I want to pass on this important reminder from the Nationwide SAR Initiative (NSI) regarding faith-based events and houses of worship, such as churches, synagogues, and mosques, which are inherently welcoming, with open access and publicly announced schedules for religious services and special events.

However, as recent events have shown, this welcoming nature can pose risks. An open environment where a significant number of people of the same faith congregate regularly at specified times to worship, study, celebrate special events, commemorate days of significance, and host public gatherings presents unique security challenges. Members of the nation’s faith-based organizations and houses of worship can take steps to proactively reduce risks and provide safe, secure, and resilient places of worship and faith-based gatherings. The NSI is a standardized process—including stakeholder outreach, privacy protections, training, and facilitation of technology—for identifying and reporting suspicious activity in jurisdictions across the country and also serves as the unified focal point for sharing Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) information.

The NSI and its partner agencies will engage the faith-based community in an effort to bolster emergency preparedness efforts and to foster best practices to keep faith-based events and houses of worship safe. Informed, alert communities—including clergy, lay leaders, congregants, and visitors to places of worship—play a critical role in keeping our nation safe.

DHS’s “If You See Something, Say Something™” https://www.dhs.gov/see-something-say-something campaign is an effective program to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime and to emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper local law enforcement authorities. The campaign has also initiated partnerships with faith-based organizations to help engage religious leaders and congregants with the message of vigilance in identifying and reporting indicators of terrorism and other threats. Both the “If You See Something, Say Something™” campaign and the NSI underscore the concept that homeland security begins with hometown security, where an alert public plays a critical role in keeping our nation safe.

In addition I would like to take this opportunity to provide organizations with the following links to free available resources, including grant and reimbursement information for both physical and cybersecurity.

The first link, below, provides information about the latest NJOHSP Homeland Security Grant Program: 

NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS

Grants Management Bureau FY2018

Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP/UASI)

Project Proposal Guidelines:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54d79f88e4b0db3478a04405/t/5a313512652dea593913c519/1513174291587/FY18+Project+Proposal+12-8-17.pdf 

Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Developing_EOPs_ for_Houses_of_Worship_FINAL.PDF

Resources to Protect Your House of Worship

https://www.fema.gov/faith-resources 

Protecting Houses of Worship Event Resource Guide

https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=790107 

Safeguarding Houses of Worship

https://www.justnet.org/resources/Houses_of_Worship.html 

Praise & Preparedness Initiative

http://www.praise.ga.gov/

Houses of Worship Security Practices Guide

https://www.illinois.gov/ready/plan/Documents/DHS_Houses_of_ Worship_Security_Practices_Guide.pdf

NSI Safety for Faith-Based Events and Houses of Worship

https://nsi.ncirc.gov/documents/Safety_for_Faith_Based_Events_and_Houses_of_Worship_NSI_Awareness_Flyer.pdf 

DHS Community Engagement, Outreach, and Training Resources

http://www.dhs.gov/community-outreach-and-training 

Protective Security Advisors, DHS Infrastructure Protection

http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1265310793722.shtm 

FEMA Management Institute Training Resources

http://www.training.fema.gov/EMI 

FEMA Guide for All-Hazards Emergency Operations Planning

http://www.fema.gov/pdf/plan/slg101.pdf 

Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101

http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1828-25045-0014/cpg_101_comprehensive_preparedness_guide_developing_and_maintaining_emergency_operations_plans_2010.pdf 

Community Preparation Through the Hometown Security Program

https://www.dhs.gov/hometown-security 

DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Community Engagement Section

http://www.dhs.gov/crcl 

U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service

http://www.justice.gov/crs/index.html 

FBI, Information on Hate Crimes

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/civilrights/hate_crimes/hate_crimes/ 

Secure Community Network

https://scnus.org/institutional-security 

Christian Emergency Network

http://www.christianemergencynetwork.org/ 

National Disaster Interfaith Network

http://www.n-din.org/ 

Active Shooter in a House of Worship

http://www.n-din.org/ndin_resources/tipsheets_v1208/07_NDIN_TS_ActiveShooter.pdf 

Recommended Best Practices for Securing Houses of Worship

https://www.asisonline.org/About-ASIS/Documents/SecuringHOWs.pdf 

ASIS International

https://www.asisonline.org/Membership/Member-Center/Security-Spotlight/Pages/Security-for-Houses-of-Worship.aspx 

Please utilize these free resources. 

Have a Joyous Holiday Season. 

Ron