Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) is an important component of a comprehensive approach to violence prevention, but prevention begins long before a student requires a threat assessment. This session will explore how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and other risk factors can inform prevention efforts, as well as the assessment and management of concerning behavior. Participants will consider how schools can build connections, strengthen protective factors, and respond to student needs before concerns escalate. The session will also examine how BTAM teams can incorporate information about trauma and adversity while avoiding the assumption that these experiences are predictors of violence.