Community conversations event allows parents to ask about student’s school safety

Members of the community will gather at Kofa’s High School Auditorium Tuesday from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

Yuma Union High School District is hosting its first Community Conversation of the school year.

The event will be third in its series of public conversations that will open up topics of conversation regarding high school education and the community.

The previous community conversations event focused on school safety and the emergency processes on campus and YUHSD’s reaction to those situations.

An expert in health and threat assessment will lead the presentation.

Keynote speaker, school safety expert, clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Joel Dvoskin will provide a presentation about rising concerns within our schools.

Dvoskin will discuss topics such as school safety and mental health practices which will provide the community with tools that can be shared.

Eric Patten, with YUHSD, says parents often ask how the school responds in certain situations, which Dr. Dvoskin will be able to explain.

Some broader questions may include “what is the best practices for social media in the event of an emergency,” Patten said.

If a student seems to be struggling with mental health issues, parents will be able to get a better understanding of the signs their students may show because of that struggle.

“We’ve seen the connection in some cases to mental health and violence and that is something we will be able to hear more about,” Patten said.

Families throughout Yuma county are encouraged to attend even if you are a parent of a student in elementary or middle school.

Even if threats do not occur at a certain elementary or middle school, those students may have older siblings that go through these situations.

“The important thing is that parents, or members of the community in general, can all be a part in helping identify threats, and act on that, the more awareness we have the easier it will be to solve the problem,” Patten said.

After the presentation, there will be a portion allowing the audience to ask questions.

Any questions about school safety or mental health will be answered by Dr. Dvoskin; however, other faculty will be available to answer other questions regarding academics, classes etc.