Post on 14-May-2015
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The School Resource Officer and
Safe Place
The Problem-Oriented Guide on Juvenile Runaways states that youth are usually running away from a problem they do not know how to solve rather than running to an environment they imagine to be more relaxed and inviting.
There are many reasons that youth leave home, but physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence and disharmony among parents are key reasons.(Department of Justice, 2006)
47% of runaway/homeless youth reported that conflict with a parent or guardian was a major problem.(National Runaway Switchboard, 2007)
Over 50% of youth in shelters and on the streets reported that their parents either told them to leave or knew they were leaving but did not care.(Research Triangle Institute, 1995)
32% of runaways and homeless youth have attempted suicide.(Dept. of HHS, 1997)
Youth without access to
social service resources,
including shelters, have
an increased tendency
to become homeless
and to engage in
criminal activities.
(John Hagan & Bill McCarthy, 1998)
Safe Place . . .
Safe Place provides immediate access to help and supportive resources for young people in crisis through a network of sites sustained by youth serving agencies, businesses, and volunteers.
(National Safe Place, 2008)
. . .a part of the Solution.
Safe Place
Mission:Safe Place provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for all young people in crisis through a network of sites sustained by qualified agencies, trained volunteers and businesses.
Vision: Safe Place will be universally recognized and used by youth across America as the place to go for immediate help and safety.
National Safe Place Statistics as of December 8, 2008
111,821 Youth have accessed help and safety at Safe Place sites 16,659 Safe Place sites are available across the country 118,982 Youth have received counseling via phone
145 Safe Place programs
41 Safe Place states
1,035 Communities are served by Safe Place.
5, 494,901 Students learned about Safe Place through classroom presentations.
(National Safe Place, 2008)
The Purpose of Safe Place is to:
1. help kids so that they do not run away and face the many dangers connected with being on their own and possibly on the street;
2. make it easy to get help;
3. familiarize youth with just one name and sign so they don’t need to know the names of all agencies that can provide help. Safe Place will connect them to the appropriate place.
(National Safe Place, 2003)
No matter what the reason, kids have a safer alternative.
Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Administration
Grant Partnering with law enforcement seems natural
In late 2007, National Safe Place received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Administration (BJA) to expand its outreach efforts to train school-based law enforcement officers.
The funding comes from the BJA Edward Byrne Memorial discretionary grant program.
Goals of the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Administration Grant
Increase the awareness of youth about available resources
Educate school-based law enforcement officers
Prevent young people from becoming victims or perpetrators of a crime
School Resource Officers and Community Policing
National Safe Place encourages working relationships between police, schools and local Safe Place agencies so that the principles and philosophy of community policing can be brought directly into the schools.
School Resource Officers
“Counseling is the essence of what an SRO does in the schools. Kids come for help, and you can’t turn them away. The biggest thing is that kids want someone they can talk to other than counselors, who are busy with scheduling; kids need someone who is accessible on a casual basis.”
(Glenn Brunet, SRO in Louisiana, 2003)
Safe Place School Outreach
Providing information to youth is critical to the success of the Safe Place program. Most young people hear about Safe Place during school presentations. Each student is presented with a Safe Place information card.
National Safe Place, 2008
Safe Place Student Outreach Card
(National Safe Place, 2008)
Educational Opportunities
Since 1998, the United States Senate has designated the third week of March as National Safe Place Week
November is National Runaway Prevention Month
National Safe Place Week
National Safe Place Week recognizes Safe Place community partners. The week helps to bring attention to youth across the country experiencing abuse, neglect or serious family problems, focusing on the public/private partnerships that are developed to offer assistance to these youth.
(National Safe Place, 2003)
November is National Runaway Prevention
Month …… a public education campaign designed to:
Increase the awareness of the issues facing runaway and homeless youth
Educate the public about the solutions and the role they can play in preventing youth from leaving home
(National Runaway Switchboard, 2007)
The National Runaway Switchboard
Mission: to help keep America’s runaway and at-risk youth off the streets. The organization serves as the federally designated national communication system for runaway and homeless youth.
The National Runaway Switchboard provides comprehensive crisis intervention for young people. It offers free 24-hour services, expertise in all youth-related issues and as an information clearing house of youth services.
1-800-RUNAWAY or www.1800runaway.org(National Runaway Switchboard, 2007)
Safe Place Agencies
Safe Place services are coordinated through emergency shelters, runaway shelters, not-for-profit youth-serving agencies and in some rural areas, host homes.
All agencies must be approved by the state, Juvenile Justice Department or another recognized source. Each agency must be licensed by National Safe Place designating them as a Safe Place agency for their community.
