Achieving student safety and mental wellness are races without finish lines for campuses and districts across Orange County.
After significantly increasing the number of mental health professionals on staff in the Garden Grove Unified School District as part of its Choose Wellness initiative, the K-12 system has decided to launch an anonymous reporting platform powered by STOPit Solutions, a leading technology for improving student safety and mental wellness on school campuses.
In recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month, the district unveiled its new partnership to families during a Parenting in the Digital World Workshop held at Santiago High School on Oct. 24.
“This is one more tool in our toolbox to keep our students from bullying, discrimination, threats of violence, use of drugs and alcohol, or any other issues that impact our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Gabriela Mafi.
Students and families can submit tips anonymously through the mobile app, website or hotline. Each report goes through the 24/7 incident response center and is forwarded to administrators from the respective school site.
“If our team determines the nature of the tip to be life-threatening, meaning immediate harm to someone else or themselves, not only do we call the district contacts that we have on file, but we will also notify emergency services,” said Richelle Stanz, director of partner relations for STOPit Solutions.
Last week, the app was hailed for tipping off local law enforcement after a report was made regarding a 16-year-old student who allegedly made terroristic threats in Uvalde High School in Texas.
“Our goal with STOPit is to empower students to play an active role in creating safe, kinder school communities both online and off,” said GGUSD Board of Education President Bob Harden.
The platform also has on-going partnerships with the Anaheim Union High and Fullerton Joint High school districts. It is one of many school safety reporting apps currently being used in Orange County schools.