Before 2005, Behavioral Intervention Teams (BITs) were relatively rare, and the concept was still in its early stages. Most college and university campuses had Student of Concern teams and ad hoc response groups. These efforts, while well-intentioned, were fragmented and lacked consistency, structure, or a unified approach to addressing complex behavioral challenges.
The foundation for what is now TNG began to take shape in 2005. That year, I introduced the concept of BITs at several conferences and established one of the first formal team-based models for early intervention in higher education on the campus where I was serving as an administrator.
The urgency of this work became undeniable after the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007. The tragedy galvanized institutions nationwide to reassess their prevention and response systems. It marked a defining moment that accelerated the adoption of more coordinated, proactive approaches to threat assessment and behavioral intervention.
By 2009, nearly a decade of development and practical experience had culminated in the piloting and refinement of BITs on my home campus and through collaborations with other colleges and universities. Alongside colleague Brett A. Sokolow, J.D., and other partners at TNG (formerly the NCHERM Group), we leveraged our experience to establish the National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (NABITA). Our goal was to bring structure, visibility, and professional standards to the previously invisible, uncoordinated, and often reactive work of early intervention and threat assessment.
Today, NABITA is a vibrant national community with more than 9,000 members. Through training, research, and peer support, we’ve helped redefine how both K-12 and higher education institutions promote student well-being, assess risk, and address behavioral concerns. We’ve lost count of the number of successful interventions accomplished by teams that NABITA has helped form, but it is in the thousands. Violence has been prevented; lives have been saved. BITs are effective, and we are all better off because of them.
Trusted in the Toughest Moments
NABITA’s commitment to student care is reflected in the ways institutions lean on us during their most critical moments. From establishing regular meetings and defining core team structures to creating shared objective rubrics, we offer clarity, confidence, and reassurance to teams managing low-level behaviors, ensuring they are well-prepared when they turn to additional NABITA tools for high-stakes decisions.
When a student is in crisis or a threat to safety is unfolding, schools reach out, whether it’s a potential student suicide or an active shooter. In those moments, our role goes beyond providing tools and protocols. Teams often ask, “Did we get this right? Are we doing enough?” More often than not, the answer is yes; they’re following the correct steps.
Having navigated numerous crises, TNG consultants bring calm, focused expertise that helps teams see the paths forward. But our support doesn’t end when the immediate danger subsides. We support clients through the aftermath, providing counseling, community outreach, and managing the long-term ripple effects that often follow a crisis.
Building a Culture of Prevention
A college in Wisconsin stands out as an example of shifting from crisis management to proactive prevention. They reached out to us when a student was in serious distress. Together, we conducted a risk assessment, created a response plan, and ensured the student received the help they needed, without harm to themselves or others.
This collaboration evolved into an ongoing partnership, driven by a shared understanding of the value of preparation in preventing crises. When schools engage with us regularly through training and consulting, they’re not just putting out fires; they’re reducing the chances of one ever starting.
From the beginning, we recognized that NABITA offered more than BIT frameworks. The professionals involved in this work came from different fields, including counseling, law enforcement, student conduct, and housing. They were doing emotionally demanding work, but they were doing it in silos.
For many, NABITA started to become a form of group therapy where someone could say, “You too? I thought we were the only ones.” That sense of solidarity, connection, and belonging, of realizing you’re not alone, is one of the things I’m most proud of. We have worked to grow and strengthen this community nationwide, fostering connections not only within individual institutions but also across them.
Setting the Standard and Keeping It
NABITA continually refines and updates tools to align with the latest research and industry trends. We ensure they remain evidence-based, legally sound, and aligned with the needs of practitioners. This approach ensures we remain both compliant and relevant. When you help define the standard, your responsibility is to keep raising it, and we do, with the help and guidance of countless partners, professionals, and institutions.
Meanwhile, NABITA continues our mission to empower schools and institutions with tools to intervene early, assess threats accurately, and foster safety effectively. As social media, artificial intelligence, and algorithm-driven echo chambers are rapidly reshaping the threat landscape, our mission continues, with new challenges and deeper partnerships.
Best Practices for 25 Years
If you’re already in the boiling water, NABITA helps you cool it down. If you’re already incorporating best practices, we’ll help you maintain them. After 25 years, we remain grounded in partnership and driven by purpose, ready for whatever comes next. We love the work we do, and we know it truly matters. Lives are genuinely positively altered and saved by the work we do with and for you.
Thank you for your partnership, for being part of the TNG and NABITA family, and for your long-term support.
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