Safety and Security Resources for Congregations

WEBINAR | ESTABLISHING A CULTURE OF SECURITY WITHIN RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS

This webinar provides details and resources on how to build an effective security program within their institutions that takes an all-hazards approach. Topics covered include: The importance of conducting physical and cybersecurity assessments, the impact of online misinformation, unconventional threats facing communities of faith, security standards and principles, suspicious activity reporting, security plans, staff training, and other relevant topics. This is an initiative of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago in partnership with the Rutgers University Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience and its partners at the US Department of Homeland Security.

Note: This presentation offers a foundation in best practices for protecting places of worship and other faith institutions. It does not constitute a complete or sufficient plan. Faith communities must design a specific plan to meet their own distinct needs. This presentation does not endorse any specific plan nor certify any participant as a security expert. 

WEBINAR | THE DHS NONPROFIT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is one of several grant programs that constitute the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) DHS/Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) focus on enhancing the ability of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as nonprofits, to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by the DHS to help strengthen the nation’s faith communities by improving their physical security measures. ​The presentation provides an overview of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) DHS/Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). This is an initiative of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Rutgers Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience. 

Note: This presentation offers a foundation in best practices for protecting places of worship and other faith institutions. It does not constitute a complete or sufficient plan. Faith communities must design a specific plan to meet their own distinct needs. This presentation does not endorse any specific plan nor certify any participant as a security expert. 

SECURITY PLANNING RESOURCES

If You See Something, Say Something (Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security, EMRS) 
https://cookcountyemergencymanagement.org/if-you-see-something-say-something
Developing High Quality Emergency Operation Plans for Houses of Worship (Federal Emergency Management Authority, FEMA)
https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/33007
Nationwide SAR (Suspicious Activity Reporting) Initiative (NSI) (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
https://www.dhs.gov/nsi
Facility Self-Assessment Tool (New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, NJOHSP)
ttps://static1.squarespace.com/static/54d79f88e4b0db3478a04405/t/5c3e22af898583ec9bab10ae/1547575983886/Facility+Self+Assessment+Tool+January+2019.pdf
COVID-19 Response (Rutgers University Institute for Secure Communities) 
​https://risc.rutgers.edu/cpr/covid19

LINKS FOR VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS

 Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment Guide (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Faith%20Based%20Community%20Self-Assessment%20User%20Guide_508.pdf
Vulnerability Assessment Information - Hometown Security (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
www.dhs.gov/hometown-security
State Administrative Agency Contact List (Federal Emergency Management Authority, FEMA)
www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/28689?id=6363
National Preparedness Goal  (Federal Emergency Management Authority, FEMA)
www.fema.gov/national-preparedness-goal  
Authorized Equipment List (Section 14&15) (Federal Emergency Management Authority, FEMA) 
www.fema.gov/authorized-equipment-list 
Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Information | DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Revision 01, FEMA Directive 108-1 and FEMA Instruction 108-1-1 (Federal Emergency Management Authority, FEMA) 
​www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/90195
DHS Center for Faith & Opportunity Initiatives
www.fema.gov/faith
DHS Critical Infrastructure Vulnerability Assessments - DHS Vulnerability Assessments
www.cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-vulnerability-assessments