Protecting Houses of Worship
Overview
CISA is committed to supporting efforts to maintain safe and secure houses of worship and related facilities while sustaining an open and welcoming environment. In partnership with the Department of Homeland Security Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization, CISA provides resources that assist houses of worship in securing physical and cyber infrastructure.
CISA’s Role
CISA is a first stop for guidance and resources to inform FBO-HOW security-based decisions. Included below are numerous resources, which provide building blocks for effective safety and security programs. The resources include a guide, a self-assessment tool, trainings, exercises, and other materials focused on a wide range of man-made threats (e.g., bombing, active shooter, vehicle ramming, etc.) that could be used against the FBO-HOW community.
Featured Content
Protecting Houses of Worship Resources
These resources are intended to help act as the building blocks for improving the security of an organization’s congregants and facilities.
Paper-Based Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment and User Guide
This Paper-based Security Self-Assessment to assists personnel to understand potential vulnerabilities and identify options for consideration to mitigate them.
What to Do - Bomb Threat
The guidance and resources on this page outline in-depth procedures for either bomb threats or suspicious items and will help you prepare and react appropriately during these events.
Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment
This tool is designed to guide personnel at houses of worship through a security-focused self-assessment to understand potential vulnerabilities and identify options for consideration in mitigating those vulnerabilities.
Protecting Places of Worship: Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence
The product details how taking six overarching steps can help protect places of worship against potential threats of targeted violence in a cost-effective manner that maintains an open and welcoming environment.
Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment
This tool is designed to guide personnel at houses of worship through a security-focused self-assessment to understand potential vulnerabilities and identify options for consideration in mitigating those vulnerabilities.
Creating a Safe and Secure Environment
Building a safe and secure environment for faith-based communities is no different than typical security planning. However, there are nuances pertaining to a congregation’s desire for openness and access, engagement with their congregants and visitors, and rituals that may be impacted by heightened security.
There are several factors that must be considered when making security decisions and planning security enhancements. Knowing the factors that influence your facility’s overall security risk will provide you with focus areas and shed light on where to begin lowering risk. CISA provides a variety of resources, which, when used effectively, can help you improve your preparedness and the safety and security of your community.
Protecting Houses of Worship Video
Today, houses of worship face a unique set of safety and security challenges that they didn't just a few years ago. This video was developed to inform the faith-based community about options for consideration to mitigate risk to places of worship and related facilities.
Services
Protective Security Advisor Program
The PSA Program’s primary mission is to proactively engage with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government mission partners and members of the private sector stakeholder community to protect critical infrastructure.
FEMA Grants Program
The US Department of Homeland Security through FEMA provides nonprofit security grants, which are managed in partnership through each state’s Homeland Security Advisor’s office, to improve facility security, preparedness, and emergency planning.
Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (FB-ISAO)
A trusted community that shares timely, actionable, and relevant information with an all-hazards approach as incidents affecting the community come in the form of physical threats, cybersecurity issues, health outbreaks, and natural disasters.
Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN)
A trusted network to share sensitive but unclassified information. FSLTT and private sector partners can use HSIN to manage operations, analyze data, send alerts and notices, and share the information they need to perform their duties.
Learn More
If you would like more information on upcoming webinars and resources from the DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, please contact Partnerships@fema.dhs.gov.