2018 First Quarter Update
With the close of this year’s first quarter, we’re excited to share an update for January, February, and March. We started the year with a visit to Westport High School in Massachusetts. During her visit, Co-founder Michele Gay shared her story and introduced the Safe...
read moreTips To Keep Your Child With Autism Safe
As parents of children with autism, we already know firsthand the many challenges associated with keeping our kids safe, both in and out of school. The nature of our child's disorder often presents a wide range of behaviors that can make their safety our full-time...
read moreSurviving Sexual Assault: A Student’s Story of Hope and Perseverance
In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the many survivors, and friends and families affected by sexual assault, we share Katie's story of hope and perseverance. Katie’s Story As an incoming college freshman, I was so excited to start college and live...
read morePoison Prevention Week: School Safety Concerning the Presence of Toxins
School-age children often spend up to a third of their day in school, but while they run, play and learn, hidden toxins and chemicals could be impairing their health and development. Schools are meant to help teach our children about the world around them, but they...
read moreHighlights from the National PTA Legislative Conference
Earlier this week, I had the amazing opportunity to speak at the National PTA Legislative Conference in Arlington, Virginia. I was invited to speak during the opening session with U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. The attendees gathered were state PTA...
read moreOpen Letter to Senator Hatch and Senator Klobuchar on the STOP School Violence Act of 2018
Dear Senator Hatch and Senator Klobuchar: On behalf of Safe and Sound Schools, and our national community of schools, educators, parents, students, law enforcement officials, community members, mental health experts, and safety professionals, I would like to express...
read moreLet Your Voice Be Heard: Weigh In on the State of School Safety
Safe and Sound Schools wants to hear from you about the state of school safety in your community. We are launching a national survey to measure perceptions of school safety among parents, students, and educators. We hope you will take a few minutes to complete the...
read moreSafe and Sound Youth Council Taking Off!
Working for Safe and Sound Schools means meeting and working with a lot of amazing people, but the young people we get to work with through our Safe and Sound Youth Council may just be the most fun! We love our parents, teachers, mental health, police, fire, and...
read more2017 Year End Review
As we look forward to continuing our work and mission in 2018, we’d like to share a look back at our work in the last half of 2017. We kicked off the month of July with Michele delivering a keynote and afternoon workshops in Philadelphia for the Independent School...
read moreExplaining School Violence to Children
While schools are among the safest places for young people in our society, the recent mass shootings and school shooting in Benton, Kentucky, can increase fears and safety concerns for children and parents. While the odds of a child aged 5 to 18 years being the victim...
read moreLove Note to Josephine Gay on her 12th Birthday
12.11.17 Joey, Happy 12th birthday, my little love. I celebrate you today—and every day–here on Earth, knowing that you are alive in heaven. I imagine you playing with so many of your friends and favorite teachers, eating cupcakes and pizza, and living a life more...
read moreWhy We Send Our “Thoughts and Prayers”
As another community reels from tragedy, terror, and grief, many of us are at a loss of our own: What should we say? What do we do? How can we help? We too are in shock. We grieve for these families and this community. We want them to know that we care. That what they...
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