee: Free
Title: Law Enforcement Response to Individuals with Mental Health Disorders Train the Trainer
Organizations: Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and Niagara University
Dates and Locations:
- March 5-6, 2019 in Norfolk, VA
- March 7-8, 2019 in Spotsylvania, VA
Fee: Free
Title: Public Information in an All-Hazards Incident (MGT318)
Organization: Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
Dates: April 3-4, 2019
Location: Spirit Lake, IA
Fee: Free
For additional trainings and events, access our searchable
online calendar.
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Virtual Professional Development
Through our Virtual Professional Development initiative, you can access free, online educational opportunities.
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Campus Public Safety Online
Learn about our free webinar series, register for upcoming webinars, and view archived recordings on demand.
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Emerging Issues Forum Reports
Download, print, and share findings from critical issues forums of campus public safety leaders, subject matter experts, and practitioners.
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