Safe School Helpline®
Thousands of schools nationwide use the Safe School Helpline® as part of their overall school safety plan. Authorities report that the Safe School Helpline® proves extremely beneficial both as a reporting system and as a deterrent to prevent harmful activities.
The Safe School Helpline® prevents problems.
Listen to the secrets in your schools. The Helpline allows students, parents, staff and community members to report wrongdoing and illegal activities in schools that can impede the learning process.
Safe School Helpline® tips are anonymous.
The caller’s name is never asked. It takes courage for kids to reach outside their inner circle of friends. Yet, they are overwhelmingly anxious to do so, anonymously, to protect their friends, families, and themselves. Parents appreciate this too. Additional information can be obtained as a case number is given to the caller, asking them to call back in three school days to respond to their school’s follow-up questions.
The Safe School Helpline® is available 24/7/365.
About 90% of calls are made after school hours. The school receives a verbatim transcript of the call during the morning of the next school day. However, if the report is urgent, the school officials are contacted immediately, day or night.
The Safe School Helpline® is flexible.
Reports can be made via #800, web reporting, text or mobile app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it difficult to get started and set-up?
No, not at all. Once you send us a completed, signed service agreement, provided by one of our sales reps, you can be set up in less than a day. Awareness materials will reach your school in 5-7 days – depending on your location.
Do I need to install anything?
No. All you need is access to email and a phone. Once a report is received for your district, it is put in report format and emailed to your designated contacts. If the report is urgent in nature, one of our reps will call you and relay the content of the report to you verbally. If requested, a verbatim copy of the report will be emailed to you immediately. Otherwise, you will receive the verbatim report on the next school day. A case management system is available for larger districts.
Can I ask for more information?
How do I get the word out to my students, parents and community?
When your schools start using the Safe School Helpline® program, they will receive an implementation guide and orientation video to assist them with rolling the program out to their student and parent population. On-site training of administrators and staff is also available.
At the beginning of every year, your school district will receive a fresh supply of:
- Brochures
- Hallway posters (11 x 17)
- Mental Health Counseling posters (11 x 17)
The posters should be hung within the school buildings while brochures should be sent home to the parents. Fresh awareness materials are designed every school year to help your school promote the service.
Send a Letter to Every Parent
A letter should be signed by the School Superintendent and sent with the brochure and magnet to parents. Nearly 70% of our calls originate from concerned parents. Their reports are more detailed and less likely to be pranks than those received from students. Parents are vital to a successful helpline program. A sample letter can be obtained upon request.
Publicize It
Send a press release to your local newspapers, TV newsrooms and radio stations. The media is eager for stories. Fifty to seventy-five percent of all people interviewed on TV and radio, in newspapers and magazines, either arrange the interviews themselves or have a PR firm do it for them. A sample press release can be obtained upon request. If you’ve had any incidents, discuss how they were resolved. Demonstrate your commitment to school safety and use this program as an example of a solid, successful preventive measure that is part of your overall school safety plan