Ensuring Student Safety

Students in grades 6-12 have a tool to make their communities safer. The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SSARS), created by Sandy Hook Promise. It is the only anonymous system with a National Crisis Center line exclusively serving schools.

SSARS is designed to prevent shootings, bullying, self-harm and other forms of violence. The program offers students multiple ways to report any serious concerns about personal crises or school threats. There is a free mobile app, a website, and a phone number that connects to the National Crisis Center 24/7. When a credible, life-threatening report is received, the Crisis Center notifies school-based representatives and in some cases, contacts 911 and local law enforcement.

Additionally, the program teaches students to:

• Reach out to students showing signs of isolation or loneliness
• Recognize the signs and threats of at-risk behaviors
• Take every sign and signal seriously
• Reach out to a trusted adult for help or use the anonymous reporting tools
• Sandy Hook Promise provides training on these tools at no cost to HPS students and staff.

Click here for more information about Say Something.

The DCF Careline is open 24 hrs/7 days a week to receive calls from people with questions, concerns, and reports of child abuse and neglect. Care line staff is available to provide information to the community and professionals.

EMPS Mobile Crisis Intervention Services for children and adolescents experiencing a behavioral or mental health crisis that is accessed by calling 2-1-1, then hitting 1. A team of nearly 150 trained mental health professionals across the state that can respond immediately by phone or face to face within 45 minutes when a child is experiencing an emotional or behavioral crisis, serving children in their homes and communities: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM.

By dialing 2-1-1 from anywhere in Connecticut, you will reach a highly-trained contact specialist who will assess your needs and provide referrals to the resources in your community. This resource helps callers find assistance for financial problems, substance abuse, suicide prevention, utility assistance, food, housing, child care, after school programs, crisis intervention and much more. 2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day every day of the year. Multilingual assistance and TDD access is also available.

HelpLine staff and volunteers will provide telephone support and crisis phone counseling, suicide intervention, and referrals to sources of help, 24 hours/7 days.

On-site counselor/advocates are available to help victims of domestic violence, their friends and family 24-hours-a-day. Counselor/advocates assist with safety planning, information and referrals and offer support. Spanish-speaking counselors and multilingual translation services are available. The 24-Hour Hotline is answered by an Interval House crisis counselor. All services are free and confidential.

YWCA’s Sexual Assault Crisis Service (SACS) offers assistance to sexual assault survivors and their loved ones. These services are critical after such trauma, helping victims and their families regain feelings of independence, optimism and hope. The advocates on staff are trained to work with hospital staff, the court system, public safety officers and other counselors assisting their clients.

Provides core essential representation on legal problems related to people’s ability to meet their basic human needs.