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MESSAGE FROM CATHERINE






Dear Neighbors,


As we approach the beginning of a new school year, I want to wish students the best of luck in their academic endeavors. Additionally, I would like to emphasize the importance of school safety and highlight available resources.


In response to concerning nationwide trends, SFUSD, in collaboration with District Attorney Jenkins and local law enforcement agencies, has developed comprehensive violence prevention programs for both students and parents. San Francisco offers a wide range of resources, including those focused on adolescent mental health, SFUSD's partnership with the
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Sandy Hook Promise , and strategies for safe gun storage.


Throughout my career, I have made gun violence prevention both a personal and legislative priority. Safeguarding the well-being of students requires active collaboration from all members of our community. Therefore, I encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the following information and initiate conversations with students regarding these available safety measures and programs.


If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out at
mailto:[email protected]?subject=
[email protected] or 415-554-7752.


Sincerely,








Catherine

See Something Say Something - Anonymous Reporting System


Beginning last school year, all SFUSD students in grades 6-12 received training on how to use the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS), a program implemented through a partnership with the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation. The user-friendly system offers an anonymous reporting platform, accessible through a mobile app, website, and telephone hotline, to address serious concerns about students who may be struggling or displaying violent tendencies. “Tipsters” are encouraged to report anything from threats to troubling online activity or personal crises including sexual harassment, self-harm, abuse, bullying, or depression. When credible tips are received, the Crisis Center notifies the school-based representatives, and, in the event of an imminent threat, the Crisis
Center contacts the local 9-1-1 dispatch. This system aims to foster safer student environments and enables students, school administrators, and public safety officials to work together to effectively prevent shootings, suicide, bullying, self-harm and other forms of violence and victimization. Please encourage your students to utilize this vital tool to keep our campuses safe.


Student’s Mental Health


With a sharp rise in mental health concerns over the past three years, it has become clear that being a student in the United States today can be incredibly difficult. Academic competition, social pressures, and the high cost of education contribute to stress, anxiety, and burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic further escalated many of these issues, with remote learning, social isolation, and disrupted routines impacting students' mental and physical well-being.


As we aim to support our students entering this next school year, please be sure to take advantage of all resources available to our San Francisco students and families. SFUSD has an extensive list of available resources on their website that can be found
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here .


SF Wellness Initiative


Through a partnership with the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF) and the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), every single SFUSD High School has a Wellness Center. These centers allow students to access care from experts in adolescent health who offer students tools to cope with a myriad of issues such as stress, trauma, suicide, bullying, depression, self-esteem, drug and alcohol use, sexual health and relationships. The Wellness Initiative is the only school-based program for adolescent health and wellness of its kind and SFUSD is working to expand its breadth to the District's middle schools.


Gun Safety in the Home


San Francisco school and law enforcement agencies are working together to keep our children and our schools as safe as possible, and such an effort begins at home. Raising awareness is essential to stopping tragedies before they happen. As a start, we are asking that you follow the guidelines below:
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Store guns securely (locked in a gun safe, unloaded, with the ammunition locked separately);
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Ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes (play dates, neighbors, family); and
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Recognize the risk factors and warning signs of suicide and depression and speak up.As a reminder, gun owners may be liable under
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California law if they do not properly store their firearms in a locked container or with a locking device.
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The End Family Fire website provides exceptional guidelines for families on how to safely store guns in the home. Secure gun storage options are readily available nearby and range from gun locks to fireproof gun safes that, when bolted to a structural wall, also stop theft. Free gun locks are available at the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department; call 415-554-7225 for details.


The Brady Center’s
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Asking Saves Kids (ASK) website provides examples to help you have a conversation with friends and family about gun safety in the homes that are visited by your children.


Mom’s Demand Action created the
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Be SMART framework to help parents and adults normalize conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent child gun deaths and injuries.

Secure all guns in your home and vehicles
Model responsible behavior around guns
Ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes
Recognize the role of guns in suicide
Tell your peers to be SMART

If you are concerned about a friend or family member in crisis, please ask for help. Suicides account for approximately 60% of annual gun deaths, and a gun in the home makes it 300% more likely that someone living there will die by suicide.


Without guns, less than 5% of suicide attempts are fatal, and the majority of survivors never attempt suicide again. Guns don’t give people a second chance. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. For a suicide crisis, call 800-273-8255. For domestic violence, call 800-799-7233.


Lastly, a
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Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) is a civil procedure allowing for the temporary removal of a firearm from a person who may pose a danger to themselves or others. This
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San Francisco District Attorney webpage has more information. Do not attempt to remove weapons yourself. You can also contact your local police station for help.










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WEBSITE
Office of Supervisor Catherine Stefani

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 273, San Francisco, CA 94102

Phone: (415) 554-7752 Fax: (415) 554-7843





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