Official website of the Department of Homeland Security
- Building Communities of Trust
- DHS's Approach to Countering Violent Extremism
- Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States
These materials provide a background and foundation for understanding what violent extremism is and the steps the federal goverment is taking to counter this phenomenon.
Building Communities of Trust
The Building Communities of Trust (BCOT) initiative focuses on developing relationships of trust between law enforcement, fusion centers, and the communities they serve, particularly immigrant and minority communities, so that the challenges of crime control and prevention of terrorism can be addressed.
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- Guidance for Building Communities of Trust (PDF, 60 pages - 1.07 MB)
- Fact Sheet: Building Communities of Trust (PDF, 2 pages - 83 kB)
DHS's Approach to Countering Violent Extremism
Our approach to countering violent extremism emphasizes the strength of local communities. We begin with the premise that well-informed and -equipped families, communities, and local institutions represent the best defense against terrorist ideologies. And while our primary purpose is to prevent a terrorist and violent extremist attack by an individual or group recruited by a violent extremist organization, or inspired by an extremist ideology, we also support strong and resilient communities as important ends themselves.
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DHS's Approach to Countering Violent Extremism
Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States
The President’s plan for how the federal government will support and help empower American communities and their local partners to prevent violent extremism.