COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jim Tressel are reminding the public about funding and support offered by the state to help enhance safety on school grounds and in houses of worship.
“We’ve made it a priority in this administration to offer a broad range of public safety support to our local communities, and these programs are a perfect example of this commitment,” said Governor DeWine. “Our schools and churches can never be too safe, and I encourage leaders to take advantage of these grant programs and the other free services that the state provides.”
“From our college campuses to our elementary schools and religious institutions, it’s important that we always strive to create a safe environment,” said Lt. Governor Tressel. “Our schools and churches all have different safety needs, and these programs are tailored to offer individualized support.”
DeWine outlined safety options and grants as listed below:
Ohio Security Grant
The Ohio Emergency Management Agency will begin accepting applications on September 5 for its Ohio Security Grant Program, which provides grant funding to nonprofit organizations, houses of worship, chartered nonpublic schools, and licensed preschools for eligible security improvements that assist in preventing, preparing for, or responding to acts of terrorism. A total of $8.5 million is available this fiscal year. To date, this program has awarded $34 million in grant funding.
School Safety and Security Grant
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is currently accepting applications for its School Safety and Security Grant Program. This program is open to eligible schools to purchase equipment to improve the safety and security of facilities and to reduce or eliminate injuries or illnesses associated with providing educational services to children. Schools can receive up to $40,000 for each three-year eligibility cycle.
Campus Security Support Grant
For institutions of higher education in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) administers the Campus Security Support Grant Program. A total of $4 million in funds will be awarded to institutionally sanctioned student organizations at colleges or universities as part of the state’s work to create safe campus environments. Applications for the latest round of funding through this program will be available this fall and will be accessible through ODHE’s grant resources webpage once posted.
Campus Student Safety Grant
ODHE also administers the Campus Student Safety Grant Program, which will award $1 million in FY2026 and $1 million in FY2027. This program supports both state institutions of higher education and private nonprofit institutions of higher education with funding to enhance security measures and increase student safety. Applications for the latest round of funding through this program will be available this fall and will be accessible through ODHE’s grant resources webpage once posted.
Ohio School Safety Center – Free Regional Support
All schools in Ohio have free regional support available from the Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC), including access to a mobile training officer, school safety liaison, and school safety planner. Regional support includes education, training, and student initiatives.
Ohio School Safety Center – Free Security and Vulnerability Assessments
Security and vulnerability assessments identify gaps and vulnerabilities in a school’s security plan to help the school be better prepared to prevent and respond to emergencies each day. The evaluator will review the school’s policies, procedures, and physical security measures to identify potential vulnerabilities. The unbiased, outside perspective often allows vulnerabilities to be identified that were previously overlooked.
Ohio School Safety Center – Free Intelligence Analysis
School officials and law enforcement may request free intelligence support from the Ohio School Safety Center for:
- Social Media Investigations: Analysts can conduct open-source investigations to assess potential threats or to search for concerning content. Analysts will search open-source social media in compliance with department policy and applicable state and federal law.
- Research: OSSC research analysts can utilize different research methods and strategies to explore a school safety inquiry. Research requests can vary and have multiple applications, such as for grant writing, emergency planning, or to supplement training.
- Event Monitoring: OSSC analysts can scan open-source social media for preliminary analysis in the week leading up to and during a planned school event, such as a sporting event, school dance, or performance. Analysts can search for potential threats or concerning posts surrounding the event.
- Presentations: Analysts have developed multiple presentations regarding school safety that utilize trends, data, and research.
Ohio School Safety Center – Free Training and Education
The OSSC offers a variety of courses for school staff that can be held in person or on demand. Courses include but are not limited to:
- School-Based Response to Active Threats
- School Buses and Active Threats
- Critical Incident Response
- Situational Awareness Simulator
- Active Threat Response Tactics
- Child Sexual Abuse, Dating Violence, and Sexual Violence Prevention
- Identifying and Responding to Warning Signs of Violence Training
- CPR/First Aid/AED
Safer Ohio School Tip Line
The Safer Ohio School Tip Line – 844-SaferOH (844-723-3764) – is a free safety resource available to all Ohio schools. The tip line is an anonymous reporting system that accepts tips via call, text, webform, and mobile app 24 hours-a-day. This tip line allows students and adults to anonymously share information with school officials and law enforcement about threats to student safety.
Governor DeWine created the Ohio School Safety Center in 2019. A division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the OSSC assists Ohio K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and first responders in preventing, preparing for, and responding to threats and acts of violence, including self-harm, through a holistic, solutions-based approach to improving school safety.
