Dear DPS Community,
We are saddened to share yet another announcement of a tragedy at a school. As you may be aware, a school shooting took place yesterday at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon. We are sending our deepest sympathies to the Silver Rail school community.
Student safety is a top priority in all of our schools. When these tragedies take place, it doesn’t matter how near or far they are from home, they can have an incredible impact on us all. We encourage you to talk with your child about what they may be thinking and feeling in response to this community incident.
Please continue to monitor their exposure in the media and monitor the following signs, which may indicate that your child is having difficulty in the wake of this news:
Marked changes in behavior and mood.
Changes in sleeping or eating.
Difficulty making decisions or concentrating.
Withdrawing behaviors.
Physical symptoms such as loss of appetite, stomach pain, headaches.
Tearfulness or unexplained periods of sadness.
With time, signs of stress or overwhelm are expected to decrease.
Resources
The following resources are available to families and staff to support in times of crisis and grief.
Resources and support for students, families and staff from the DPS Mental Health and Student Well-Being team.
Safe2Tell Colorado: An anonymous way to report concerns impacting students.) Reports can be submitted by calling 1-877-542-SAFE (7233), through their website, through the mobile app or by texting S2TCO to 738477.
School-Based Health Care Centers: There are 19 centers located in our schools around the city. Centers provide comprehensive onsite health care free of charge to students and their families. If there is not a location at your child's school, you may use the one located closest to you.
Care Solace: Offers behavioral health care coordination services for students, family members and staff and their family members.
Lock2Live: Lock2Live is an interactive web-based tool to aid in decision-making about temporary strategies for safe storage. Read the FAQ for more information. The Lock2Live website is also available in Spanish.
988: Colorado Mental Health Line: Access to 24/7 support for individuals struggling with an emotional, mental health, or substance use concern. Call, text, or live chat 988.
I Matter Colorado: Directs students to an online survey for their needs and connects them to a therapist.
Secure Firearm Storage and Preventative Measures
It is important to continue conversations around safe storage in our homes. Secure firearm storage reduces access to dangerous weapons. If firearms are present in the home your children reside, we encourage families to explore Lock2Live and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment prevention approaches to learn more.
Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) are used to protect an individual who is at risk of harming themselves or others by removing access to their firearms for a short time. ERPOs can be filed by a family or household member, law enforcement officer, licensed health-care professional or mental health professional and educator. More information is available on Colorado’s Self-Help ERPO page.
We welcome families to reach out to our Department of Climate and Safety by connecting with your school’s Campus Safety Officer to learn more about safe storage and hear more about what DPS is doing to ensure our schools are safe and welcoming.
For additional support or assistance in accessing resources, please reach out to your school psychologist, school counselor or school social worker. Additional assistance may be accessed by contacting the Family and Community Helpline at 720-423-3054 or FACEHelpline@dpsk12.org.