Abstract
The intersection of social work and school safety has received limited attention in academic literature. This banded dissertation explores social work’s longstanding commitment to public safety and its potential to strengthen efforts in school safety and prevent targeted school violence. By analyzing conceptual frameworks and historical research on the relationship between social work and public safety, the study proposes a comprehensive framework for integrating social workers into multidisciplinary approaches aimed at enhancing school safety. Particular emphasis is placed on the Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) model for K-12 schools. This dissertation seeks to provide a foundational reference for advancing strategies to prevent targeted school violence and fostering safer educational environments.