Date: 07/14/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for Informational Presentation: Safe2Tell

SCHOOL SAFETY AND YOUTH IN CRISIS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
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10:10 AM -- Informational Presentation: Safe2Tell

Susan Payne, Executive Director of Safe2Tell, distributed three handouts to the committee (Attachments E, F, G, and H). Ms. Payne introduced herself and described her work history and her experience as a parent. She spoke about anonymous reporting of school safety issues, and the concerns that students have about reporting, including retaliation and bullying. She discussed training school officials and parents. Ms. Payne told the committee about efforts in Nevada and described school shootings around the country and lessons that can be learned. She described the importance of a safe, anonymous way for students to report concerns about school safety. She spoke about threat assessments and threat management, and asserted that mental health treatment continues to be an issue. She spoke about a safe schools initiative and a study conducted by the US Secret Service. According to the study, in 81 percent of school shootings, somebody knew of the shooter's plans ahead of time and in 59 percent of the shootings, more than one person knew. In 93 percent of the cases, peers knew, but not adults.

150714 AttachE.pdf150714 AttachE.pdf150714 AttachF.pdf150714 AttachF.pdf150714 AttachG.pdf150714 AttachG.pdf150714 AttachH.pdf150714 AttachH.pdf

She described the situation in Colorado, and stated that up to six suicidal kids are reported to Safe2Tell each evening. She stated that the handling and prevention of suicides needs to change. Ms. Payne told the committee that a young person will see the signs in a peer. She stated that there is no profile of school shooters, except that there is usually a bullying component. She described how suicidal kids are now considered a danger to others, whereas in the past they were not. She described prevention efforts in other parts of the country. She spoke about consistent training universally applied. She spoke about trends in drug use and abuse, dating violence, and bullying as precipitators to violence.

10:31 AM

Ms. Payne gave a statistical analysis of Safe2Tell's work. She stated that since 2004, of the total reports received, 54 percent have been calls, 42 percent web reports, and 5 percent text messages. She stated that web reports are now 80 to 90 percent of the reports received by Safe2Tell. She described a new mobile app that Safe2Tell launched July 1, 2015 to facilitate reporting that features live 2-way communication with state law enforcement agencies. She discussed federal efforts to facilitate school safety. She spoke about threat assessment and threat management and the importance of both together. She spoke about restoring learning environments in the aftermath of school violence or accidental deaths, and assessing violent incidents after the fact.

She discussed the outreach and training efforts undertaken by Safe2Tell and her organization's philosophy of bystander and peer engagement. She described the correlation between academic performance and school safety and went over solutions to preventing school violence. She described how innovations in technology can facilitate threat response and management. She described an online toolkit for parents as well as a rising number of reports.

10:46 AM

Ms. Payne responded to questions from the committee. Subjects covered include the new mobile app; how to know if the Safe2Tell program is working; the involvement of social media in school safety; disposition reports after incidents; teams in every school; false reports and anonymity; false reporting used to bully a person; site-based differences in interventions provided by schools, districts, and law enforcement; and the marketing of Safe2Tell to schools and communities.