Resources to address and prevent school violence

This month we're focused on our 3rd pillar of family engagement:

Improved communication
Increased participation
DELIVER RESOURCES

With the nation's attention on school violence we've been watching our schools' communication. Here are a couple of great resources that our schools have shared with their families to support their students.

• 1. Talking to Children About Violence - The National Association of School Psychologists released this brief handout to help parents address their student's fears and concerns.
  

How information is shared is as important as what is shared. We recommend breaking up the seven steps into smaller notifications to increase read-rates. Click the language below to download a PDF in your families' language: English , Spanish , Korean , Vietnamese , French , Amharic , Chinese , Portuguese , Somali , Arabic , Kurdish

• 2. Safe2Tell- Safe2Tell Is an anonymous school safety reporting system widely used in Colorado but is also available nationwide. According to Safe2Tell, " In four out of five school shootings examined by the U.S. Secret Service, someone knew the event was going to take place before it occurred. They also found that most attackers engaged in some behavior prior to the incident that raised concern or indicated a need for help. Since 2004, Safe2Tell has received reports and aided in the prevention of hundreds of separate school attacks, helped prevent thousands of youth suicides and intervened in countless threatening and dangerous situations."
  

To learn more or start a Safe2Tell program at your school please contact them here:
http://safe2tellusa.org/contact.htm

With the tax deadline approaching, March can add additional stress for many households distracting them from their student's school performance. The good folks at KIPP: CHICAGO Ascend are using their Flyer app to serve their community. Using Flyer's platform, Ascend is informing families about free and local tax counseling services in their area.

Looking to do the same at your school? The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance VITA program offers free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. With locations all across the country this can be a useful resource for your families.