SafeOregon Tip Line

www.TheCitizensWhoCare.org

Oregon State Police launches SafeOregon tip line for reporting threats to school safety
FAQ

Oregon State Police launches SafeOregon tip line for reporting threats to school safety


What is SafeOregon

A program created for Oregon students, parents, school staff, community members and law enforcement officers to report and respond to student safety threats.

.A Commitment to Safety

The goal of SafeOregon is to prevent school safety threats from occurring by providing schools and communities with a relevant tool for reporting potential threats. Tips can be submitted in a variety of ways, including email, phone calls, text, our mobile app and our web portal.

All tips go immediately to a live tip line technician where operators respond to the tips and forward them to designated personnel who can provide further assistance in resolving reported incidents.

One tip can save a life

Encouraging reporting at schools or online leads to a culture of safety. When a potential safety threat is reported, we have the chance to prevent violence. Working as a community to keep school safe is the highest priority at SafeOregon.

How does the sign-up process work?

An employee affiliated with your school contacts us through this website (http://safeoregon.com/contact/ ) and we respond within 1 business day with a form asking a few questions particular to your location. We offer different options to make it easier to sign-up 1 school or 100 so tell us a little about your area when contacting us.

What does it mean to sign-up?

There is a back-end process to SafeOregon specific for your school allowing us to share tips. Signing up gives your school access to this area. It’s a dashboard that also includes training, marketing and best practice information. You’ll find checklists and information to fully prepare your school to use SafeOregon here. After you complete the form we respond with your log-in information. We expect demand to be high in February, 2017. Please allow up to 3 business days to receive. Within two weeks you’ll receive a packet in the mail with posters, stickers and a welcome letter. All of these can be immediately accessed through the dashboard to print on your own if you prefer.

What do I need to complete the sign-up process?

Approximate number of students at your school. Contact information for a primary and secondary contact as explained in the school resource area on this website. Contact information for a district contact. Information on the 9-1-1 center that serves your school area. We’ll help you with the 9-1-1 information if necessary. The sign-up form also shares more details on why these items are requested.

What if our school is not ready to sign-up and just needs more information?

No problem. Please take a look around the website and review the resource tab. If you still need more, complete the contact form http://safeoregon.com/contact/ and tell us what you need. We’ll get back to you with the information. We expect to continue to update our webpage and your questions will help us improve the information going forward.

What if our school is ready to sign-up but not ready to share to students yet?

This is common. Please take the time you need to review the training, marketing and best practice toolkits and share with students on a date that is right for your school. Signing up is the first step and we know you need time to prepare and share with your teachers, students, and parents.

Report a Tip: All tips go immediately to live tip line technicians who respond to the tips and forward them to designated personnel who can provide further assistance in resolving reported incidents. http://safeoregon.com/report-a-tip/ via Call, Text, eMail, Mobile App, Web Portal

School Resources

Schools designate a primary point of contact to work with SafeOregon, with secondary back-ups in case the primary is unavailable; all receive access to a dashboard.

These contacts receive training and have access to toolkits with supporting documents and presentations to help navigate the online system and provide best practices to follow-up on tips. The toolkits include posters and marketing materials for Schools to display and promote.

How will the process work? When a tip comes in, it will be analyzed and forwarded by a Tip Line technician to the school contacts – in most every case. A prompt is sent by e-mail notification requesting a review to the school contact. The school contact would review the dashboard and respond appropriately. Tips with immediate actions may result in contact through a phone call directly from a technician. A Tip Line technician may send information directly to other local officials, including law enforcement, Community Mental Health, or the Department of Human Services (child welfare) depending on the nature of the information. Those officials will be encouraged to contact the Schools directly.

Does this change the way Schools handle safety or follow-up on safety related incidents? Not at all. In fact, this is just another way the information may come to the attention of your school and it supports your current practices. We encourage you to develop relationships with your local law enforcement, Community Mental Health or others such as State child welfare officials to support the safety efforts at your school.

