Iowa Hawkeye-Security to Sponsor Safer Schools Seminar in Minn.

West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hawkeye-Security Insurance, a member of Liberty Mutual Group, announced today that it will host its first, free Safer Schools Seminar on Wednesday, April 18th at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. from 9 a.m. to 4p.m.

School violence and sexual abuse are ongoing concerns for school administrators, students, parents and the communities in which they live and learn. Michael Dorn, an expert in school violence prevention and founder of Safe Havens International, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting schools throughout the world institute best practice school safety plans, will deliver a series of presentations on this topic.

Attendees will also hear from Pam Church, founder of Childhelp’s Good Touch-Bad Touch. For more than 20 years, this nationally recognized abuse prevention program has provided curriculum and training to more than 6,000 educators in order to present children with positive, non-threatening, and practical information and skills so they can play a significant role in the prevention or interruption of sexual abuse and bullying.

Safe Havens International and Childhelp’s Good Touch-Bad Touch are members of the Safety Advantage Network, a group of subject-matter and service specialists that supplement Hawkeye-Security Insurance’s premier school loss prevention services.

“The Safety Advantage Network gives schools access to proven products, services, and expertise aimed at lessening safety and security threats,” said David L. Lancaster, president and chief executive officer, Hawkeye-Security Insurance. “Insuring schools is much more than providing coverage. The professionals at this seminar share our belief that creating a culture of safety in schools is a continuing and cooperative commitment. This forum allows school officials, law enforcement, and the Safety Advantage Network specialists to interact and understand each district’s preparedness and needs.”

Dorn will discuss the comprehensive school safety-planning model used by more than 8,000 public and private schools throughout the nation. He will address realistic anti-terrorism measures, emergency preparedness, weapons in schools, crisis planning, access control measures, the consequences of school bullying, and school hazard and vulnerability assessments.

Polling by Safe Havens International of educators and law enforcement officials in all 50 states indicates that fewer than 10 percent of school systems have safety plans in accordance with best practice models. Despite this, school violence is not the greatest day-to-day threat to students’ safety.

“More students will be injured on school playgrounds or unsecured facilities and equipment on a regular basis than in violent or crisis situations. That’s why hazard and vulnerability assessments are absolutely critical in an overall safety plan,” said Sandy Smith, loss prevention manager, Hawkeye-Security Insurance.

To register for the free Safer School Seminar presented by Hawkeye-Security Insurance, contact Carol Kollings at carol.kollings@hawkeyesecurity-ins.com or register by phone by calling 800-747-7833, ext. 3772, or by fax to 877-284-0373.

Hawkeye-Security Insurance offers property and casualty products, including a comprehensive set of personal and commercial coverage, distributed only through appointed independent agents in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin and commercial insurance in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

Source: Hawkeye-Security Insurance