Use of Safe2Tell continues protecting students, even as they study from home

Cyberbullying, welfare checks rise to top three tip categories

May 12, 2020 (DENVER, Colo.)—In the face of a schools closing on account of COVID19, the Safe2Tell monthly report released today shows cyberbullying and welfare checks rising to the top three tip categories. These two categories displace reports of bullying and drugs, which are most frequently in the top tip categories submitted. Suicide remained the top tip submitted to Safe2Tell in April.

“We want parents to know that cyberbullying—bullying that takes place online—is an important concern for students and community members submitting reports to Safe2Tell,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser. “As we have all adjusted to having our kids home during school hours, safety concerns have shifted. During this challenging time, Safe2Tell continues to be a trusted resource for students and community members to report any safety concerns, enabling us to work with our community partners to help.”

In April, the program received 930 tips, a 67% decrease in monthly tip volume compared to April 2019. To date for the 2019-2020 school year, Safe2Tell has received 18,685 tips, a 3% increase over the 2018-2019 school year. Suicide threats (241), welfare checks (70), and cyber-bullying (59) were the top categories of tips reported to the program in the month of April.

Welfare checks are usually reports that express concern about a peer. They can be suicide-related or just general concern for a peer’s safety. These tips may result in local law enforcement going to the home to do a welfare check.

Safe2Tell has been a violence prevention tool in Colorado for more than 15 years and remains steadfast in its mission to help keep students, schools, and communities safe.

“Although anyone can make an anonymous tip to Safe2Tell, our target audience is youth, who often know of safety concerns before adults do. This is especially true now in the age of social media, where kids tend to openly share on platforms that may not be regularly monitored by parents,” said Essi Ellis, Director of Safe2Tell. “As this school year wraps, I encourage students to continue reporting concerns to Safe2Tell.”

In April, anonymous tips from students and other individuals successfully helped prevent incidents of harassment and illegal activity. For example:

  • A tip was received about a student in distress. Police conducted a welfare check and an individual was transported to the hospital.
  • A tip was received about drugs. Police investigated and a citation was issued.

Misuse:

  • A Safe2Tell report was made about an operational business not practicing social distancing.

COVID-19 complaints involving non-critical businesses remaining operational and other types of non-safety related concerns should not be submitted to Safe2Tell.

Safe2Tell is a successful violence intervention and prevention program for students to anonymously report threats to their own, and others’, safety. Safe2Tell is not an emergency response unit nor mental health counseling service provider; it is a conduit of information for distributing anonymous tips to local law enforcement and school officials, according to state law.

To make a report, individuals can call 1-877-542-7233 from anywhere, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reports also can be made at Safe2Tell.org or through the Safe2Tell mobile app which is available on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

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Contact: Lawrence Pacheco
Director of Communications
Mobile: (720) 245-4689
lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov

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