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    Governor's Office of Homeland Security

    Securing Areas for Families, Establishments, and Recreation (SAFER) Strategy

    Review Pennsylvania’s SAFER Strategy, a statewide plan focused on preventing targeted violence and terrorism.

    Overview

    Today’s threats go beyond traditional terrorism. They can include violence in schools and workplaces, attacks on houses of worship, political violence, insider threats, and other acts of violence driven by personal grievances.

    The SAFER Strategy provides a roadmap for strengthening prevention efforts already underway across Pennsylvania. It brings together government agencies, law enforcement, schools, healthcare and behavioral health professionals, faith-based organizations, private businesses, and community partners to work toward shared goals.

    SAFER is built on the principle that violence can often be prevented when warning signs are recognized early, people have access to the right help and resources, and communities know where and how to report concerns. The strategy supports prevention at every stage—from public education and community preparedness to Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM), as well as learning from incidents when they do occur.

    To support this work, the strategy focuses on five main goals:

    • Build community awareness and resilience through education, outreach, and trusted ways to report concerns.
    • Strengthen Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) across Pennsylvania.
    • Improve communication, coordination, and information sharing among partners.
    • Help vulnerable individuals by strengthening community-based resources and support.
    • Support long-term success through funding, evaluation, and continued improvement.

    What SAFER Means for Pennsylvania

    Through SAFER, the Office of Homeland Security and its partners are working to improve Pennsylvania’s ability to recognize concerning behavior, connect people and communities with the right resources, and take action before a concern escalates to violence.

    This includes expanding education and training, strengthening threat assessment and management, improving connections between public and private partners, and helping communities find and use prevention resources. SAFER also connects and strengthens work already happening across Pennsylvania by building on existing programs, partnerships, expertise, and local resources.

    Preventing targeted violence is a shared responsibility. By strengthening connections among communities, schools, law enforcement, behavioral health, healthcare, government, private businesses, faith-based organizations, and other partners, Pennsylvania can create more opportunities to recognize concerns early and take meaningful action.

    Through SAFER, Pennsylvania is building a stronger, more connected approach to preventing targeted violence.