While school is out of session for the summer months, SafeVoice - an anonymous reporting system that provides students with a safe place to submit information about threats to safety and well-being of themselves or others - remains active and available. SafeVoice was established by the Nevada Department of Education in 2017 to protect student wellness, prevent violence, and save lives.
The hotline is open around the clock, every day of the year, and calls are answered by teams of trained professionals who can provide support and help. Students, parents, teachers, and community members should use SafeVoice to report student and school safety concerns. They can call a toll-free tip line, submit their concern in an online web report, or upload their concern through a mobile app. Resources and support are available in English and Spanish.
The toll-free number is (833) 216-SAFE (7233). More information is available here, where students can see helpful instructional videos and learn how to use and download the SafeVoice app. SafeVoice provides a confidential reporting tool on an optionally anonymous platform where students can get help or report to help others.
“We want our children, families, and members of the community to know this vital resource is available to them 24 hours a day,” said Katherine Loudon, counseling coordinator for the Washoe County School District (WCSD). “It’s so important that they know they have a safe place to report information about situations that threaten their own safety or the safety of other children. Even though we are in the summer months and school is not in session, this service is available. Examples of areas where we see students report include suicide, self-injury, child abuse, violence, and substance use.”
“No voice should be held in silence, and SafeVoice is the program that allows the smallest of voices to be heard,” said Dr. Charles Russo, coordinator of school safety for the Nevada Department of Education’s Office for a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment. “The SafeVoice team incorporates administrators and educators, mental and behavioral health professionals, and our law enforcement partners to operate the program, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are dedicated to the safety and security of our entire community.”
The spirit of SafeVoice is a teamwork approach among law enforcement, schools, and behavioral health to ensure that students are safe and that interventions are preventive in nature.
(Washoe County School District)
