Gain access to lesson plans and activities to help reinforce the Know the Signs key messaging.
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Are you curious about what the Know the Signs prevention programs are? What do they look like in a classroom?
The life-saving, evidence-informed Know the Signs prevention programs teach the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at risk of hurting themselves or others, and how to get help.
So, what are the programs?
Start With Hello: A violence prevention program that teaches youth to minimize social isolation, empathize with others, and create a more inclusive and connected culture.
The Start With Hello framework instructs children and youth to:
1) See Someone Alone
2) Reach Out and Help
3) “Start with Hello”
Say Something: A violence prevention program that teaches children and youth to look for warning signs and threats -- especially on social media -- of someone at risk of hurting themselves or others and to “say something” to a Trusted Adult to get help.
The Say Something framework instructs children and youth to:
1) Recognize Warning Signs and Threats
2) Act Immediately; Take It Seriously
3) “Say Something”
Say Something Anonymous Reporting System: A violence prevention program that teaches children and youth to look for warning signs and threats -- especially on social media -- of someone at risk of hurting themselves or others and to “say something” to a Trusted Adult to get help.
The Say Something framework instructs children and youth to:
1) Recognize Warning Signs and Threats
2) Act Immediately; Take It Seriously
3) “Say Something” to a Trusted Adult or submit a tip on the Anonymous Reporting System
Through this system, children and youth take a proactive approach to violence prevention. Using the steps taught in the Say Something program, they report concerns directly to our reporting system by text, app, phone, or website. Tips are vetted and triaged by highly skilled crisis counselors in our accredited, bilingual National Crisis Center. Local school/law enforcement response teams are promptly alerted to life-safety reports to ensure swift intervention in critical safety issues. Before schools can participate, they must be approved by Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), and each school is required to form a dedicated team of staff, local law enforcement, and emergency services personnel. This team is trained to respond to life-safety tips and ensure that the proper procedures are followed. Ongoing training for school district personnel and local law enforcement is also required to maintain preparedness and effectively manage critical safety concerns.
To get started - Check out our Back-to-School Guide and kick off your school year with engaging student learning activities that will help build a safer and stronger community of Upstanders.
It is recommended that schools and organizations follow the program cycle to successfully implement the Know the Signs programs.
Plan a roadmap using our template for each stage of the program cycle.
Train students using the foundational training.
Engage students throughout the year in learning activities that will deepen their understanding of the programs.
Celebrate the Know the Signs message through various engaging activities conducted during Call-to-Action weeks or celebrate during another time that works best for you.
Grow the Know the Signs message in your community by implementing additional activities.
The Start With Hello program empowers students in grades K-12 to recognize loneliness and social isolation in their peers by offering effective strategies for reaching out and growing an empathetic and inclusive community.
Empowers students to grow a community of Upstanders and "say something" to a Trusted Adult when they recognize warning signs and threats.
Empowers students to be Upstanders. Students learn how to "say something" to a Trusted Adult and submit a tip to the Say Something ARS when they recognize warning signs and threats.
Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed Know the Signs prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.