Assessment
Data Collection
6th Edition Emphases
Outcomes
Other VTRA Concepts
100

The three primary hypotheses in VTRA

What is #1 Cry for Help, #2 Conspiracy of Two or More, #3 Fluidity?

100

ARTO three prong approach

What is

Screening ✑ Site-Specific Screening ✑ Initial Data Collection 

Stage one ✑ Micro Assessment ✑ TILI Interventions. 

Stage two ✑ Macro Assessment ✑ TILI Interventions

100

ARTO

What is Assessment of Risk to Others

100

Site-specific screening determination

What is

Decision NOT to continue:

  • Information is unsubstantiated, or
  • Other interventions may be more appropriate

Decision TO refer to Stage One ARTO (micro assessment)

  • VTRA leads are contacted, and the STAGE ONE team completes case specific data collection and ARTO Report form


100

Proactive and preventative protocol

What is

The VTRA model is an early INTERVENTION and PREVENTION and model

200

Pathway to Violence

What is "Serious violence is not a straight line: it is peaks and valleys."

200

Dangerousness

What is the composite of all four variables in JMCC language analysis related to how serious a violent act may be according to the information gathered in during the interview process.

200

ACEs 

What is Adverse Childhood Experiences

200

Micro assessment outcome

What is

determining if the threat maker actually poses a risk to the target or targets they have threatened

200

Multi-disciplinary approach

What is

multidisciplinary collaboration improves both assessment or risk and intervention planning

issues of safety trump confidentiality

300

Commitment

What is the degree of resolve an individual has to carry out a violent act.

300

JMCC

What is

J: Justification for the threat

M: Means to carry out the threat

C: Consequences weighed out

C: Conditions that could lower the level of risk

300

TILI

What is trauma-informed, least-intrusive interventions

300

ARTO  5 categories of risk

What is

- no risk

- worrisome behaviours

- low risk

- moderate risk

- high risk

- immediate risk

300

Suspensions

What is

- VTRA/ARTO trumps suspensions (should occur before suspension)

- students may be asked to stay home until a thorough assessment with a robust risk reducing plan is in place 

- if suspension is part of the risk reducing plan, a return to school/work plan will also be put into place

400

Under-Reaction

What is he biggest problem in the field of violence prevention is under-reaction to often blatant indicators that someone is moving on a pathway to serious violence.

400

Possible sources for initial screening interviews

What is

- reporter(s)                        - target(s)

- witnesses                         - IOC -

- co-conspirators                 - parents/caregivers

- friends/co-workers            - school staff

400

Equity and Inclusion Guided Practice 

What is requiring every professional and agency to "see ourselves as we are seen". This involves developing an understanding of how race, religion, gender, culture, sexual and gender diversity, etc., are experienced by the individuals and systems we are interacting with and attempting to support.

400

Macro assessment outcome

What is

- determining if an individual may pose a further risk to known or     unknown targets

- includes a more comprehensive evaluation of all risk reducing and risk enhancing factors affecting the individual and determines long-term intervention and treatment goals

400

Human Systems Theory

What is

- recognizes organizations function a systems and that system dynamics can be assessed through structure, function, and history

- recognizes the categories of Naturally Open, Naturally Close, Traumatically Open, and Traumatically Closed to help understand system dynamics

500

 PBAs

What is

Plausibility - the single most important variable in determining whether the threat should be taken seriously

Baseline Behaviour - the single most important variable to determine if the IOC is on a pathway to act out violently

Attack-Related Behaviours - the single most important ARTO Micro questions - is there any evidence the IOC has engaged in behaviours consistent with their threat

500

Possible sources for hard data collection

What is

- locker                                - backpack

- bedroom dynamic              - digital footprint

- writing, drawings, art         - desks

- vehicle                              - school assignments

- current/previous records    - online journals

500

Empowerment

What is empowerment of the IOC and their family to limit pathologizing and work within their beliefs with a case-specific standard of reasonable expectations for the safety and grow of self and others.

500

Matching Resources to Risk Matrix

What is 

assessing "baseline behaviour" and "level of risk" utilizing trauma-informed and equity & inclusion principals

500

VTRA and Neurodivergent Students

What is 

- Guidelines provided by CTIP in 2025 for consideration when supporting neurodivergent students. 

- Emphasis on the importance of multi-disciplinary teams around the table in the assessment of risk and planning for intervention