Five organizations will receive over $2 million from the Department of Justice to address school violence in Arizona, U.S. Attorney Michael Bailey announced Friday.  The grants are part of STOP School Violence, a program of the Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance, is designed to improve school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to and help prevent acts of violence.

The organizations receiving the funds are: the Tempe Union School District, the Wickenburg Unified School District, the Page Unified School District, the Casa Blanca Community School, and the Santa Cruz County School Superintendent’s Office. 

Some of the money will be used to develop threat assessment and intervention teams and operate anonymous reporting systems for threats of school violence. Other portions can be used to educate students on preventing school violence through programs such as anti-bullying training. 

The Santa Cruz and Wickenburg organizations can also use the funds for specialized training for school officials to respond to mental health crises.