The Oregon State Police launched SafeOregon, a school safety tip line program available to all public K-12 schools in Oregon, on January 31, 2017. SafeOregon is a way for students, staff or other members of the public to confidentially report and share confidential information of a risk or a potential risk to student safety. SafeOregon requires schools to complete a sign-up process in order for students to use it. Since SafeOregon was launched, 260 schools have enrolled and are using the tip line. That reaches approximately 110,000 Oregon students. SafeOregon gives students a way to reach out for help.
SafeOregon -- the school safety tip line -- became Law through HB 4075 (2016), as a result of recommendations from the Oregon Task Force on School Safety charged with improving safety and security at schools across the state. The task force was established by House Bill 4087, bringing together representatives from police, fire, school administration, teachers, school boards and service districts, along with the Governor's education and public safety policy advisors, legislators, the Oregon Department of Education and the Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs. The task force is chaired by Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts and Dr. David Novotney, Willamette Education Service District.
SafeOregon is designed to encourage Oregon students to share and respond to anything that threatens their safety or the safety of others, anything that makes a student feel unsafe or if a student knows someone who feels unsafe.
From a Principal of one School using SafeOregon today:
"In the two weeks [...] since our launch of SafeOregon we received 20 reports, 18 have been legitimate including bullying [...], suicidal feelings, sexual harassment, and drug use. Action taken has ranged from consultation with law enforcement, suspensions, or counseling the student or group of students.
In one particular instance, a student reported a girl posting suicidal thoughts on social media. SafeOregon called school administration, and the police were involved. The girl was taken to the hospital for evaluation, potentially saving her life. Another student reported her friend was being bullied. [...] The victim came up to me later, gave me a hug and thanked me for protecting and supporting him.
Tips from Students:
"They are fighting and I don't know what to do because they are both my friend and I don't want them to hate me because I don't wanna choose sides and I don't want them to get mad because I'm trying to fix things but idk."
Result: Their teacher talked to the students that were fighting and the tipsters identity was kept confidential. The tipster was acknowledged by the teacher later, without exposing his identity, for doing the right thing by reporting.
"She was talking to me in the hallway and I notice that she has cuts on her wrist and I have seen it before, she says she's depressed and she says she sad all the time"
Result: Student assessed by the school counselor. The student was not someone that was on the school's radar as having these struggles, so they were grateful for the tip.
For more information please visit www.safeoregon.com. The resource page has more information for students, parents and for schools to sign-up. Students and parents are encouraged to talk to their school administration about making SafeOregon available in their school.
Additionally:
It is a violation of ORS165.570 to improperly use the SafeOregon system.