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District offers Safe2Say Something helpline in partnership with the state
Bellefonte Area School District, in partnership with the state, launched the Safe2Say Something helpline through the Safe2Say Program. The initiative, mandated by state law known as Act 44, is an anonymous reporting system designed to help students and staff recognize warning signs of individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others, especially through social media.It went into effect Jan. 14, 2019.
The program trains students and school staff members how to recognize those signs and signals, and to “say something,” either by using the Safe2Say Something hotline and/or applications or to tell an adult or trusted adviser. Specifically, the program educates participants to:
- Recognize the signs and signals of at-risk behaviors – especially within social media;
- Take every sign and signal seriously; act quickly to get help by talking to a trusted adult or report it anonymously through the S2SS Office of the Attorney General 24/7 Crisis Center, mobile app, or website;
- Respond to and manage the submitted tip via a school-based multi-disciplinary educator and administrator teams.
To learn more, visit www.saysomething.net or download the mobile apps for Apple and Android devices. The Safe2Say reporting system may be accessed by calling the crisis center at 1-844-5-SAYNOW.
*To learn more about Act 44 and how it affects the Bellefonte Area School District, read this article: Act 44. Aaron Barto, the district’s facilities director, who also oversees safety initiatives within the district, provides information.
*By Brit Milazzo, public relations director, BASD
