SOS: Saving Our Students
Welcome to the SOS (Saving Our Students) section of the DeKalb County School District webpage. This section is designed to provide clear and accurate information on resources from official government, health, and civil organizations. These resources aim to help parents, teachers, students, and the broader school community stay informed and equipped to address various critical issues.
MAKING SMART DECISIONS
You may be excited to start driving and become more independent, however you need to understand that driving is a lifelong learning process. Those first years are very important for you to build a solid foundation of safe driving habits. If you are 15 to 18 years old, you need to know that car crashes are a leading cause of death for people your age. The greatest dangers that lead to those fatalities include alcohol, inconsistent seat belt use, speeding and distracted driving. Also, limit your passengers because they can be a distraction.
No matter how boring it might seem, listen to your parents, learn and follow the rules and educate yourself so you can create safe driving habits that may save your life, or the life of your passengers or others on the road.
Remember the rules:
- Don’t drive impaired
- Buckle up and make sure your passengers do too.
- Keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and mind on the task of driving.
- Follow the posted speed limit.
- Limit passengers.
Fact Sheets for Novice Teen Drivers
Alcohol and Driving – Fact sheet about drivers (age 15-18) involved in fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. (See Article)
Blind Zone Glare Elimination with enhanced mirror settings – You can avoid turning and looking into the blind zones. All that is required is a glance outside the mirror to see if a car is there. (See Article)
Driver Distractions – Although any distraction while driving has the potential to cause a crash, some are particularly hazardous to teen drivers. Teen Safe Driving: How Teens Can Be Safer Drivers | NHTSA
Efficient Steering Techniques – Crash statistics indicate that driver errors involving steering techniques are the main causes of crashes where drivers drive off the road. Teens are more likely than older drivers to overcompensate when their vehicle drops off the shoulder. Steering Techniques (nhtsa.gov)
Proper Seat Belt Use – A high number of teens killed in crashes were not wearing their seat belts.
Risk Management Low – Risk drivers are those who identify potential hazards, reduce risk by adjusting their speed or position, and communicate their intentions to others. Risk Management (nhtsa.gov)
Visual Search/Perception – Scanning helps you anticipate having to change speed or roadway position because of problems ahead, such as vehicles or people that may be in the roadway or signs warning of problems ahead. Teen Safe Driving: How Teens Can Be Safer Drivers | NHTSA
Work/Construction Zones – When approaching a work zone watch for cones, barrels, signs, large vehicles, or workers in bright colored vests to warn you and direct you where to go. Work Zones (nhtsa.gov)
SOURCE
Traffic Emergencies
To report impaired drivers and highway emergencies – Dial *GSP on your cell phone or dial 911.
Bullying can be considered as intentional, repeated hurtful acts, words, or other behaviors such as name-calling, threatening, and even shunning or demeaning that is committed by one or more children or persons against another. It is important to note that bullying is not provoked by the behavior of the victim, as bullying connotes an imbalance or perceived imbalance of power between the bully and the victim. Provoked by the victim’s behavior as bullying connotes a perceived imbalance of power between the bully and the victim. Bullying may take many forms including physical, verbal, emotional or sexual behaviors.
Forms of Bullying
Physical Bullying: punching, hitting, poking, beating, kicking, pinching, shoving, choking, strangling, pulling or mangling of the hair, biting, tying up, and excessive tickling. Physical bullying also includes making someone swallow, inhale or otherwise ingest a substance, item, or food; taking money, clothing, or other personal items; being made to carry heavy loads or standing in awkward positions for long periods of time upon threat of beating or some other form of humiliation.
Verbal Bullying: name calling, teasing, gossiping, taunting, verbal threats, public chastising, and cajoling; spreading rumors and sending threatening and intimidating messages via email or text messaging.
Emotional Bullying: extortion/blackmailing, defaming, manipulation, isolation, and rejection; hazing; terrorizing with threats or the threat of terrorizing; and rating or ranking of personal characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, disability, perceived or actual sexual orientation, and overall peer pressure to engage in activities with which the victim is unknowledgeable or uncomfortable.
Sexual Bullying: sexual positioning and harassment and abuse that include actual physical contact and sexual assault; voyeurism; and exhibitionism in combination with many of the emotional, verbal, and physical behaviors listed above.
Cyber Bullying: kids are using the Internet and mobile phones to extend the reach of bullying behavior. According to a recent study, one in ten kids is affected by cyber bullying. Girls are more likely to be victims of cyber bullies and boys are more likely to be cyber bullies. Parents should be aware of what their children are doing when they are online and using their mobile phones.
It is essential to note that bullying also occurs under the guise of other terms and behaviors accompanying some social activities such as sports and recreation. These are more subtle and characterized as team building and “toughening up.” Included here are initiation rites, hazing, and some rites of gang passage.
SOURCE See Article
Bullying Prevention Resources
- Bullying and School Climate
- PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center
- Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center
- GaDOE Policy for Prohibiting Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment and Intimidation
- Stopbullying.gov
- National Association of School Psychologists (Bullying Prevention Resources)
- School Safety Hotline
- Cyberbullying Resources (National Crime Prevention Council)
- International Bullying Prevention Association
Cyber Safety
From cyberbullying to social networking, Cyber Safety aims to raise awareness of emerging online issues and to encourage students and staff to use the internet and social media more responsibly. Join us in promoting cyber safety by having online discussions using the hashtag #CyberSafeDeKalb.
