A School Threat Assessment and Response Team (START) psychologist sat down with KHTS Tuesday to discuss how the team works to reduce acts of violence at schools throughout Los Angeles County, including Santa Clarita.

START is a team of mental health professionals throughout Los Angeles County who follow up on referrals made by law enforcement, schools, parents and people in the community regarding individuals who may be making threats towards schools or people, said Dr. Keyondria Bunch, a psychologist for START.

“Our focus is on preventing and assessing for potential school threats,” Bunch said.

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The types of calls that START responds to are ones of students who are making threats and show support of previous mass shootings, such as Columbine, according to officials.

“We have crisis teams that respond, and based on the information that they get there, if they believe that there is a (potential) for violence, meaning that that student could potentially go forward and carry out some kind of targeted school violence, the team will continue to follow up with that student, their family and the school until there is no longer a threat,” Bunch said.

When START receives tips about people possibly wanting to commit acts of violence, they don’t go alone, according to officials.

“One of the key things that we’ve found and we believe is really important is that it is a multiple disciplinary assessment intervention, so that the services are not happening in a vacuum,” Bunch said. “When we work with someone who we really believe could potentially be a threat of violence to a school or to the community, we work in conjunction with law enforcement, Sheriff’s Department, with the FBI, school district, with the school personnel and with the regional center, if necessary.”

Everyone involved in the student or child’s life is put in the same room so they can work together to provide help the student may need.

Within the last year, START has received funding by Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathyrn Barger to expand START from 15 members to 42 members, Bunch said.

START officials are hoping to see more counties throughout the state and country develop similar programs to help reduce the amount of violence throughout schools and their communities, Bunch said.

For information, call 800-854-7771.

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