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 “I directed my administration to launch a statewide
school violence prevention help line because our kids are safer when
they have a confidential avenue to speak up for the mental health of
their peers and themselves,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “By
encouraging kids to seek help before harm, we’re making it so school
officials, mental health professionals, and area law enforcement are
better equipped to help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence
or other threats to school and student safety. It’s another way we
can bring mental health struggles out of the shadows and ensure our
schools are places where students can be nurtured and thrive.”
Safe2Help Illinois is available 24/7, and at no cost to all school
districts in the state. In the absence of a trusted adult, students
can use a free app, text/phone, or the website (Safe2HelpIL.com) to
share school safety issues in a confidential environment.
Information obtained by Safe2Help Illinois will remain confidential
to ensure student privacy and to protect the integrity of the
program. This program is not intended to suspend, expel or punish
students; rather, the goal is to encourage students to “Seek Help
Before Harm.”
Once vetted, the information will be shared immediately with local
school officials, mental health professionals and/or local law
enforcement, depending on the nature of the information. The program
also will help local officials by connecting them with mental health
resources or other appropriate tools to intervene and help students
before they harm themselves or others.
Changing the Culture in Illinois Schools
Safe2Help Illinois is more than just an information sharing
platform. This is a long-term initiative to change the school
culture in Illinois. Safe2Help Illinois also provides free
educational resources to schools that can be introduced into their
existing curriculum for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade.
"Through the Safe2Help Illinois initiative, our administration is
empowering young people to care for themselves while also looking
after their community at schools," said Lt. Governor Juliana
Stratton. "As rates of anxiety, depression and other mental
disorders in children continue to increase across the country, it is
important we give young people the resources they need to reach
emotional wellness. That is a major part of our mission to make
Illinois the best state to raise our children."
“Mental health is even more of a priority during the COVID-19
pandemic. Some students have experienced feelings of isolation, the
loss of family income, or the death of a loved one, and I am
thankful that Safe2Help Illinois will provide an additional layer of
support as students return to in-person learning this fall,” said
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “The program
connects students with a trusted and trained adult, and the
educational resources help remove the stigma associated with mental
health issues and foster kindness among students’ peers.”
“Thanks to the leadership of Governor JB Pritzker, students across
the state of Illinois have another resource where safety comes
first. Prioritizing the mental health of students is critical,” said
Secretary Grace B. Hou, Secretary, Illinois Department of Human
Services. IDHS’ Division of Mental Health is proud to partner with
ISBE and IEMA on this significant initiative for students. At IDHS,
we are committed to advancing access to mental health to students
and families across the state.”
Safe2Help Illinois is a free, voluntary program
offered to public and private schools (grades K-12) in Illinois.
Regardless of whether a school district is enrolled in the program,
Safe2Help staff will vet all information received and forward to the
appropriate local contact whether or not they elect to formally
participate in the program. Calls that reference immediate threats
would be route to 9-1-1 for immediate assistance.
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During the 2020-2021 school year, 19 schools participated in a
Safe2Help Illinois pilot program. Of those schools, while serving in different
capacities of remote learning and in-person learning, the pilot program saw the
following calls for assistance: Suicidal Ideation, Bullying/Harassment,
Fighting, Self-Harm, and Sex Assault. To date, more than 31 schools are
registered with the program, resulting in more than 130 interactions with the
public over the last 11 months. Educators enrolled in the program have credited
the program with the successful intervention of potential suicides and sexual
assaults.
Behind the Call
During a crisis, the person on the receiving end of the call has the most
important job: to remain calm and provide the necessary resources to
successfully defuse a situation. The analyst taking the calls for Safe2Help
Illinois have experience and education in social service and community
stabilization settings. As part of their onboarding process, analysts are
required to complete 40-hours of training, plus an additional 20 hours of
ongoing training each quarter. This includes handling suicidal or homicidal
callers, responding to imminent danger, caring for very young callers, mandated
reporter training and more. The Safe2Help call center analyst speak multiple
languages and have access to 24-hour immediate translator services in 24
different language.
Expanding School Safety in Illinois
Safe2Help Illinois is a product of a statewide school safety capability
assessment, following the 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School in Parkland, Florida. The Illinois Terrorism Task Force convened a School
Safety Working Group made up of state and local law enforcement professionals,
representatives from statewide education associations, emergency management and
mental health professionals to identify school safety issues and come up with
practical recommendations to improve our student safety. The cornerstone of the
group’s school safety recommendations is the formation of a statewide resource
for students, schools and local officials, called Safe2Help Illinois.
“In almost every case involving a mass school shooting there was someone,
usually a fellow student, who had some advance warning or reason to believe that
violence was possible,” said Alicia Tate-Nadeau, Director of the Illinois
Emergency Management Agency. “Safe2Help Illinois provides a free and
confidential platform for students to share information, 24-hours a day. In the
absence of a trusted adult, Safe2Help Illinois aims to help today’s youth seek
help before harm.”
Although the origins of the workgroup recommendations intended to address the
threat of school violence, the program evolved to provide resources to support a
student’s social, behavioral and mental health needs. Prior to COVID-19, similar
school safety initiatives throughout the nation found the two most common issues
of concern have been threats of suicide and bullying.
Call to Action
Safe2Help Illinois is encouraging all Illinois parents to talk to their
school-age children about the importance of a trusted adult. Trusted adults are
people whose words and actions make you feel safe, and these individuals
(parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, etc.) can help you and/or your friends
seek help before harm.
Recognizing that not all students may feel safe talking to their parents,
teachers, coaches or mentors, now is a great time to introduce them to Safe2Help
Illinois. It’s free, confidential, and always available.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |
