2008 New York State Center for School Safety
New York State Center for School Safety
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Director's Message
Dear Colleagues,
Another school year has started, we see the buses as they travel our streets and highways, children as they wait on corners to catch the bus to school, staff traveling to work in buildings while appreciating the last weeks of summer weather, and parents lined up in local office supply stores to ensure their child is ready for the work ahead! Fall always serves as a good reflective time, as the leaves are about to change color and the weather change from warm summer days to cool fall mornings to eventual "home heating" days. We can think about what we can all do collectively and individually to support the development of our youth, as they transition to adulthood. As we watch the leaves and seasons change, so we are part of the change process of our youth. Let's remember what we can do to help ensure that the transitions are smooth and productive.
Several things may be of interest to you as you start the new year. As you may recall from last year, September is National Preparedness Month. You can find resources to use in your school at www.ready.gov. September 9-15, 2007 is also National Suicide Prevention Week; links for resources can be found at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Recent research reported in the press indicates we are seeing this as a growing issue with adolescent females, previously being an issue primarily with young males. Let's think together how we may connect with young people and prevent untimely death, how we can stem the move to find permanent and irrevocable "solutions" to temporary problems.
Our best wishes to you as you start the new year. Please check back with us at this web site for updates to support your work as you move through the year. As before, we are involved with after school programs, youth development, SAVE including VADIR, crisis response, and strategies for preventing violence in your schools. Please feel free to contact us via telephone at 845-255-8989 or e-mail at scss@mhric.org. Additionally, we host an emergency line where messages can be left confidentially, and someone will respond to your message within the work day. The hotline number is 1-877-772-8369.
With warm wishes,
Mary Grenz Jalloh
Another school year has started, we see the buses as they travel our streets and highways, children as they wait on corners to catch the bus to school, staff traveling to work in buildings while appreciating the last weeks of summer weather, and parents lined up in local office supply stores to ensure their child is ready for the work ahead! Fall always serves as a good reflective time, as the leaves are about to change color and the weather change from warm summer days to cool fall mornings to eventual "home heating" days. We can think about what we can all do collectively and individually to support the development of our youth, as they transition to adulthood. As we watch the leaves and seasons change, so we are part of the change process of our youth. Let's remember what we can do to help ensure that the transitions are smooth and productive.
Several things may be of interest to you as you start the new year. As you may recall from last year, September is National Preparedness Month. You can find resources to use in your school at www.ready.gov. September 9-15, 2007 is also National Suicide Prevention Week; links for resources can be found at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Recent research reported in the press indicates we are seeing this as a growing issue with adolescent females, previously being an issue primarily with young males. Let's think together how we may connect with young people and prevent untimely death, how we can stem the move to find permanent and irrevocable "solutions" to temporary problems.
Our best wishes to you as you start the new year. Please check back with us at this web site for updates to support your work as you move through the year. As before, we are involved with after school programs, youth development, SAVE including VADIR, crisis response, and strategies for preventing violence in your schools. Please feel free to contact us via telephone at 845-255-8989 or e-mail at scss@mhric.org. Additionally, we host an emergency line where messages can be left confidentially, and someone will respond to your message within the work day. The hotline number is 1-877-772-8369.
With warm wishes,
Mary Grenz Jalloh
September 2007