SAY SOMETHING ANONYMOUS REPORTING

Say Something Anonymous Reporting

ESUHSD Partners with the City of San Jose and Sandy Hook Promise to Rollout Say Something Anonymous Reporting System

Students will learn how to spot the signs of concerning social and emotional behaviors, especially in social media, and will be able to take action by submitting a tip anonymously

San Jose, CA – Today, ESUHSD is excited to announce its continued partnership with the City of San Jose and Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), the leading violence prevention organization, to roll out its Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) to its students districtwide. The district is launching a week-long awareness training and campaign for its students and staff.

SS-ARS allows students to submit secure and anonymous safety concerns to help identify and intervene when students are in crisis. The intent is to provide support to individuals before they hurt themselves or others. Concerned students simply submit a tip using the SS-ARS app, website, or by calling a dedicated 24/7 crisis center.  SHP’s crisis center then triages the tip and dispositions it back into participating school districts and, as needed, to law enforcement.

“Building upon our Say Something program, we are happy to partner with ESUHSD to help its students be “upstanders” by training them to Know the Signs of potential violence,” said Nicole Hockley, managing director at Sandy Hook Promise and mother to Dylan, killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. “With SS-ARS, students can now take action to submit a tip anonymously and be sure it is case managed by schools and local law enforcement. From bullying, to substance abuse, to suicide and school shooting threats, schools and communities can take tangible action to prevent harm before it occurs.”

"The current pandemic has created an environment where students are experiencing higher levels of stress, trauma, and isolation. We are committed to providing as many avenues as possible for students to seek support with their social and emotional needs. We believe SS-ARS will empower our students to advocate for their needs and the needs of others," said Chaunise Powell, ESUHSD Director of Student Services.

The SS-ARS system is managed and maintained by a national digital leader in the school safety space and 24/7 Crisis Center national compliance leader, both have 20+ years of experience. SHP provides overall management and training of SS-ARS to school districts and students and pays for 100% of the costs to train and sustain the program in a school district.

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About East Side Union High School District:  East Side Union High School District, established in 1950, serves more than 23,000 students in grades 9-12 in San Jose, Santa Clara County (Silicon Valley). It has the seventh largest high school student enrollment in the state and the largest in northern California. The district’s mission is to align decisions to create safe, dynamic and relevant learning environments that inspire critical thinking, problem solving and innovation. www.esuhsd.org

About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national, nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut. We are led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012 that claimed the lives of 20 first-graders and 6 educators. SHP is focused on preventing gun violence (and other forms of violence and victimization) BEFORE it happens by educating and mobilizing youth and adults on mental health and wellness programs that identify, intervene and help students. SHP is a moderate, above-the-politics organization that supports sensible non-policy and policy solutions that protect children and prevent violence. Our intent is to honor all victims of gun violence by turning our tragedy into a moment of transformation.

For more information, visit www.sandyhookpromise.org.

ESUHSD Media Contact:

Linda Ornelas

ornelasl@esuhsd.org

(408) 347-5014