FOCUS: A Smarter Way to See Student Risk Before Crisis
Universal student screening that helps Georgia districts meet HB 268 and BTAM expectations—while supporting every student's wellbeing.
FOCUS is a 25-item self-report universal screener with adaptive follow-up for self harm risk and behavior threat assessment designed for all students in grades 6-12. The screener takes only 10-15 minutes to complete and is designed to proactively identify and support students at-risk.
How FOCUS Works
A simple, 10–15 minute online screener for all students (Grades 6–12) that provides immediate, actionable insights.
Screen Everyone
25-item universal self-report screener
Auto-Flag Risk
Adaptive targeted assessments triggered
Route to Team
Instant notification to BTAM/Counseling
Safety Plans
Structured support and management
Three Critical Adaptive Triggers
When specific items are flagged, FOCUS automatically expands into targeted follow-ups:
Self-Harm Risk Assessment (SRA)
Immediate evaluation of immediate safety concerns.
Behavior Threat Assessment – Witnessed (BTA‑W)
Captures reports of threats seen or heard by students.
Behavior Threat Assessment – Propensity (BTA‑P)
Identifies individual ideation and preparation patterns.
10-15
Minutes to complete on any device
Empowering Georgia Districts
FOCUS isn't just a survey; it's a comprehensive data backbone designed to meet the specific legislative and safety requirements of Georgia schools.
Built for BTAM
- Flags self-harm and witnessed threats early.
- Clear low/moderate/high indicators for priority.
- Feeds directly into NTAC-style assessments.
Supports HB 268 Requirements
- Provides objective data for school safety plans.
- Helps document structured threat management.
- Meets behavioral health reporting mandates.
Advances Suicide Prevention
- Identifies students with silent ideation.
- Connects students to counselors immediately.
- Reduces time between risk and intervention.
MTSS, PBIS, and Equity
- Inform Tier 1 climate work with real data.
- Confidential self-report reduces bias.
- Surface needs of overlooked students.
Identification of at-risk students compared to traditional referrals.
Average time to connect identified students with services.
Validated by Research, Refined by Practice
"Universal screening systematically identifies students with self-harm thoughts, exposure to threats, or violent ideation and connects them to support teams quickly."
- Adaptive screening models reduce survey burden while maintaining or improving validity across diverse student populations.
- Integrates research on internalizing/externalizing risk, school climate, and threat assessment into a single workflow.
Implementation in Your District
A seamless integration into your existing workflows.
Universal Administration
Twice or three times per year, students complete FOCUS during advisory or homeroom. It's fast, confidential, and works on any device.
Immediate Response
High‑risk SRA/BTA results trigger same‑day follow-up. Counselors and BTAM teams receive instant alerts with clear response matrices.
Informed Planning
Climate and risk data inform PBIS/RTI planning. Data is readily available for mandated HB 268 school safety plan updates.
FOCUS is a decision-support tool designed to provide objective data for multidisciplinary teams. It is intended to augment, not replace, the professional judgment of your school safety and mental health professionals.
Ready to Strengthen Your District's Safety Backbone?
FOCUS gives Georgia districts the data they need to meet HB 268 expectations and keep students safer—without overwhelming staff.
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