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Tip Lines
Tip Lines
Schools across the nation have been implementing anonymous tip lines that students and community members can use to alert school administration, human service providers, and local law enforcement about worries they have regarding individuals. These tip lines can be used to report someone who has expressed interest in harming themselves or others as well as other concerning behaviors that may impact the community. Many schools have found these to be beneficial and have helped many students and families who are struggling. The state of Vermont has a anonymous tip line that can be accessed online or through sending Safe4VT to 274637 or calling 802-Safe4VT (802-723-3488).
Tip Line Video
Tip Line Video
Here is a video that is a interview with Christopher Ellisor, the director of safety and emergency services in Lexington, South Carolina. He talks about implementing an anonymous tip line within his communities and ways to improve tip lines to be the most beneficial for schools. He mentions that one way to improve existing tip lines by making them accessible through texting because students are comfortable sending texts rather than emails or online forms.
Social Media Tracking
Social Media Tracking
As we know, many students have access to phones and other pieces of technology in which they can create different social media accounts. Many have Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, etc. Through these different platforms, users are being exposed to the current events and violence that is happening around the world. Many students are also not educated about their digital footprint and how many people can and will see what they post. In schools, we have seen an increase of students coming in and showing teachers and administration posts that classmates have made online that are concerning. There is also a direct correlation of cyber bullying happening with students having access to these platforms. Some schools have blocks and protections placed on school owned technology such as Chromebooks and iPads, but they currently cannot control personal devices. There are discussions about tracking social media, but there are many road blocks that can happen when trying to implement it within schools. One thing that is helpful about the anonymous tip line is that people can submit tips based on what was posted online through social media. This is an ongoing discussion, but important to keep in mind what students are seeing and posting online.
Common Myths
Common Myths
A common remark that people make in regards to the uptick in violence within younger generations is that it is because our youth has access to violent video games. This video talks about the statistics regarding the correlation of playing violent video games and violent acts. Spoiler alert: there is no evidence that is pointing to the idea that these video games are increasing violence!
Assessing and Documenting Threats
Assessing and Documenting Threats
Given the information given above, along with behaviors that are witnessed in schools, it is important to be proactive with assessing and documenting threats. It is always best to report and document anything that you may be unsure of, just incase it turns out to be something that is substantiated. Attached is an example of a student threat documentation that can be used to take in general information as well as a place to document the follow up responses.
Threat Documentation.pdfPage updated
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