School Responder roles and responsibilities for SafeOregon

Primary Point of Contact: Responsible to begin action toward tip resolution following receipt of a tip. Typically assigned to the Principal. Main point of contact for SafeOregon technicians through the dashboard or by phone if it is urgent information. Also authorizes Secondary Point of Contact(s) access to the system.

Secondary Point of Contact(s): Assumes responsibilities of the Primary Point of Contact in the event the Primary Point of Contact is not available or the Primary has delegated tip resolution responsibilities. Schools should designate at least two Secondary Point of Contact(s) during the sign-up and enrollment process. Other Secondary Point of Contact(s) can be added if deemed necessary by the school, school district or Education Service District.

Champions of SafeOregon: Primary and Secondary Point of Contact(s) are champions of SafeOregon for their school. They ensure marketing materials are visible and available in the school at all times for students. They help ensure staff and students are aware of SafeOregon and look for opportunities to promote wherever possible during cycles of the school year.

Expectations after receiving a report from SafeOregon: SafeOregon technicians may call or email – through the dashboard features – Primary and Secondary Point of Contact(s) at the school. Responders begin action toward tip resolution in specified time frames (from 24 hours to 7 days, depending on the nature and severity of the tip).

How do we get started? The first step to enrolling your school or district in the SafeOregon program is to complete the contact form located here, or by sending an email to support@safeoregon.com. You will receive a call to confirm your request and then a follow up email with instructions for how to complete the enrollment form.

Parent Resources

We recognize that creating a safe learning environment is a critical part of helping each child achieve academic success. This year is new for the SafeOregon Tip Line, a new system that students can use to report school safety threats. SafeOregon will give your child another path for communicating with school administration when school safety incidents occur.

How does SafeOregon work? Students can access SafeOregon through the web form on the SafeOregon web site, or by text, email, live call and mobile app.

Why is there a need for a tip line system? The number one reason why students do not report is the fear of retaliation from their peers. SafeOregon can be accessed from the privacy of a phone, home computer or other Internet equipped device, eliminating the possibility of being identified by another student and thus, decreasing the likelihood that a school safety threat would go unreported.

Who receives tips to the School Safety Tip Line? Specially trained technicians field incoming tips 24 hours- a-day, 365 days-a-year for all public schools Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The Oregon State Police provides this service through a contracted vendor.

What happens to the tips received? Technicians address the immediate need, and, if necessary, forward the information to an appropriate responding agency. Some situations require that tips be forwarded to more than one entity. For example, a tip involving a weapon brought to school is forwarded to school officials and to local law enforcement. Tip content and circumstances vary, so appropriate follow-up action will also vary.

In most instances, the School will have the responsibilities to complete an after action note. This may require minimal reporting to detail action taken, how it was handled, whether it was resolved or whether it requires ongoing attention.

Does this replace calls to 9-1-1? No, all Oregonians are encouraged to dial 9-1-1 in any emergency situation. However, if the technician feels the situation is escalating to an emergency situation, and it comes in by phone, the technician will transfer the call to 9-1-1 and stay on the line until the tipster is connected to emergency responders. The technicians are trained and experienced in recognizing mental illness, emotional disturbances and managing crisis situations. If necessary, a tip may be transferred to a local community mental health services provider in the same manner.

Student Resources

How does SafeOregon work? Students can access SafeOregon through the web form on the SafeOregon web site, or by text, email, live call and mobile app.

Why is there a need for a tip line system? The number one reason why students do not report is the fear of retaliation from their peers. SafeOregon can be accessed from the privacy of a phone, home computer or other Internet equipped device, eliminating the possibility of being identified by another student and thus, decreasing the likelihood that a school safety threat would go unreported.

Who receives tips to the School Safety Tip Line? Specially trained technicians field incoming tips 24 hours- a-day, 365 days-a-year for all public schools Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The Oregon State Police provides this service through a contracted vendor.

