NJOHSP is collaborating with the US Department of Homeland Security, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to host two virtual Houses of Worship Security Seminar programs from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 25. The program features presentations from federal, state, and local security and public safety officials. Discussions include emergency planning, grant guidance for nonprofit organizations, cybersecurity considerations, and security assessments for religious facilities.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (DHS Center) fosters partnerships between government and faith-based organizations (FBOs) to increase the nation’s resilience by creating trust and developing relationships.

Security and worship can be successfully blended for those who worship in your facility. No house of worship (HOW), whether a church, mosque, temple, or synagogue is exempt from crime, whether committed by an internal member, a stranger, or as a random act of terrorism. We must consider threats and be ready to respond in a quick, efficient, and effective manner.

CISA has developed a baseline security self-assessment that is designed for a person, with little to no security experience, to complete a security assessment.