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IMPLEMENTING A SafeTeam IN YOUR SCHOOL HISTORY: Suicide and violence-related deaths are among the leading causes of deaths of America's youth. The Safe Team concept emerged from the knowledge that suicides are highly preventable. Recognized throughout Tulsa as an exemplary program, SafeTeam has also received the Nat'l Mental Health Association's 2001 "Innovations in Programming" award. The program proved successful in making students partners in school safety.

WHY IS SafeTeam NEEDED? 31.5% of Oklahoma high school students have been in a physical fight in the past year. 19% carried some sort of weapon to school. 19% were physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last 12 months. 34.7% of felt so sad or hopless almost every day for 2 or more consecutive weeks, that they stopped engaging in their usual activities. 22.3% seriously contemplated suicide in the past year and 22.4% of those planned a suicide. 35.1% reported having their first alcoholic drink before age 13. 29% reported episodic heavy drinking (5 or more drinks in a row) within the 30 day period prior to being surveyed. According to a Secret Service investigation on school shootings, over 75% of shooters told someone of their plan before carrying it out.

WHAT IS NEEDED TO START SafeTeam IN YOUR SCHOOL? STUDENT SafeTeam SafeTeam COORDINATOR THE COMMITTEE ON STUDENT SAFETY Student SafeTeam  utilizes the voices of all ethnic, religious, economic, academic, and social groups. This Committee provides an opportunity for all students to express their concerns regarding student safety issues. Student SafeTeam members actively contribute to school safety by generating ideas, discussion topics, and activities that engage the entire school community. Student SafeTeam  meets for discussion once a week to discuss ongoing efforts to improve school safety. The SafeTeam Coordinator is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) or licensed professional social worker (LSW), who is caring, supportive, nonjudgemental, and nondisciplinary. He or She is constantly available to assist students with emotional needs, fears, and problems, and is an excellent resource for mental health information. The Committee on Student Saftey includes school counselors, faculty members, and other interested staff. The Committee meets at least twice a month to discuss potentially negative situations, such as substance abuse, self-destructive acts, academic problems, abuse and violience, and mental health issues. They collaborate to develop an intervention plan for individual students with serious problems. The Committee also addresses overall safety and school security issues. www.mhat.org (918) 585-1213