What happens to the tips received? Technicians address the immediate need, and, if necessary, forward the information to an appropriate responding agency. Some situations require that tips be forwarded to more than one entity. For example, a tip involving a weapon brought to school is forwarded to school officials and to local law enforcement. Tip content and circumstances vary, so appropriate follow-up action will also vary.

In most instances, the School will have the responsibilities to complete an after action note. This may require minimal reporting to detail action taken, how it was handled, whether it was resolved or whether it requires ongoing attention.

Does this replace calls to 9-1-1? No, all Oregonians are encouraged to dial 9-1-1 in any emergency situation. However, if the technician feels the situation is escalating to an emergency situation, and it comes in by phone, the technician will transfer the call to 9-1-1 and stay on the line until the tipster is connected to emergency responders. The technicians are trained and experienced in recognizing mental illness, emotional disturbances and managing crisis situations. If necessary, a tip may be transferred to a local community mental health services provider in the same manner.

Next Steps

  • If you are ready to sign-up a single school please complete the enrollment form online at http://bit.ly/2kObF4N
  • If you would like to sign-up multiple schools please download the multi-school enrollment form here: http://bit.ly/2kxdjeD After completing the enrollment form, please send it back as an email attachment to support@safeoregon.com .
  • If you are not ready to sign-up but would like more information please contact us at 971-208-3422 or fill out the form below. If you want to report a tip please call the Tip Line at 844-472-3367.

Source: http://safeoregon.com/

Editor's Comments


Let's be clear. This is a tip line, not a crisis line. And, you have to be signed up in advance to be able to use it. Now, it may get a caller or texter to a resource that can help someone in crisis. We are trying to determine the skills the person has who picks up the call or text to be able to assertain who to send the person to - police, school official, mental health professional (how available 24 hours a day), 911, etc. What protocol used to determine whether a call should be made to 911?

In the meantime, if the caller is in crisis, we suggest calling either 911 or The National Helpline 800-273-TALK (8255) or text the national Crisis Text Line at 741741. Find other specific emergency numbers here.

FAQ


What is the School Safety Tip Line?

Students and other members of the public can anonymously report or share confidential information of a threat or a potential threat to student safety. Trained staff are available 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year reached through a phone call, text message, mobile application or website.

What kinds of tips might be reported?

Anything that makes a student feel unsafe or if a student knows someone who feels unsafe. Here are a few examples: safety threats, violence, threats of violence, fights, drugs, alcohol, weapons, bullying or friends that talk about hurting themselves, harassment, intimidation, cyber bullying, or self-harm.

What happens to the tips received?

Tips are promptly analyzed and routed for the most appropriate follow up and urgency. This may be to school officials, law enforcement, community mental health programs or other appropriate local or state agencies. Tip Line staff make sure follow-up is noted and recorded.

Why a Tip Line?

To prevent school safety threats from occurring by providing schools and communities with a relevant tool for reporting potential threats. Encouraging reporting at schools or online leads to a culture of safety. When a potential safety threat is reported, we have the chance to prevent violence. Working as a community to keep schools safe is the highest priority.

When will this be available?

The Statewide School Safety Tip Line is in planning for statewide release on January 31, 2017. On this date schools will be able to sign up to use the service. The project is in testing now and you can get more information or become involved early in the effort by emailing us below.

Oregon School Safety Tip Line Staff – contact us SSTLproject@state.or.us
Project Manager – Jodi Sherwood 503-509-2669 cell preferred, 503-934-0869 desk
Program Analyst – Chuck Perino 503-934-0862

The School Safety Tip Line became Law through HB 4075 (2016), as a result of recommendations from the Oregon Task Force on School Safety. This is a statewide resource designed to accept confidential or anonymous reports concerning student safety through a phone call, text message, mobile application or the internet by students and other members of the public. This resource will be available statewide in 2017.

 

©2007-2023, www.TheCitizensWhoCare.org/SafeOregon-tip-line.html