Social websites and smartphone apps can be a fun, exciting and convenient way to connect with our family members, friends, and new people across the world. But if not used properly, they can also expose unsuspecting users to risks such as child predators, human traffickers, cyberbullies, identity thieves and other criminals.
DeKalb County School District is committed to helping both students and families understand these risks and why they should be taken seriously. Beginning on Safer Internet Day in February and continuing through the year, the District urges you to stay safe online by joining our #CyberSafeDeKalb. This page contains a wealth of resources from experts on how students and parents are well informed on how to avoid the pitfalls of failing to be safe online.
According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, being Cyber Aware means pledging:
- I Will Think Before I Post.
- I agree not to post information and images that could put me at risk, embarrass me, or damage my future, such as:
- cell & home phone numbers
- home address
- sexual messages
- inappropriate pictures and videos
- I agree not to post information and images that could put me at risk, embarrass me, or damage my future, such as:
- I Will Respect Other People Online.
- I will not:
- post anything rude, offensive, or threatening
- send or forward images and information that might embarrass, hurt, or harass someone
- take anyone’s personal information and use it to damage his or her reputation
- I will not:
- I Will Be Careful When Meeting Online Friends In Person.
- I agree to:
- ask my parent or guardian’s permission before going
- have a parent or guardian accompany me
- meet in a public place
- I agree to:
- I Will Protect Myself Online.
- If someone makes me feel uncomfortable or if someone is rude or offensive, I will:
- not respond
- save the evidence
- tell my parent, guardian, or another trusted adult
- report to the website, cell phone company, CyberTipline.com, or the police
- If someone makes me feel uncomfortable or if someone is rude or offensive, I will:
Source – See Article
Human Trafficking Prevention/Intervention Toolkit
Sex trafficking occurs when people are forced or coerced into the commercial sex trade against their will. Sex trafficking often involves children and teenagers of all ages. Sex traffickers frequently target vulnerable people, like children and teenagers, and those people with histories of neglect, abuse and then use violence, threats, lies, false promises, debt bondage, or other forms of control and manipulation to keep victims involved in the sex industry. Sex trafficking exists within the broader commercial sex trade, often at much larger rates than most people realize or understand. Sex trafficking has been found in a wide variety of venues of the overall sex industry, including residential brothels, host clubs, online escort services, brothels disguised as massage parlors, strip clubs, and street prostitution. It is imperative for citizens to become more aware of this threat to the safety and well-being of children, teenagers, and young adults.
Source: Georgia Department of Education
RESOURCES
Georgia Human Trafficking Resource List
Georgia Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking:
The Coalition provides leadership, direction, and best practices for all forms of human trafficking in Georgia. It promotes consistency and a coordinated, victim-centered, and trauma-informed response throughout the state.
Hotline Number: 1-866-ENDHTGA (1-866-363-4842) | www.endhtga.org
Frontline Response:
Will pick up an adult victim upon request and provide shelter and other services.
404-941-6024 | frontlineresponse.org
Tapestri:
Addresses the needs of foreign- born survivors of violence
Provides crisis counseling, short term shelter and housing assistance, healthcare/ medical assistance, assistance with legal and immigration issues, TESL, vocational and life skills training and translation services
404 -299-2185 | Tapestri.org
Receiving Hope Center:
Residential intake facility for trafficked youth between the ages of 12 – 17 years old
Provides full wraparound services
470-467-3669 | Rhcreferrals@wellspringliving.org
Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS):
You are mandated to report to DFCS.
DFCS is increasingly being trained specifically to handle CSEC case
1-855-GACHILD / 1-855-422-4453 | https://dfcs.georgia.gov/
Child Advocacy Centers:
Conducts forensic interviews, family and victim advocacy, therapy and therapy referrals, medical exams and referrals
CACGA.ORG
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Stephanie Blank Center:
Locations- Scottish Rite and Hughes Spalding
Conducts Forensic Medical Exams
404-785-5437 | https://www.choa.org/
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI):
Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force (MATCH) FBI Database
404-679-9000
Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI):
Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit
404-270-8870
404-244-2600 (24-hour call center)
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
Description
Teen dating violence — also called intimate relationship violence or intimate partner violence among adolescents or adolescent relationship abuse — includes physical, psychological, or sexual abuse; harassment; or stalking of any person ages 12 to 18 in the context of a past or present romantic or consensual relationship.
Building off a long history of research around intimate partner violence, NIJ is now looking to relationships during adolescence to understand the factors that put individuals at risk for involvement in abusive romantic relationships as adults.
Five Things About Teen Dating Violence
Source – National Institute of Justice
Resources:
Love is Respect
- loveisrespect.org
- National Hotline: 1-800-331-9474
Breaking Silence
project-safe.org
GA Teen Textline: 706-765-8019
Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence
gcadv.org
Statewide Hotline: 1-800-334-2836
National Domestic Violence Hotline
thehotline.org
1-800-799-7233
Address student use of e-cigarettes and other vaping products for the first time since 2000, overall youth tobacco use has increased in Georgia. The rapid uptake of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices has suddenly reversed a trend of declining teen tobacco use. Recent data shows that one in four (26%) high school students reported ever using e-cigarettes, and thirteen percent report current e-cigarette use. This toolkit provides tools and resources for Georgia school staff and parents. This toolkit outlines opportunities for action to address the use of e-cigarettes and other vaping products in schools, along with resources and other tools.