Every parent deserves to know their child is safe at school. Yet across the country, many schools remain vulnerable, not because they do not care, but because they lack access to affordable and expert guidance.

That is where the Heartland School Security Association (HSSA) steps in. Founded by Jake Petersen, a national security professional with experience supporting the White House, the Pentagon, U.S. Space Command, STRATCOM, and the National Semiconductor Technology Center, HSSA provides free physical and operational security assessments to K–12 schools, including public, private, and parochial institutions.

Our mission is simple: to make effective school security accessible, practical, and proactive.

We walk campuses with administrators and staff to review every door, lock, camera, alarm, and daily process, from drop-off to dismissal. After each visit, we deliver a written action plan that prioritizes what matters most—prevention, deterrence, and clear steps that schools can actually afford to take.

This mission extends beyond the campus itself. HSSA also advocates for legislative change to ensure that Nebraska and Iowa schools receive the resources, funding, and support they deserve. We are not simply helping schools react to threats; we are helping them build stronger systems, smarter policies, and a lasting culture of preparedness.

Our goals are:

Expand our reach statewide by bringing free assessments to more rural and urban schools.
Develop training materials and public awareness programs for parents, teachers, and communities.
Support legislation and advocacy efforts that promote evidence-based school safety improvements.
Establish a full-time operational foundation to continue offering our services at little or no cost to schools.

Your support directly fuels these goals. Every dollar helps make our schools more secure, our communities more informed, and our children safer.

Registered 501(c)(3) Nonprofit