(National Safe Place, 2003)
Local Safe Place Sites
Safe Place sites are businesses and public locations where youth in crisis can go for immediate help and safety.
Safes
Local Safe Place Sites
Private residences are NEVER used as a Safe Place sites.
Safe Place sites should be available in every neighborhood.
Mobile Safe Place sites: buses, police and sheriff’s department vehicles, fire vehicles, agency vans, utility trucks and post office vehicles.
Schools may be Safe Place sites.
Safe Place Site Responsibilities Relay information about the youth in crisis to the shelter
staff. Provide a safe environment where the youth can wait
until a Safe Place representative can respond. Be supportive of the youth. Display the Safe Place sign in a highly visible area
on the outside of the building. Be willing to educate employees about Safe Place
Procedures to follow if a youth requests help. Help defray the cost of the Safe Place sign, manual
and decals Help with the actual placement of the sign on
the building if possible.(National Safe Place, 2003)
How Safe Place Works
1. A youth in crisis walks into a designated Safe Place location (identified by the Safe Place logo) and tells the first available employee that he or she needs Safe Place help.
2. The youth waits in a quiet, comfortable place while the site calls the local Safe Place agency.
3. The Safe Place staff will call the site back to identify the representative who will come to meet with the young person.
4. Soon, the Safe Place volunteer or staff member arrives to talk with the youth about their situation and offer to connect them to counseling, shelter or other support at the Safe Place agency.
5. Once at the agency, staff will meet with the youth. Parents or guardians are called to let them know that their youth is safe and the family is offered the help and professional referrals they may need.
6. Most young people hear about Safe Place during school presentations. Teens also hear about the program through word of mouth, public service announcements on radio or TV and other outreach methods.
Referral Resources
There may be situations that fall outside of the scope of the Juvenile Justice System or the school disciplinary process. No law has been violated and no rule has been broken, but the young person is in “crisis.” In these “non-criminal” situations, prevention may be more appropriate than after-the-fact “intervention”.
(US DOJ COPS, 2007)
School Resource Officers and Community Resources
It is helpful for SROs to be aware of key community resources: • Mental Health Services• Substance Abuse Assessment and Treatment• Child Protective Services• Runaway Shelters• Domestic Violence Services• Family Counseling Services• Youth Development Organizations (both
school and community based)
(US DOJ COPS, 2007)
Basic Communication Skills for the School Resource Officer
Look first at the youth’s physical needs Face the youth and adopt an open posture by leaning
forward Maintain good eye contact Relax and try not to fidget Show concern for the youth and a sincere desire to help. Remain calm and composed Use active listening Try not to be judgemental Use empathy, not sympathy Let them know that their feelings are
normal; It is ok to cry(NASRO, 2007)
How To Identify and Clarify Problems
Question—ask open questions, one at a time.
Paraphrase—repeat the important parts of what the youth said to reinforce your understanding.
Clarify—clear up any vagueness.
Simplify—put ideas into simple words and sentences.
Summarize—make sure you understand.
Focus—identify what to deal with first anddetermine what’s most important.(NASRO, 2003)
See It, Say It, Six Step Process for Adults Working with Youth
Use this six-step process as a way to express your feelings, offer help or just talk about any other behavior that concerns you.
I care . . . I see . . . I feel . . . I’m listening . . . I want . . . I will . . .
(Minnesota Institute of Public Health, 2007)
Referral Resources
When the SRO is in the role of an informal counselor, he or she may become aware of problems that require specialized resources, such as Mental Health Counseling, Substance Abuse Counseling, Child Protective Services, Rape Counseling Services, Alateen, Al-Anon, etc.(California SRO Standardized Course Curricula, 2001)
Communities with agencies offering Safe Place possess an additional resource when officers encounter a youth that needs help or has committed a non-detainable offense.
School Resource OfficersCan Make a Difference . . .
One Student at a Time.
Keeping America’s runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets.
Call 1-800-RUNAWAY
Name:City/State:Law Enforcement Agency Name:Email:daytime phone Number of presentations to youth at school or community events: Number of students receiving information through these presentations: Number of students receiving Safe Place/National Runaway Switchboard information cards: Number of students receiving outreach cards (local agency cards, etc.): Number of students counseled individually in person: Number of adults receiving information through school or community presentations: Number of students referred to Safe Place sites or local Safe Place sgency: Other (please specify)Youth referral information: Males FemalesEthnic background of all youths you helped: White Black/African American Latin/Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander Native American Multi-Racial Other (please specify)Where did you refer the youths that you helped? Safe Place? Another Agency? Returned Home? Other (please specify)Share a compelling story of a youth you helped: Please return by the 15th of the month via e-mail to: sharmon@nationalsafeplace.org