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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	September 15, 2021 11:27 AM
From:	Senator Patrick M. Browne and Sen. Vincent J. Hughes, Sen. Scott Martin
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Designating September 20-24, 2021 as Safe2Say Something Week in PA

We will be introducing a resolution designating the week of September 20 through 24, 2021, as “Safe2Say Something Week” in Pennsylvania. Act 44 of 2018 established the Safe2Say Something program, which provides for methods of anonymous reporting concerning unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent or criminal activities in schools or to individuals.  The Safe2SaySomething program, implemented by the Attorney General in partnership with Sandy Hook Promise, has quickly become a national model for reporting warning signs from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others.  This partnership trains students, teachers and school personnel to recognize and report warning signs from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others. The Safe2Say Something program began accepting reports on January 14, 2019 and continues to accept reports 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year.  In the 2020-2021 school year, 391,061 students received Safe2Say Something training. In August 2021, the Office of Attorney General released the third annual report and it showed that since the program began accepting reports in January 2019, more than 56,709 reports had been made, with 10,495 received in the 2020-2021 school year.  While the original intent of the program was to prevent threats against a school, the Safe2Say Something program has identified a variety of behavior and mental health issues.  From July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, 21% of the tips received were designated as life safety, with the top event type being suicide/suicidal ideation. Pennsylvania is now considered a national model with this anonymous tip-line and it has demonstrated in a short time that it serves a vital need in our schools.    We hope that you will join us in co-sponsoring this resolution designating the week of September 20 through 24, 2021, as “Safe2Say Something Week” in Pennsylvania.

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