A training program aimed at educators, and born out of the Taber, Alta. school shootings, is now being used in Yukon schools.

'The purpose of the Yukon Threat Assessment Program is to determine how best to support students considered at risk, so that their behaviour does not become hurtful or destructive to themselves or others,' reads a letter by Christie Whitley, a Department of Education superintendent. The letter was sent home with students earlier this school year.

The program was brought to the territory by Kevin Cameron, a family and child therapist who led the Taber Crisis Response Team following the 1999 school shooting that saw one student killed.

The Yukon's public schools branch has set up the program in the territory, along with the Health and Social Services department , the Justice department and the RCMP.

The program is designed to help professionals pick out and help students before they reach a tragic boiling point.

'We're talking about behaviour that is considered to be threatening, we're attempting to identify indicators, that a youth is engaging in risky behaviour, including harm to themself,' superintendent Rosemary Burns said in an interview this week.

She said teachers, counsellors, administrators and staff from partnering departments and organizations go through a two-level training process.

The first is offered to help participants learn the basics in identifying key behaviours and characteristics, and is offered on a regular basis in Whitehorse, for free.

The second level is taught by Cameron, who comes up from Alberta, to teach a more thorough, detailed approach to the threat assessment process.

Burns said the costs for Cameron's services are shared by the three Yukon government departments and the RCMP. He is scheduled to return to the Yukon Oct. 22-23 to lead a level-two training session.

Burns said the threat assessment program has been used in Yukon schools, but could not offer specific examples to protect the privacy of the students involved.

'Any threats or threat-making behaviours will be taken seriously and assessed accordingly,' reads Whitley's letter.

Burns said the letter was sent home to parents to let them know that in addition to other measures in promoting safe schools, 'we have one more way to respond to threats,' said Burns.