Every day, in the newspaper, on television and on the Internet, we are faced with grim headlines: assaults, domestic violence, child abuse, gang-related issues, abductions. As the saying reminds us, the list goes on and on. When we are confronted with such concerns, what should we do? Of course, the best action, to perhaps save a life, is to report the situation to someone. But, most people, especially children, are afraid to tell — the old “code of silence.”
The State of Colorado has established a very unique program to assist individuals who feel they must “tell.” Please review the following excerpt from the Safe2Tell program Web site:
Mission
To ensure that every Colorado student, parent, teacher and community member has access to a safe and anonymous way to report any concerns to their safety or the safety of others, with a focus on early intervention and prevention through awareness and education.
Background
Research shows that in 81 percent of violent incidents in U.S. schools, someone other than the attacker knew it was going to happen but failed to report it. According to the Columbine Commission’s report, young people are reluctant to report threats due to a student culture that fosters and enforces a “code of silence”.
Safe2Tell provides students and adults in all Colorado schools and communities an increased ability to both prevent and report violence by making safe, ANONYMOUS calls.
Anonymity is key. Both state law and the procedures established by Safe2Tell for receiving and forwarding tips guarantees the anonymity of every caller. Calls are answered at a Colorado State Patrol communication center. When action is needed, information is immediately forwarded to local school officials and law enforcement agencies, as appropriate.
Safe2Tell then goes the extra step and follows up with the school who received the tip to ensure that it was investigated and that action was taken. The assurance that calls cannot be tracked and that appropriate action will be taken is helping persuade young people to move away from a code of silence and to take a stand.
One benefit of empowering students to help create their own safe school environment is increased academic performance. Dr. Del Elliott of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence states, “In some cases, there is little reason to believe that changes in curriculum or instructional practices will have any significant effect on academic performance until kids feel safe and respected at school.”
Results
From September 2004 to July 2009, over 6,800 calls have been received resulting in1994 Tip Reports from 148 Colorado cities and 56 counties. They include the following:
- 110 Assaults
- 181 Harassment
- 585 Bullying
- 5 Internet Misuse
- 4 Cheating
- 188 Guns /Weapons
- 145 Child Abuse
- 28 Prevented School Attacks
- 6 Sexting
- 5 Run Aways
- 60 Cutting
- 18 Sexual Assault
- 22 Domestic Violence
- 149 Sexual Misconduct
- 367 Drugs/Alcohol
- 191 Suicide Preventions
- 91 Fights
- 27 Thefts
- 3 Fire Starting
- 287 Threats
- 39 Gang-Related
- 34 Vandalism
- 11 Animal Cruelty
- 1 Eating Disorder
- 214 School Disciplinary Actions
- 553 Increased Awareness/Monitoring
- 43 Arrests
- 248 Counseling/Referrals
- 271 Investigations
- 218 Prevention/Intervention Plans
Following are some comments from Tip Reports:
“Keep up the excellent work! We appreciate Safe2Tell!” – School Resource Officer
“Thank you! This report definitely saved this student’s life.” – School Counselor
“Detailed and helpful information that allowed for immediate action.” – Deputy
“Excellent information on this tip, a serious situation was prevented.”– School Principal
“This tip ultimately led to two arrests and mandatory drug counseling.” – Sheriff
Safe2Tell is a statewide program that is available 24 hours-a-day for students and adults to report a potential threat to their safety or the safety of others. “As we mark the tenth anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings, we welcome the opportunity to offer a tool to students to remind them that help is just a phone call away,” said Special Agent Susan Payne, Safe2Tell executive director. “We developed Safe2Tell to help persuade young people to move away from a code of silence and take a stand. The overall goal is to empower young people to keep their community safe.
You can make a difference by starting up SAFE2TELL in your state. Please contact Safe2Tell at 719-520-7435, or email them at info@safe2tell.org. They will send you a packet of information to help you implement the program in your state. And, they’ll be available if you need more help along the way.
To get started, please Click on the Safe2Tell Program Enrollment Form and e-mail it to info@safe2tell.org.
